The cat pictures will continue until morale improves
March 15, 2020 7:42 AM Subscribe
Happy Bring Your Work To Cat Month! Maciej Cegłowski (previously) asked his Twitter followers, “Now that everyone is trying to work from home, how many trillions of person-hours of labor are we losing to housecats? Please post evidence to this thread.”
[Note: Because of Twitter’s latest bizarre UI decision, you may need to click on “Show this thread” or “View more replies” to actually see all of the intended cat pictures, instead of random unrelated posts.]
posted by mbrubeck at 7:56 AM on March 15, 2020 [10 favorites]
posted by mbrubeck at 7:56 AM on March 15, 2020 [10 favorites]
Yesssss, my cats are in this thread.
posted by limeonaire at 7:58 AM on March 15, 2020 [9 favorites]
posted by limeonaire at 7:58 AM on March 15, 2020 [9 favorites]
The last link is the best one. An eternal thread of cat photos. It's the best remedy for everything.
posted by hippybear at 8:03 AM on March 15, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by hippybear at 8:03 AM on March 15, 2020 [3 favorites]
One thing I've learned since the kittens (Myrna & Lulu) arrived is that it's possible to wreak much more havoc on a trackpad than on a mouse.
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 8:43 AM on March 15, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 8:43 AM on March 15, 2020 [1 favorite]
I found this not only adorable but also surprisingly reassuring. Cat the Elder likes to colonize my chest like a stubborn fungus, and Cat the Younger likes to force her head in the space between my thumb and fingers while I am typing, and it is unaccountably frustrating.
I have had an internet crush on Cegłowski for approximately forever and am grateful for his service in this our time of need.
posted by eirias at 8:45 AM on March 15, 2020 [7 favorites]
I have had an internet crush on Cegłowski for approximately forever and am grateful for his service in this our time of need.
posted by eirias at 8:45 AM on March 15, 2020 [7 favorites]
My cats totally ignore me during the work day. I'd be happy for the distraction but they just nap in sunbeams and such.
posted by octothorpe at 8:55 AM on March 15, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by octothorpe at 8:55 AM on March 15, 2020 [1 favorite]
Small likes to use the keyboard as a pillow.
Typing got much easier after I set a shoebox on that side of the laptop.
[cat tax]
posted by cheshyre at 8:56 AM on March 15, 2020 [4 favorites]
Typing got much easier after I set a shoebox on that side of the laptop.
[cat tax]
posted by cheshyre at 8:56 AM on March 15, 2020 [4 favorites]
I have a pretty good manager, I’ve been working with her for 16 years. She mostly leaves me to do my own work, but is constantly hovering over my shoulder, which makes me nervous.
She’s prone to coming up with random new priorities for the office on the fly which require all employees to set aside their projects immediately so we can pitch in on some new corporate mandate, like strengthening the Treat Supply Chain or Project Belly Rub or Threat Assessment of the Competition Cat out the window. I don’t mind because there’s very little paperwork involved and I like the feeling I get from being a team player in this firm.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 9:04 AM on March 15, 2020 [51 favorites]
She’s prone to coming up with random new priorities for the office on the fly which require all employees to set aside their projects immediately so we can pitch in on some new corporate mandate, like strengthening the Treat Supply Chain or Project Belly Rub or Threat Assessment of the Competition Cat out the window. I don’t mind because there’s very little paperwork involved and I like the feeling I get from being a team player in this firm.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 9:04 AM on March 15, 2020 [51 favorites]
The latest cartoon by Scott Metzger (slfb) seems relevant.
posted by cheshyre at 10:35 AM on March 15, 2020
posted by cheshyre at 10:35 AM on March 15, 2020
My cat, asleep in my lap right now, is like whatev, newbs.
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:40 AM on March 15, 2020 [6 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:40 AM on March 15, 2020 [6 favorites]
Also, as Hanna Brooks Olsen observes, “The real winner of this pandemic are the nation's dogs, who are experiencing unprecedented levels of People Being Home.”
I understand there was initially some concern that dogs could be affected and there were recommendations that dogs be kept in kennels, but the World Health Organization has now said this is not an issue and dogs can come out of the kennels.
As prophesied, WHO let the dogs out.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 10:42 AM on March 15, 2020 [67 favorites]
I understand there was initially some concern that dogs could be affected and there were recommendations that dogs be kept in kennels, but the World Health Organization has now said this is not an issue and dogs can come out of the kennels.
As prophesied, WHO let the dogs out.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 10:42 AM on March 15, 2020 [67 favorites]
I've been working from home for years, so I'm practiced at typing while a cat sits on my lap (in fact, Princess Vespa is flopped there right now), have them fairly well trained at staying off of my keyboard, and have my one-handed typing skills honed from when Harley needs me to cradle her head and cover her eyes so she can nap. It's only when they both sit on me at once that things really get tricky. Things should actually get more productive when my wife starts getting/having to work from home as well next week, as the cats will have a second lap (and keyboard) to split their time sitting on.
posted by JiBB at 11:34 AM on March 15, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by JiBB at 11:34 AM on March 15, 2020 [4 favorites]
we have two cats that are a year and a half old. They're still very active and very attention seeking. It's a brother and a sister, and my wife likes to joke that they had a meeting shortly after they were adopted where they agreed on which human they owned. Girl-cat ignores me and adores my wife, whereas the boy-cat follows me like a puppy.
When I took this most recent full remote gig seven months ago, I've had to shut them out of the home office while I'm on the clock, because otherwise, I'd never get anything done. Sometimes they howl outside the door when it's close to feeding time, and my wife isn't home, and there's no one else to beg to. Also boy-cat will zoom into my office if I leave to use the bathroom or get some water and forget to close the door, and I'll find him curled up in a sunspot, showing me his tum and daring me to evict him. Eventually I have to be a mean cat dad.
One day recently, I didn't have a lunch ready at home, and had to run out to the local deli to get a sub before a meeting. I rushed home, got on my meeting, and when it was done, I got up again to get some more water; and I saw that in my haste, I left the apartment door open!
Girl-cat was accounted for, but Boy-Cat made it as far as the next floor down before realizing that he was lost and had drawn the attention of a neighbor's dog, who was barking like crazy and scaring the poor thing. Eventually, I cradled up Boy Cat and carried him back inside, and got on to my next meeting. Not enough time to get water or deal with putting Boy Cat elsewhere. I just left him on my lap, and my colleagues got the treat of seeing a pet on the call; and he was the most docile, grateful, and peaceful little thing.
One of them wrote, "I need to get me a person who looks at me the same way that Boy-Cat looks at bl1nk."
He's back to being a pain in the ass, but at least for that afternoon, when I was his one savior from the scary barking creature, he was a nice coworker cat.
posted by bl1nk at 11:58 AM on March 15, 2020 [11 favorites]
When I took this most recent full remote gig seven months ago, I've had to shut them out of the home office while I'm on the clock, because otherwise, I'd never get anything done. Sometimes they howl outside the door when it's close to feeding time, and my wife isn't home, and there's no one else to beg to. Also boy-cat will zoom into my office if I leave to use the bathroom or get some water and forget to close the door, and I'll find him curled up in a sunspot, showing me his tum and daring me to evict him. Eventually I have to be a mean cat dad.
One day recently, I didn't have a lunch ready at home, and had to run out to the local deli to get a sub before a meeting. I rushed home, got on my meeting, and when it was done, I got up again to get some more water; and I saw that in my haste, I left the apartment door open!
Girl-cat was accounted for, but Boy-Cat made it as far as the next floor down before realizing that he was lost and had drawn the attention of a neighbor's dog, who was barking like crazy and scaring the poor thing. Eventually, I cradled up Boy Cat and carried him back inside, and got on to my next meeting. Not enough time to get water or deal with putting Boy Cat elsewhere. I just left him on my lap, and my colleagues got the treat of seeing a pet on the call; and he was the most docile, grateful, and peaceful little thing.
One of them wrote, "I need to get me a person who looks at me the same way that Boy-Cat looks at bl1nk."
He's back to being a pain in the ass, but at least for that afternoon, when I was his one savior from the scary barking creature, he was a nice coworker cat.
posted by bl1nk at 11:58 AM on March 15, 2020 [11 favorites]
My mom stopped to remove her boots.
(couple weeks old, but I thought some might enjoy this)
posted by SoberHighland at 11:59 AM on March 15, 2020 [11 favorites]
(couple weeks old, but I thought some might enjoy this)
posted by SoberHighland at 11:59 AM on March 15, 2020 [11 favorites]
I've been baffled by all this rhetoric expecting everyone will (can) work from home. What weird jobs do these people have that don't involve any physical materials at all? It's nice to stay at home with your cat but surely the normal accompaniment to that is wondering whether you'll still be paid by your company/state/country or whether you'll be kicked out onto the streets.
posted by one for the books at 12:16 PM on March 15, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by one for the books at 12:16 PM on March 15, 2020 [4 favorites]
When I moved from math to software engineering, my work took a big step up in physicality. Now I need some connection to a giant data center / hive mind located... somewhere. Really only need access via internet to one of N, scattered across the continents, doesn't matter which. Much more physical than sitting in a corner and scribbling in my notebooks all day, though.
Really, though, it's about doing what we can to reduce transmission rates. But 'what we can' is variable from one person's circumstances to the next. For mathematicians, that might mean doubling down on one's usual tendencies and becoming a full-on anchorite. Dentists have a different set of responsibilities, though, and that's fine. People still need root canals: untreated abcesses were a major drag on life expectancy in the pre-modern era.
posted by kaibutsu at 12:27 PM on March 15, 2020
Really, though, it's about doing what we can to reduce transmission rates. But 'what we can' is variable from one person's circumstances to the next. For mathematicians, that might mean doubling down on one's usual tendencies and becoming a full-on anchorite. Dentists have a different set of responsibilities, though, and that's fine. People still need root canals: untreated abcesses were a major drag on life expectancy in the pre-modern era.
posted by kaibutsu at 12:27 PM on March 15, 2020
Mefi's regular poster population (and Ceglowski's readership) still seems skewed towards upper-middle-class (at least) tech people, who generally have the easiest time of all (except for the mathematicians, of course!). As a particular kind of lawyer, I can do about 80% of my job at about 75% efficiency from home--well, that is, I'll be confirming that starting Monday (and that's assuming my employer's barely mediocre IT systems hold up). A fair number of my colleagues, including some of the lawyers, can't (hard to manage undercover operations from home).
Everyone needs a cute furry being for moral support regardless. I already knew my lack of one was a hole in my life, but this time has really exposed that weakness in my infrastructure. So keep posting those pictures, everybody!
posted by praemunire at 12:39 PM on March 15, 2020 [5 favorites]
Everyone needs a cute furry being for moral support regardless. I already knew my lack of one was a hole in my life, but this time has really exposed that weakness in my infrastructure. So keep posting those pictures, everybody!
posted by praemunire at 12:39 PM on March 15, 2020 [5 favorites]
When cats Google:
JJ09K,MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM8MMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMML
"No Search Results Found"
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 1:08 PM on March 15, 2020 [6 favorites]
JJ09K,MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM8MMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMML
"No Search Results Found"
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 1:08 PM on March 15, 2020 [6 favorites]
In my previous experiments teaching my classes using Zoom, various pets have showed up on people's laps during class. We all stop and say "awwww." Students have noted in their responses to my surveys about online instruction that it's definitely distracting to be at home. One said that next time they'll make sure to clean their room and feed the dog first. ^_^ Since my Thursday class is in the evening, my cats almost ended the class meeting for everyone last week by walking across the keyboard in an attempt to remind the large mammal who inexplicably controls the food supply IT IS DINNER TIME.
posted by spamandkimchi at 1:24 PM on March 15, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by spamandkimchi at 1:24 PM on March 15, 2020 [4 favorites]
I only have stuffy animal cats. They will visibly lurk
posted by tilde at 1:49 PM on March 15, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by tilde at 1:49 PM on March 15, 2020 [1 favorite]
I totally recognized limeonaire's beauties after seeing them in another thread a day or two ago!
posted by ktkt at 1:53 PM on March 15, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by ktkt at 1:53 PM on March 15, 2020 [1 favorite]
Our cats know immediately when I active the videoconferencing technology. No matter where they are in the house, they arrow for my laptop and start showing themselves off to the world. Usually it's one at a time. Sometimes two will contest the space, competing for my arms, shoulders, lap, or chairback.
Later in the video, once they've majestically slunk off, one or more of my merely human interlocutors will ask for a return cat visit.
posted by doctornemo at 2:00 PM on March 15, 2020 [4 favorites]
Later in the video, once they've majestically slunk off, one or more of my merely human interlocutors will ask for a return cat visit.
posted by doctornemo at 2:00 PM on March 15, 2020 [4 favorites]
As prophesied, WHO let the dogs out.
I regret that no matter how vigorously I smash the favourite icon, it will only let me do so once.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 2:16 PM on March 15, 2020 [5 favorites]
I regret that no matter how vigorously I smash the favourite icon, it will only let me do so once.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 2:16 PM on March 15, 2020 [5 favorites]
I would grade, except that Ozias Midwinter is interfering as usual.
posted by thomas j wise at 2:30 PM on March 15, 2020
posted by thomas j wise at 2:30 PM on March 15, 2020
I'm not entirely sure that's the link you intended, thomas j wise.
posted by hippybear at 2:35 PM on March 15, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by hippybear at 2:35 PM on March 15, 2020 [2 favorites]
In the last 3 days, I have thrown a felt mouse ~10,000 times while trying to get reports written about how we will deal with Coronavirus at work. Cats are happy, arm is sore.
posted by GenjiandProust at 3:40 PM on March 15, 2020 [7 favorites]
posted by GenjiandProust at 3:40 PM on March 15, 2020 [7 favorites]
Seeing all those cat photos has made me want to adopt a cat even more.
I wonder whether the social distancing period will have the collateral effect of emptying the internet-connected world's cat shelters.
posted by acb at 4:27 PM on March 15, 2020 [3 favorites]
I wonder whether the social distancing period will have the collateral effect of emptying the internet-connected world's cat shelters.
posted by acb at 4:27 PM on March 15, 2020 [3 favorites]
Yeah, one of my first thoughts was "My cat is going to be thrilled about me working from home for the foreseeable future." He has not been happy about the hours I've spent at work, which have been higher than usual lately. Getting some quality cat time is basically the only bright spot in this otherwise bleak time.
Then my second thought was, "I am never going to be able to keep him off my computer while doing all these zoom conferences." He's usually pretty good about not walking across the keyboard when my laptop is open, but that's mainly because he's trained me so well, that if he just gives me "the look", I automatically close the laptop so he can come lie on it. Obviously, I can't do that when I'm in the middle of a web conference. So we'll see how this goes...
posted by litera scripta manet at 4:34 PM on March 15, 2020 [1 favorite]
Then my second thought was, "I am never going to be able to keep him off my computer while doing all these zoom conferences." He's usually pretty good about not walking across the keyboard when my laptop is open, but that's mainly because he's trained me so well, that if he just gives me "the look", I automatically close the laptop so he can come lie on it. Obviously, I can't do that when I'm in the middle of a web conference. So we'll see how this goes...
posted by litera scripta manet at 4:34 PM on March 15, 2020 [1 favorite]
ricochet biscuit: As prophesied, WHO let the dogs out.
I am stealing that. Just letting you know.
posted by clawsoon at 5:45 PM on March 15, 2020 [2 favorites]
I am stealing that. Just letting you know.
posted by clawsoon at 5:45 PM on March 15, 2020 [2 favorites]
My cat has trained me to pet or give him treats whenever I have to take a work call because he knows I will do anything to keep him from meowing. I’ve had clients, upon hearing him in the background, ask if I need to check on my child because apparently he sounds like a baby crying. If I stop petting him for even a second to type or use my trackpad he will meow loudly in extortion.
I put him in cat jail (his own room with everything he needs) for scheduled calls but hate when I get one I have to answer unexpectedly because once he hears me say “Hello?” he will sprint from wherever he is in the house to come yell at me.
My only cheerful thought about basically everyone else working from home for the foreseeable future (and all the parents who will have kids at home too) is that I won’t feel so unprofessional about the incessant meowing happening on my end because anyone I will talk to on the phone during my workday will have background noise too.
posted by the thorn bushes have roses at 5:58 PM on March 15, 2020 [7 favorites]
I put him in cat jail (his own room with everything he needs) for scheduled calls but hate when I get one I have to answer unexpectedly because once he hears me say “Hello?” he will sprint from wherever he is in the house to come yell at me.
My only cheerful thought about basically everyone else working from home for the foreseeable future (and all the parents who will have kids at home too) is that I won’t feel so unprofessional about the incessant meowing happening on my end because anyone I will talk to on the phone during my workday will have background noise too.
posted by the thorn bushes have roses at 5:58 PM on March 15, 2020 [7 favorites]
(Quick clarification, I stated that badly because of course not everyone can work from home during this time or be lucky enough to be able to work at all, just that the clients I talk to are likely to be working from home now.)
posted by the thorn bushes have roses at 6:50 PM on March 15, 2020
posted by the thorn bushes have roses at 6:50 PM on March 15, 2020
I've been baffled by all this rhetoric expecting everyone will (can) work from home. What weird jobs do these people have that don't involve any physical materials at all?
My main job is not computer-centric in its focus (i.e. I am not a web developer or anything) but as someone who does research and translations for a consulting organization, it is computer-centric in its tools. Give me a laptop and a phone and I can work from anywhere — where I work from is usually my basement.
I also, twice a year, work for a few weeks as a presider and invigilator for exams at my alma mater. As of Thursday last, they have cancelled the balance of the semester and the April exams. Good idea to keep the students and employees healthy safe; a little annoying to see my robust paycheque for twelve days or so of work vanish, but so it goes. I have lived at quite a few different rungs of the economic ladder. I regard changes to my cash situation as I do changes in the weather and I almost never lint my change.
(That said, a few days ago I bought a couple of things in a drugstore, passed over a ten-dollar bill to cover the seven-something charge and the cashier carefully counted out $92 and change for me. Seemingly her finger had slipped and added a surplus zero and I had to put up a fight not to be given ninety bucks extra cash. At the moment, I could use it, but I didn’t want this teenager to get canned for a mis-keyed total, but I still had to persuade her that if she looked in the till, there would not be a C-note in there.)
posted by ricochet biscuit at 8:54 PM on March 15, 2020 [1 favorite]
My main job is not computer-centric in its focus (i.e. I am not a web developer or anything) but as someone who does research and translations for a consulting organization, it is computer-centric in its tools. Give me a laptop and a phone and I can work from anywhere — where I work from is usually my basement.
I also, twice a year, work for a few weeks as a presider and invigilator for exams at my alma mater. As of Thursday last, they have cancelled the balance of the semester and the April exams. Good idea to keep the students and employees healthy safe; a little annoying to see my robust paycheque for twelve days or so of work vanish, but so it goes. I have lived at quite a few different rungs of the economic ladder. I regard changes to my cash situation as I do changes in the weather and I almost never lint my change.
(That said, a few days ago I bought a couple of things in a drugstore, passed over a ten-dollar bill to cover the seven-something charge and the cashier carefully counted out $92 and change for me. Seemingly her finger had slipped and added a surplus zero and I had to put up a fight not to be given ninety bucks extra cash. At the moment, I could use it, but I didn’t want this teenager to get canned for a mis-keyed total, but I still had to persuade her that if she looked in the till, there would not be a C-note in there.)
posted by ricochet biscuit at 8:54 PM on March 15, 2020 [1 favorite]
My cats are definitely very happy about my mandatory WFH status. As far as they are concerned, this is how things should be. I do policy work for a non-profit, and I'm usually at meetings and so on a lot during the day, but everything is getting canceled or turned into calls, so it's been pretty easy to shift my work to home.
posted by gingerbeer at 9:12 PM on March 15, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by gingerbeer at 9:12 PM on March 15, 2020 [1 favorite]
It's a good opportunity to catch up on your cat's annual performance review.
Suggested talking points for meeting:
-Who is a good kitty?
-Who is the best kitty?
-How did you get these sharp pointy razorclaws?
-Why are you such a whiny complainerpants?
-Performance targets wrt sleeping, stretching, scratching, knocking things off furniture
posted by Jeanne at 9:13 AM on March 16, 2020 [12 favorites]
Suggested talking points for meeting:
-Who is a good kitty?
-Who is the best kitty?
-How did you get these sharp pointy razorclaws?
-Why are you such a whiny complainerpants?
-Performance targets wrt sleeping, stretching, scratching, knocking things off furniture
posted by Jeanne at 9:13 AM on March 16, 2020 [12 favorites]
One said that next time they'll make sure to clean their room and feed the dog first.
A: "Hey pet! You have to do stuff on Zoom tomorrow?"
B: "Yeah, I think everyone's figured out how to use it."
A: "In that case we should the the drying rack full of boxers and briefs from the office study to the living room."
B: "!"
posted by sebastienbailard at 12:27 PM on March 16, 2020
A: "Hey pet! You have to do stuff on Zoom tomorrow?"
B: "Yeah, I think everyone's figured out how to use it."
A: "In that case we should the the drying rack full of boxers and briefs from the office study to the living room."
B: "!"
posted by sebastienbailard at 12:27 PM on March 16, 2020
Suggested talking points for meeting:
-Who is a good kitty?
-Who is the best kitty
I tried to have this conversation, but Spriggan and Speedball could not reach a mutual decision and started jumping on each other and Dolly had to answer another call outside. She said it was from Nature. I eventually had to adjourn.
posted by Sparx at 1:10 PM on March 16, 2020 [1 favorite]
-Who is a good kitty?
-Who is the best kitty
I tried to have this conversation, but Spriggan and Speedball could not reach a mutual decision and started jumping on each other and Dolly had to answer another call outside. She said it was from Nature. I eventually had to adjourn.
posted by Sparx at 1:10 PM on March 16, 2020 [1 favorite]
It's a good opportunity to catch up on your cat's annual performance review.
The idea of cat performance reviews sounds as weird as that of cat shows, as what right does any human have to judge a cat?
posted by acb at 3:17 PM on March 16, 2020 [2 favorites]
The idea of cat performance reviews sounds as weird as that of cat shows, as what right does any human have to judge a cat?
posted by acb at 3:17 PM on March 16, 2020 [2 favorites]
« Older "She'll make point five past lightspeed" | Simple yet powerful gamedev Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by mbrubeck at 7:42 AM on March 15, 2020 [32 favorites]