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Why "The Office" Would Never Survive in Today's Political Climate
by Kevin Faber
If you like “The Office,” you can probably quote a lot of the characters. But have you ever thought about how the world has changed and made “The Office” age poorly?
Pam's Development
Throughout the show, Pam had some character development. However, that all went away once she ended up with Jim. Once they became a couple, a big part of her personality had to do with them being in a relationship.
Pam wasn't able to be her own person, which made her a bit less likable as the show went on. Yes, they were a cute couple, and a lot of fans routed for them to date. But once it actually happened, it wasn't as fulfilling as one might have thought.
Problems Between Jim and Pam
Before Pam and Jim started dating, Pam was engaged to a man named Roy. Now, Roy wasn't a main character, but that doesn't excuse the fact that Jim didn't seem to care about her engagement. He claimed to be a friend, but friends wouldn't do that.
Not to mention that when Pam went on maternity leave, Jim cheated on her. People still cheat today, but it doesn't look good to see a main, supposedly loveable, character do that. It serves a bad message to viewers claiming that it's okay to cheat on your spouse.
The Racism
Then there's the fact that Michael Scott couldn't tell two Asian women apart. He decides to mark one with ink to help recognize who is who. With the increase in crimes against Asian women, this is one episode that leaves a bad mark on the legacy of “The Office.”
If you look at the two women, you can see they look quite different. One of the actresses has said that she took the part because she needed to, even though it was a racist portrayal of an Asian woman.
Not Appreciating Gifts
Another big issue happens in the episode with the Secret Santa gift exchange. On the one hand, you see Jim preparing a beautiful teapot for Pam. However, Michael Scott freaks out when he ends up with a homemade oven mitt.
The mitt may not be expensive or perfect, but it came from the heart. Instead of accepting it, Michael decides to try and swap the gift. This may not be politically incorrect, but it's definitely rude, and we can all learn how to be kinder and to accept gifts, even if they come from someone like a help desk software manager, that we don't like.
Bullying Employees
One of the biggest recurring problems in “The Office” is Michael's treatment of Toby, the HR employee. Every time the two interact, Michael never has anything nice to say. He puts Toby in the back of the office so that he doesn't have to look at him.
And whenever Toby has a legitimate concern for how things are going, Michael shuts him down. As more workers have gained more power, bosses need to start listening to their people. That whole storyline wouldn't work well today as it would probably get more backlash from viewers.
Michael's Behavior Overall
You can look at just about anything Michael Scott does and find a problem with it. Whether it's his treatment of employees or his overall attitude, he's not a great character. That's not to say he wasn't a big part of the show.
Some fans say the show went downhill after actor Steve Carrell left. However, it doesn't excuse the boss's behavior at work. You have to be nice to your employees, supervisors, and other people you work with.
The Office is one of the most popular TV shows of all time. But that doesn't mean you can't criticize all of the problems with it. Keep these things in mind when rewatching it.
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