It feels like (...as a 21st century USAn) Wild Overreach of Poorly Thought Out Therapy Vibes in the Workplace.
IT REALLY DOES. I can, if I must, accept that it works better when it's part of the culture, and there's a whole cultural context surrounding it, so you grow up with this being modeled for you, and know whenever you go through some kind of emotionally disturbing interaction that the whole group is probably going to talk about it later. But - in additiont o dragging in people who didn't grow up in that culture and are clearly uncomfortable with it - I still feel like this is an absolutely tailor-made-for-explosions situation, especially since there doesn't seem to be any guidance or facilitating, so it's just a free-range "talking shit about your friends to their faces" kind of thing. And they're a work group, not even a big group marriage or something! Doing it in private and/or being able to opt out without shame should definitely be options here!
no subject
IT REALLY DOES. I can, if I must, accept that it works better when it's part of the culture, and there's a whole cultural context surrounding it, so you grow up with this being modeled for you, and know whenever you go through some kind of emotionally disturbing interaction that the whole group is probably going to talk about it later. But - in additiont o dragging in people who didn't grow up in that culture and are clearly uncomfortable with it - I still feel like this is an absolutely tailor-made-for-explosions situation, especially since there doesn't seem to be any guidance or facilitating, so it's just a free-range "talking shit about your friends to their faces" kind of thing. And they're a work group, not even a big group marriage or something! Doing it in private and/or being able to opt out without shame should definitely be options here!