The Problem

Ive been out of the office on a three-day seminar and have got back to find my chair has been replaced with a less comfortable one. I suspect a colleague who started his job while I was away. His cubicle is right across from mine and every time I see him I feel cross. Should I get in early one morning and swap the chair over again? But what if it wasnt him? Should I confront him, or would that look petty? Or do I just put up with a chair that is uncomfortable and is not mine?

Research associate, male, 23

LUCYS ANSWER

Your problem has provoked a storm of outrage on FT.com. Dozens of readers have called you a baby and a fool and are cross with you (and me) for wasting their time on such piffle. I am taking no notice, and I suggest you take none too.

Of course your problem is petty. But so is office life. Indeed, on the spectrum of petty things your chair is at the serious end of the range. You spend almost as much time in it as you do in your bed and to have it stolen is an outrage.

First, there is the problem of adjusting to another one: the chair Im sitting on has an improbably large number of levers that work in unexpected ways. Then there is the primal attachment one feels to ones chair. The three bears expressed this well: Whos been sitting in my chair? they roared - and their chairs werent even stolen.

Furthermore, ones chair is a home from home in the office, and to have it pinched when ones back is turned does not feel nice.

So what to do? Chair theft is a mean trick, but is fine in retaliation. Indeed, as the chair belongs to neither of you, a state of anarchy prevails. He took your chair in a raid when you were away. You take it back in a raid when he is away.

If it turns out that he didnt really take it, then never mind. He has had it for only a few days so may not notice. Dont think of discussing it with him in a reasonable way, as this isnt a reasonable matter.

Once you have the chair back you must make sure it doesnt happen again. One of my colleagues reduces his risk of chair theft by making such a fuss that thieves steal other chairs for a quiet life. I dont recommend this for you: at 23 you need to earn more stripes before becoming a chair hysteric.

My own approach has been developed unwittingly: I have spilt so much food on my chair that no one else wants it.

YOUR ADVICE

Freaking chair

If you are unable to stand up in the middle of your office and ask Who the hell took my freaking chair? with such force that someone guiltily surrenders it, I doubt you have the inspiration and/or intestinal fortitude necessary to progress in the business world.

Analyst, male, 34

Bad back

Inform HR that your current chair is causing you back pain. Their paranoid fear of being sued will result in a comfortable new chair being delivered quite promptly. Wax lyrical to your new colleague about how much more comfortable the new one is. Confrontation avoided but score settled.

Manager, male, 34

Take a tip

It sounds as if you work in investment banking. Take it from an old timer: this sort of thing happens all too frequently and shows flagrant disregard for ones feelings. To protect yourself in future, all your office accoutrements should be discreetly marked with Tippex, invisible ink or similar. Get to work at once or - who knows - next time it might be your stapler.

Banker, male

Embarrassing

You have written to the FT, which has a readership including the worlds business leaders, to ask about an uncomfortable chair. I am embarrassed on your behalf that you thought this was worth asking.

Anon

Think bigger

Forget about the chair and concentrate on how to get to the corner office (which, among other benefits, will have a more comfortable chair). Spending too much time glued to your inherited chair in your cubicle will not get you there.

Strategist, female, 39

问题：

我出差去参加一个为期三天的研讨会，回来后发现自己的椅子被换掉了。新椅子坐着不太舒服。我怀疑这是一位新同事干的。我不在单位的时候他刚来。他的隔间就在我的对面。每次一看见他，我就觉得恼火。我要不要哪天一大早到办公室把椅子换回来？可如果不是他怎么办？我该不该和他对质？那样会不会显得小家子气？要不，我干脆就忍受着这把既不舒服、又不属于我的椅子？

研究助理，男，23岁

露西的回答：

你的问题在FT.com引起了轩然大波。很多读者说你是没长大的傻瓜，对你（和我）拿这种无聊的事来浪费他们的时间感到恼火。对此我毫不介意，我建议你也不要介意。

当然，你的问题是有些微不足道。可办公室里的生活就是如此。事实上，在一系列的小事情当中，你的椅子问题属于较为严重的范畴。你坐在椅子上的时间，和你躺在床上的时间差不多一样长。有人偷了它，是会让人气恼。

首先是适应另一把椅子的问题：拿我现在坐的椅子来说，它的调节杆多得让人难以想象，调节方式让人意想不到。其次是一个人对自己椅子的原始依恋感。童话里的那三只熊表达得很真切：“谁坐过我的椅子？”（注：源自英国童话《金发姑娘和三只熊》(Goldilocks and the Three Bears)）它们的椅子还没被偷掉呢，就已经吼成这样了。

另外，一个人的椅子就像是办公室里的另一个家。一扭身就被人偷走，那种感觉并不好。

那么该怎么办呢？偷椅子是个不光彩的把戏，但用来报复也没错。事实上，由于椅子不属于你们两人当中的任何人，这已经是一种无政府状态了。你不在的时候，他偷袭拿跑了你的。他不在的时候，你再偷袭拿回来吧。

如果事实证明他确实没拿，也不要介意。这把椅子他才用了几天，所以也许不会注意到。别想着和他理性地讨论这个问题，因为这本来就不是一个理性的事情。

一旦把椅子拿回来，你必须确保这种事情不要再发生。我的一位同事为了避免椅子被偷，简直折腾得沸反盈天。小偷为了过一份安生日子，只能去偷别人的椅子。我不推荐你这样做：你才23岁，在为了一把椅子闹得歇斯底里之前，需要获得更大的进阶。

我自己的方法是无意中开发出来的：我的椅子上洒了好多吃的，没别人还想要它。

读者建议：

该死的椅子

如果你不能站在办公室中间，恶狠狠地问一句“谁他妈的拿了我那把该死的椅子？”，并让那个小偷交出赃物的话，我怀疑你是否具备在商界谋求发展所必需的脑筋以及（或是）内在的坚韧。

分析师，男，34岁

说你背疼

告诉人事部门，说现在这把椅子让你背疼。害怕被起诉的多疑症，会让他们很快就给你弄来一把舒服的新椅子。向你的新同事吹嘘新椅子是如何如何地更让人舒适。这样既能避免冲突，你和他之间也扯平了。

经理，男，34岁

听取建议

看来你像是在投行工作。听一听老江湖的话吧：这种事发生得实在太频繁了，而且显示出对他人感受的极度漠然。为了在将来保护好自己，你应该在办公室的所有装备上都仔仔细细地用记号笔、隐形墨水或类似的东西做上标记。马上动手吧，否则——谁知道呢——也许下一次就轮到了你的订书机。

银行人士，男

替你害躁

只因为一把不舒服的椅子，你就写信给读者群包括全球商业领袖在内的英国《金融时报》。我真替你感到害臊，你竟然觉得这种事也值得一问。

匿名

想开一点

忘掉椅子吧。集中精力想一想，怎样才能坐到角落里的那间办公室去（那地方有若干好处，其中的一项就是椅子更舒服）。花太多时间执着于办公隔间里沿袭下来的一把椅子，不会让你得到一间属于自己的办公室。

策略师，女，39岁