办公室里的桌怒(下)

然后是回复全部的电子邮件。刚开始情况单纯无害，某人有一个问题，在寻求帮助。收到一两个回复后，你感到胃抽搐了一下，隐隐感觉不妙，你意识到这个请求帮助的邮件已经抄送全公司了。

双语精读

And then there is the reply-all email. It starts innocently enough, with someone asking for help with a problem. In come one or two replies, and with a sickening lurch of the stomach you realise that the entire company has been copied in on this request.

然后是回复全部的电子邮件。刚开始情况单纯无害，某人有一个问题，在寻求帮助。收到一两个回复后，你感到胃抽搐了一下，隐隐感觉不妙，你意识到这个请求帮助的邮件已经抄送全公司了。

Suddenly, an avalanche. It is as if nothing else matters other than weighing in on this one question. Deadlines are deferred. Milk goes off in the fridge. Visitors in reception are left to forage for food while members of staff devote themselves to the matter at hand.

于是突然之间，一场雪崩发生了。好像除了对这个问题发表意见之外，其他什么事情都不重要了。截止日期被推迟。冰箱里的牛奶变质。前台的访客开始自己找吃的，而全体工作人员正全身心投入到手头的问题上。

There are replies to replies, and replies to replies to replies. This isn't a thread, it's a hawser. Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves hugely.

人们对回复进行了回复，然后对回复的回复又进行了回复。这不是邮件链，这是连环夺命索。每个人似乎都讨论得兴高采烈。

But there is a silent, suffering group for whom every new message lands as a hammer blow to their composure. How many minutes can one organisation fritter away on this nonsense?

但还有一群沉默而痛苦的人，每一条新消息都像铁锤一样敲击着他们所保持的镇静。一个组织可以在这些废话上浪费多少分钟？

Why isn't it stopping? And when the initial round of answers has died down, can you be certain that it is really over? It is always possible that someone who has been away from their desk will pile in and start the whole farrago up again.

怎么还不停下来？当第一轮回答平息下来后，你能确定讨论真的结束了吗？总有可能，某个刚回到办公桌的人会盖楼发言，然后又乱成了一锅粥。

Individual workers will have their own triggers, ostensibly tiny things to which they are extremely sensitive. It might be the person who still doesn't understand you have to tag someone in Slack to notify them of a message.

每个员工都有自己的触发点，表面上看都是些很琐细的事，但他们对这些事非常敏感。也许是那个还搞不清楚必须在Slack上标记某人才能收到消息提醒的人。

It might be the doors closing on a crowded lift, only for an arm to snake in and a voice to ask "room for one more?" (If you were the size of a marmot, yes.)

也许是当电梯里挤满了人，门正要关上时，结果一只胳膊伸了进来，然后一个声音问"还能再进一个吗？" (你要是只有土拨鼠那么大，那倒是可以。)

It might be a particularly heavy tread or an even heavier perfume. It might be the way someone insists on using the word "pivot". It might be anything, frankly-which means that for some of your colleagues it might also be you.

也许是一种非常重的脚步声，或者是一种味道更重的香水。也许是某人说话非要用"轴点"这个词。坦率地说，什么事情都有可能，这意味着对你的一些同事来说，让人心烦的也可能是你。

There is no cure for misergonia. The workplace is a collection of people in enforced and repeated proximity, their habits, noises and idiosyncrasies turning into something familiar for some colleagues and disproportionately grating for others.

恐工症没有治愈良方。工作场所就是一群人被强制地、反复地近距离相处，他们的习惯、噪音和癖好让一些同事感到习以为常，却让另一些同事感到万分恼火。

The only release is to go home, close the front door behind you and find your significant other tucking into an apple.

唯一的解脱就是回家，转身关上门，然后发现你生活上的另一半正在咔嚓咔嚓地大口吃苹果。

词汇预习

extremely [高考]
美[ɪkˈstriːmli] | 英[ɪkˈstriːmli]
adv. 非常；极其
particularly [高考]
美[pərˈtɪkjələrli] | 英[pəˈtɪkjələli]
adv. 特别；尤其；详细地
release [高考]
美[rɪˈliːs] | 英[rɪˈliːs]
n. 释放；让渡；发行 vt. 释放；让与；准予发表；发射
significant [高考]
美[sɪɡˈnɪfɪkənt] | 英[sɪɡˈnɪfɪkənt]
adj. 重要的；有意义的；意味深长的；显著的
nonsense [高考]
美[ˈnɑːnsens] | 英[ˈnɒnsns]
n. 废话；胡说；荒唐
suffering [高考]
美[ˈsʌfərɪŋ] | 英[ˈsʌfərɪŋ]
n. 痛苦；受难
devote [高考]
美[dɪˈvoʊt] | 英[dɪˈvəʊt]
vt. 致力于；奉献给；把...专用于
entire [高考]
美[ɪnˈtaɪər] | 英[ɪnˈtaɪə(r)]
adj. 全部的；整个的；完全的 n. 全部；整体；〈英〉一种黑啤酒；种马
pile [高考]
美[paɪl] | 英[paɪl]
n. 桩；堆；摞；桩柱 v. 堆放；摞起；叠放；放置
sensitive [高考]
美[ˈsensətɪv] | 英[ˈsensətɪv]
adj. 灵敏的；敏感的；感光的；易受伤害的；善解人意的 n. 敏感的人
realise [高考]
美['rɪrlaɪz] | 英['rɪəlaɪz]
v. [英]意识到；实现；明白；变现
initial [高考]
美[ɪˈnɪʃl] | 英[ɪˈnɪʃl]
n. (词)首字母 adj. 开始的；最初的；字首的 vt. 签姓名的首字母于
organisation [高考]
美[ˌɔːrɡənəˈzeɪʃn] | 英[ˌɔːɡənaɪˈzeɪʃn]
n. 组织；团体；条理
perfume [高考]
美[pərˈfjuːm] | 英[ˈpɜːfjuːm]
n. 香水；香气 vt. 洒香水于；使香气弥漫
hammer [高考]
美[ˈhæmər] | 英[ˈhæmə(r)]
n. 锤；榔头 vi. 锤击；反复敲打 vt. 锤打；严厉批评
reception [高考]
美[rɪˈsepʃn] | 英[rɪˈsepʃn]
n. 接待；反应；接待处；欢迎；接收；招待会
other than [高考]
美[ˈʌðər ðæn] | 英[ˈʌðə(r) ðæn]
除了；不同于
cure for [高考]
美 | 英
治……的良药；解决……的方法
at hand [高考]
美[æt hænd] | 英[æt hænd]
adv. 在手边(在附近；即将到来)
means [高考]
美[miːnz] | 英[miːnz]
n. 方法；手段；收入；财产 v. 意思是，意味（动词mean的第三人称单数）
tread [高考]
美[tred] | 英[tred]
n. 步法；踏面；胎面花纹；鞋底 v. 踩；行走；践踏；(鸟类)交配
workplace [高考]
美[ˈwɜːrkpleɪs] | 英[ˈwɜːkpleɪs]
n. 工作场所
turning [高考]
美[ˈtɜːrnɪŋ] | 英[ˈtɜːnɪŋ]
n. 旋转；回转；转向
email [四级]
美['imeɪl] | 英['i:meɪl]
vt. 发电子邮件；给……发电子邮件 n. 电子邮件，电子信函
frankly [四级]
美[ˈfræŋkli] | 英[ˈfræŋkli]
adv. 坦白地；坦率地
notify [四级]
美[ˈnoʊtɪfaɪ] | 英[ˈnəʊtɪfaɪ]
v. 通知；报告；通告
crowded [四级]
美[ˈkraʊdɪd] | 英[ˈkraʊdɪd]
adj.水泄不通的;拥挤的;肩摩踵接
pivot [专八]
美[ˈpɪvət] | 英[ˈpɪvət]
n. 支点；枢轴；中心；中心点 v.（使）在枢轴上旋转（或转动）
avalanche [专八]
美[ˈævəlæntʃ] | 英[ˈævəlɑːnʃ]
n. 雪崩；大量 v. 雪崩
fritter [专八]
美[ˈfrɪtɚ] | 英[ˈfrɪtə(r)]
n. 油炸馅饼 v. 浪费
lurch [专八]
美[lɜrtʃ] | 英[lɜ:tʃ]
v. 突然倾斜；蹒跚地走；(突然感到恐怖或激动时心或胃)猛地一跳(或动) n. 举步蹒跚；突然倾斜
composure [专八]
美[kəmˈpoʊʒər] | 英[kəmˈpəʊʒə(r)]
n. 镇静；沉着
forage [专八]
美[ˈfɔːrɪdʒ] | 英[ˈfɒrɪdʒ]
n. 粮草；饲料；搜寻粮草 v. 喂；掠夺
hugely [考研]
美[ˈhjuːdʒli] | 英[ˈhju:dʒli]
adv. 巨大地；非常地
disproportionately [考研]
美[ˌdɪsprə'pɔʃənətlɪ] | 英[ˌdɪsprə'pɔ:ʃənətlɪ]
adv. 不成比例地

重点讲解

And then there is the reply-all email. It starts innocently enough, with someone asking for help with a problem. In come one or two replies, and with a sickening lurch of the stomach you realise that the entire company has been copied in on this request.

innocent a.

1. 无辜的；清白的

【例】She was found innocent of any crime.

她获判无罪。

2. 天真无邪的；纯真的

【例】an innocent young child 天真无邪的小孩子

3. 无恶意的

【例】It was all innocent fun.

那不过是些无恶意的玩笑

sickening a.

1. 让人厌恶的；令人作呕的

【例】their sickening hypocrisy 他们那令人恶心的虚伪嘴脸

2. 给人以不祥感觉的；让人觉得不妙的

【例】Her head hit the ground with a sickening thud.

她的头撞在地上，那声闷响让人揪心。

3. 令人忌妒的；让人烦恼的（多用于口语）

【例】“She's off to the Bahamas for a month.” “How sickening!”

“她去巴哈马群岛了，要待一个月。” “多让人忌妒哇！”

Suddenly, an avalanche. It is as if nothing else matters other than weighing in on this one question. Deadlines are deferred. Milk goes off in the fridge. Visitors in reception are left to forage for food while members of staff devote themselves to the matter at hand.

于是突然之间，一场雪崩发生了。好像除了对这个问题发表意见之外，其他什么事情都不重要了。截止日期被推迟。冰箱里的牛奶变质。前台的访客开始自己找吃的，而全体工作人员正全身心投入到手头的问题上。

weigh in

1. （在讨论、辩论等中）发表有分量的意见，发挥作用

【例】We all weighed in with our suggestions.

我们都提出了有分量的建议。

2. （赛前）量体重

【例】Both boxers weighed in at several pounds below the limit.

两个拳击手赛前量的体重都比规定限度少几磅。

go off

1. （食物、饮料）变质，变坏

【例】The milk’s gone off.

牛奶坏了。

2. 离开，走

【例】John decided to go off on his own.

约翰决定自己一个人走。

3. 开火；爆炸

【例】The gun went off by accident.

枪走火了。

4. （电灯）熄灭；（电）中断；停止运行

【例】Suddenly the lights went off.

灯突然熄灭了。

There are replies to replies, and replies to replies to replies. This isn't a thread, it's a hawser. Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves hugely.

人们对回复进行了回复，然后对回复的回复又进行了回复。这不是邮件链，这是连环夺命索。每个人似乎都讨论得兴高采烈。

weigh in

1. （在讨论、辩论等中）发表有分量的意见，发挥作用

【例】We all weighed in with our suggestions.

我们都提出了有分量的建议。

2. （赛前）量体重

【例】Both boxers weighed in at several pounds below the limit.

两个拳击手赛前量的体重都比规定限度少几磅。

go off

1. （食物、饮料）变质，变坏

【例】The milk’s gone off.

牛奶坏了。

2. 离开，走

【例】John decided to go off on his own.

约翰决定自己一个人走。

3. 开火；爆炸

【例】The gun went off by accident.

枪走火了。

4. （电灯）熄灭；（电）中断；停止运行

【例】Suddenly the lights went off.

灯突然熄灭了。

But there is a silent, suffering group for whom every new message lands as a hammer blow to their composure. How many minutes can one organisation fritter away on this nonsense?

但还有一群沉默而痛苦的人，每一条新消息都像铁锤一样敲击着他们所保持的镇静。一个组织可以在这些废话上浪费多少分钟？

fritter v. & n.

1. 作动词：浪费（时间、金钱）；挥霍

【例】He frittered away a fortune on fast cars and gambling.

他买跑车、赌博，挥霍了很多钱。

2. 作名词：油炸馅饼

【例】apple fritter 油炸苹果馅饼

Why isn't it stopping? And when the initial round of answers has died down, can you be certain that it is really over? It is always possible that someone who has been away from their desk will pile in and start the whole farrago up again.

怎么还不停下来？当第一轮回答平息下来后，你能确定讨论真的结束了吗？总有可能，某个刚回到办公桌的人会盖楼发言，然后又乱成了一锅粥。

die down 逐渐变弱；逐渐平息

【例】The flames finally died down.

火焰终于逐渐减弱了。

【拓展】die out 灭绝；消失

【例】This species has nearly died out.

这一物种已濒临灭绝。

pile v. & n.

1. 作动词

（1）堆放；摞起

【例】She piled the boxes one on top of the other.

她把盒子一个个地摞起来。

（2）蜂拥；拥挤

【例】The coach finally arrived and we all piled on.

长途汽车终于来了，我们一拥而上。

2. 作名词

（1）堆，摞

【例】a pile of books 一摞书

（2）大量；许多

【例】I have got piles of work to do.

我有大量工作要做。

Individual workers will have their own triggers, ostensibly tiny things to which they are extremely sensitive. It might be the person who still doesn't understand you have to tag someone in Slack to notify them of a message.

每个员工都有自己的触发点，表面上看都是些很琐细的事，但他们对这些事非常敏感。也许是那个还搞不清楚必须在Slack上标记某人才能收到消息提醒的人。

tag v. & n.

1. 作动词

（1）给…加上标签；把…称作

【例】Each animal was tagged with a number for identification.

每只动物都系上了标有号码的小牌，以便辨认。

（2）给（社交网站上照片中的人）加标记（由此可添加链接至其个人资料）

【例】If you upload a photo, people can tag the people in it.

如果你上传一张照片，人们可以标记照片上的人。

2. 作名词

（1）签；标牌

【例】He put name tags on all his shirts.

他给自己所有的衬衣都缝上了标有姓名的签条。

（2）称呼；称谓

【例】They are finally ready to drop the tag 'the new Beatles'.

他们终于准备放弃 “新披头士乐队” 这一称谓。

It might be the doors closing on a crowded lift, only for an arm to snake in and a voice to ask "room for one more?" (If you were the size of a marmot, yes.)

也许是当电梯里挤满了人，门正要关上时，结果一只胳膊伸了进来，然后一个声音问"还能再进一个吗？" (你要是只有土拨鼠那么大，那倒是可以。)

snake n.& v.

1. 作名词：蛇

【例】a snake coiled up in the grass 盘在草丛里的一条蛇

2. 作动词：曲折前行；像蛇一样前行

【例】The road snaked away into the distance.

公路蜿蜒伸向远方。

pivot n. & v.

1.作名词：支点；中心，核心

【例】The mother is often the pivot of family life.

母亲往往是家庭生活的中心人物。

2. 作动词：（使）在轴上旋转（或转动）

【例】She pivoted around and walked out.

她一转身走了出去。

【拓展】pivot on/around 依靠，依赖；以…为中心

【例】His argument will pivot on the growing cost of legal fees.

他的论点将以律师费用上涨为中心展开。

It might be a particularly heavy tread or an even heavier perfume. It might be the way someone insists on using the word "pivot". It might be anything, frankly—which means that for some of your colleagues it might also be you.

也许是一种非常重的脚步声，或者是一种味道更重的香水。也许是某人说话非要用"轴点"这个词。坦率地说，什么事情都有可能，这意味着对你的一些同事来说，让人心烦的也可能是你。

snake n.& v.

1. 作名词：蛇

【例】a snake coiled up in the grass 盘在草丛里的一条蛇

2. 作动词：曲折前行；像蛇一样前行

【例】The road snaked away into the distance.

公路蜿蜒伸向远方。

pivot n. & v.

1.作名词：支点；中心，核心

【例】The mother is often the pivot of family life.

母亲往往是家庭生活的中心人物。

2. 作动词：（使）在轴上旋转（或转动）

【例】She pivoted around and walked out.

她一转身走了出去。

【拓展】pivot on/around 依靠，依赖；以…为中心

【例】His argument will pivot on the growing cost of legal fees.

他的论点将以律师费用上涨为中心展开。

There is**** no**** cure**** for misergonia****.**** The workplace is**** a collection**** of**** people**** in**** enforced**** and repeated**** proximity,**** their habits****,**** noises**** and idiosyncrasies**** turning into**** something familiar**** for some**** colleagues**** and disproportionately**** grating for others****.****

恐工症没有治愈良方。工作场所就是一群人被强制地、反复地近距离相处，他们的习惯、噪音和癖好让一些同事感到习以为常，却让另一些同事感到万分恼火。

tuck into 痛快地吃；狼吞虎咽地吃

【例】He was tucking into a huge plateful of pasta.

他在狼吞虎咽地吃一大盘意大利面。

【拓展】tuck sb. in/up 把某人的被子掖好

【例】I tucked the children in and said goodnight.

我给孩子们盖好被子说晚安

The only**** release is**** to**** go**** home****,**** close the front door**** behind**** you and find**** your**** significant other tucking into**** an**** apple.****

唯一的解脱就是回家，转身关上门，然后发现你生活上的另一半正在咔嚓咔嚓地大口吃苹果。

tuck into 痛快地吃；狼吞虎咽地吃

【例】He was tucking into a huge plateful of pasta.

他在狼吞虎咽地吃一大盘意大利面。

【拓展】tuck sb. in/up 把某人的被子掖好

【例】I tucked the children in and said goodnight.

我给孩子们盖好被子说晚安

课后练习

What may happen when a reply-all email is sent?
A. Nobody may pay attention to it or make replies.
B. The problem of the sender can be solved quickly.
C. People may start talking about irrelevant things.
D. People may stop working and focus on the email.
According to the author, the reply-all email is annoying because ____.
A. people sometimes ask stupid questions
B. too many replies are a waste of time
C. some replies may be ignored
D. the replies come with a delay
What can be learned about the triggers of desk rage?
A. They often cause big trouble for people.
B. They torture some people but mean nothing to others.
C. Social media is a major source of the triggers.
D. They occur due to a lack of mutual respect in workplaces.
According to the author, the solution to misergonia is ____.
A. to improve the working environments
B. to remind colleagues to be quieter
C. to find temporary relief after work
D. to learn to change one’s mindset