Passive-Aggressive Post-it Note Collection
The Passive-Aggressive Post-it Note Collection represents a unique anthropological archive of modern office communication, housed in the Museum of Corporate Culture. This collection, started by Dr. Linda Papersworth in 2019, has grown to include over 300 distinct specimens of workplace passive-aggressive behavior documented through the medium of sticky notes.
History
The collection began during the infamous Coffee Cup Crisis, when an unprecedented surge of sticky note communications appeared in break rooms across the Midtown Business District. The phenomenon gained scholarly attention after the Great Refrigerator Cleanout Revolt, where over 50 post-it notes appeared overnight in protest of discarded lunches.
Classification System
Notes in the collection are categorized using the Papersworth-Johnson Scale of Passive Aggression, which ranks specimens from 1 (mildly irritated) to 10 (barely contained fury). Key categories include:
- Kitchen Warfare Notes - Primarily focused on unwashed dishes and stolen lunches
- Printer Protocol Violations - Documentation of paper tray emptying and toner replacement avoidance
- Temperature Control Disputes - Thermostat-related communications
- Meeting Room Booking Conflicts - Notes about unauthorized room occupation
Notable Specimens
The "Your Mother Doesn't Work Here" Series
A complete set of increasingly frustrated notes about break room cleanliness, culminating in the legendary "I'm Not Your Mother, But She Called And She's Disappointed" note that sparked the Break Room Revolution of 2021.
The Printer Saga Collection
A chronological sequence of 27 notes documenting the decline of printer-human relations, featuring the famous "Whoever Took The Last Sheet Of Paper And Didn't Refill - I Hope You Get Papercuts" specimen.
Preservation Techniques
The collection employs the Advanced Sticky Note Conservation Method, developed specifically to maintain adhesive integrity while preserving passive-aggressive sentiment. Each note is digitally scanned and stored in a climate-controlled environment to prevent fade and deterioration.
Cultural Impact
The collection has inspired several workplace communication studies and the development of the Digital Passive-Aggressive Note Generator, now standard in many corporate messaging systems. It also led to the creation of the annual Passive-Aggressive Communication Festival.