Air Conditioning - and the relationships it destroyed

As I sit here at my desk that I havent worked on for over 10 days (I took a week off last week), I am in my usual state. Slouching on my reclining chair, working through the gazillion emails that Ive received since activating my "Out Of Office Agent" and wondering why I never get that many email when Im actually IN OFFICE??

Suddenly I hear a thunderous roar of machinery. I turn around and see that someone had switched on the very very VERY old air conditioning and immediately I start to whine. "Please dont switch it on!!! Im just beginning to thaw!!!!" in response I get "but its boiling hot outside and im sweating, just for a few minutes, come on"

This is the standard office chatter where I work. Each floor of the building has controls for the air conditioning for that floor. None of that central stuff. And it gets FREEEEEEEEEZING. Of course, for someone like me whos majority of the work is desk work, I dont get much blood circulation in order to warm me up but others who may have just gone out for a quick errand are trying to cool off the scorching Summer Muscat Sun off.

All this I get. What I really dont get is why people take it personally!! Inter-Office relationships have been destroyed due to this hot-cold situation. A guy who has NEVER fought with anyone ever, recently had a fight with a colleague of mine OVER THE A/C. She promptly applied for a transfer and is no longer here.

Two best friends, who each organised the other's weddings, are no longer on speaking terms due to a fight OVER THE A/C.

What the hell??!!

Sorry I just felt like venting.