I am a Piranha

Just wanted to share my utter frustration with you tonight. On my third full day on this new job I have discovered I am doomed to be treated like a 10 year old. It wasn't bad enough that you have to beg to get the key to the stationary cupboard (and then be supervised using it), or that staff don’t have Internet access, but today I got bollocked for talking to a workmate.

Now when I say "talking" this is all I mean. I wasn't shouting or yabbering on for hours - I was talking. The conversation went something like this:

Her: How was your weekend?
Me: Okay. I felt like I was rushing around the whole time. I'm not used to this working thing
Her: Oh. I get ya. I went to Norfolk. It's beautiful with all of it's small houses by the coast
Both of us: Silently.... continued our work.

Many things shat me about being told off for this. Some of my issues are:

1. What exactly is wrong with being friendly to people you work with?
2. Why would someone who is a people management position have to get another supervisor pull us aside to tell us off, when she was the one clearly pissed off by the behaviour (I could tell , because the messenger was giggling the whole way through telling me off)
3. We weren't interrupting our work to do this. I can file & talk at the same time ("how talented" they cry)
4. Nor were we near anyone else trying to do work - it was 8:15am
5. My boss SERIOUSLY thinks it is okay to expect people to sit there ALL day in silence. Even when people who work there initiate conversation - am I supposed to ignore them & fire "I'm not speaking to you" looks back in their direction?
6. Aren't adults supposed to be able to make considered decisions about their workload & if they have time to spend a few seconds chatting?

Bloody Hell. I have left jobs over similar issues as this. It may be over reaction on my part, but a woman has to have principles - & I would never run up to another adult, put my finger to pursed lips & hiss "shhhhhhhhh" at them, so I don’t expect to have it happen to me.

So, the day is done. I was as silent as I could be with people constantly talking to me. I have come home (as quickly as possible). Had a lovely dinner & sent my resume out to as many recruitment officers as I can find.

Power to the *annoyingly talkative* People!

PS - "I am a piranha" comes from a friend. She works with a tool who constantly messes up common sayings like "I am a Pariah". "I am a piranha" is one of his more famous interpretations.