by K. Bella

Created on: August 19, 2008

The gray abyss, sometimes referred to as the "sea of cubes", is an environment all too familiar to the modern day white collar worker. We stroll in to our nine-to-fives every morning as we are met with sounds of percolating coffee pots, clicking keyboards, and those two annoying young ones who insist on sharing their accounts of world-altering drama from the previous evening's happy hours. This is our every morning. This is our day-to-day. This is the misery known as work.

What many modern-day workers don't seem to understand is that there is in fact proper etiquette to follow when performing one's daily tasks within the perimeters of a six-by-six cubicle. And while cubicle etiquette is not often followed, there are some basic guidelines that every cubicle worker should at the very least, be aware of.

1. Personal phone calls are no longer personal. For those who are seemingly unaware, there is generally nearly six to ten feet of space that remains wide-open above the cubicle walls. Allow me to also point out that most (if not all) cubicles are made out of strips of metal and filled in with material no thicker than a patio carpet. In other words, the makers of the cubicle walls did not have the concept of sound-barrier in mind. Please do not confuse these faux walls with cement. Your neighbors do not want to hear of your sexual escapades with the new guy in accounting, or how that meatloaf you had at your in-laws last night just didn't settle right. Take your personal calls outside.

2. Keyboards are not stress management tools. The purpose of a keyboard is to type. As technologically advanced, computer savvy professionals, it is important to remember the use and purpose of the tools we are given. A keyboard, although often mistaken for an exercise matt for one's fingers, or at times, a punching bag, is meant to be used rather delicately to produce letters, words and numbers on the computer screen. Please use accordingly.

3. Do not talk over cubicle walls. Again, we return to the concept of private conversation. Whether you deem your need to speak with a coworker a private matter or not, no one else (and trust me on this) cares, nor do they want to listen to your banter on the use of a coversheet or potential problems with your hard drive. Instead, consider getting up and visiting those you need to speak with, in person, in order to avoid the inclusion of those around you in your conversation.

4. Go out to lunch. For the extremely dedicated cubicle worker, and overtime

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