Drink It In
Sometimes, being passive-aggressive can be effective, as it conveys the message without resorting to shouting or expressing emotions – particularly when humor is involved. However, there are instances where people take it literally, and the joke ends up backfiring. It’s hard to determine who’s being more passive-aggressive in this case, but let’s go with Dave.
Clearly, the person intended to signify that the beverage belonged exclusively to Dave (yet another creative sign to deter office food thieves). However, they failed to consider the possibility of another Dave in the office. This situation underscores the importance of knowing your colleagues – not necessarily for social gatherings and friendship, but to ensure your passive-aggressiveness hits the mark.