air conditioner VS copier: matchup of the month

For various reasons, my workplace is attempting to cool a relatively large space with a relatively small air conditioning unit. (Actually, the unit is huge, it’s just that the space is actually kind of huge too. It’s weird; we’re moving soon; whatever.)

The upshot of this is that when the AC unit is on, it’s *always* on. It never levels out. And it’s loud. And it’s directly behind me. I would equate the noise level to driving down the highway at 40-50 mph, with the windows rolled down. (No, really.)

Anyway, it’s probably clear that this noise drives me nuts. But my work neighbor hates being hot, and unfortunately it doesn’t really make sense for us to just switch desks, so it’s been on a lot. Monday it was off (yay!) and suddenly we all realized that the COPIER is making a lot of noise. As in, I thought someone was mowing the grass outside, except that it went on all day, and (upon investigation) the noise was pretty clearly coming from the copier. (It faxes too; this does not excuse it’s ridiculous production of constant noise.)

This noise is much quieter than the AC. Much. Quieter. And yet it is driving my work neighbor CRAZY. She can hardly stand it, she says! And I don’t really get it, because it is seriously decibels quieter than the AC, but maybe it’s a frequency thing, or pitch, or something.

It’s possible I’m seeing the humor in this situation. Little bit.

Mirrored from The Marci Rating System.