The Cringe Is Strong With The Zoom Wave

Cringe: to feel very embarrassed or awkward; react with discomfort. That strange, awkward feeling that one gets when you do something that everyone else is doing, but it feels really weird when actually performing the action.

This specific action is one that was never performed in a pre-pandemic world. Walking out of someone’s office or out of the meeting was the final action in the workplace play.

Now, we all awkwardly stare at each other while surreptitiously trying to blindly click the ‘Leave’ button without breaking eye contact. That or we all end up committing the most cringy action of all to end a pandemic video conference.

I am talking about waving.

This action is one I never remember doing in the workplace before now.

Sure, maybe occasionally out a window or across a parking lot. But never before in a meeting or workplace interior.

Think of how strange this behavior would have been 5 years ago.

“Hey, Chris! How are you today? Me? I am great. hope you have a good day.”

*Wave*

Ugh. No thanks.