It’s a shame we can’t post pitcures in the comments, otherwise I’d be crowned King Of All Office Slobs.

OTOH, having worked with somebody who truly had Hoarder Disorder (to the point where the fire department had to tell him to clean up his act—twice), I find myself getting a bit nervous when the piles of paper become TOO unruly.

I don’t mind cluttered desks as long as important paperwork I need hasn’t disappeared on them; I have 3 people in my office that do that. Once, one lost the key to our mailbox. We found it inside a binder, under the metal part a couple months later. Luckily, we had spares, but I think it’s a plot to make sure I don’t take any days off. I never know what I’ll find when I come back.

I do not know any accountants who do not have messy desks.  In fact in the heat of tax season the clutter usually extends to cover the floor of the office except for a small path from door to desk.  And we are people who have passed the CPA exam so bite us.

Just flashed back to my worst boss ever.  He required everyone to tidy up their desks before going home each day.  No loose papers allowed.

Of course we all just shoved random crap into folders and then had to sort it all back out in the morning.  What a nuisance.

He also stood at the door at 8:30 every morning to ambush anyone who tried to slip in a minute late.

Yesterday, by coincidence, I happened to be cleaning my desk. And by cleaning, I mean removing enough detritus to make out the contours of what seems to be a piece of furniture. Having achieved near desk-ness, I declared victory, and then declared National Have Something With Liquor In It Day.

Is there an official line between clutter-er and hoarder?

People who are organized internally have no need for external organization.  A clean desk is the crutch of a disordered mind.

My paper problem relates to procrastination.  Papers represent things that need to be attended to.

I sort them, I stack them, I move them from place to place, everything but deal with the information they contain.  Then there’s a monthly mini-purge in which everything with a due date gets dealt with, while the remaining things are organized and moved somewhere, then new things are added to the stack.

I can relate to this.  I’m a senior administrative type in social services, which means that anywhere else in the world I would be drowning in paper. Happily, the local authority I work for is committed to doing things electronically, and I embrace that with enthusiasm; the more stuff I can deal with via email, the better.  And it means I don’t have to get up and get crap from the printer every five minutes, so it’s all good.  And if anything does involve paper to a distressing degree, I delegate it to one of my underlings…

In my experience, the most organised people, deskwise, are high level PAs; that’s partly an appearance thing, but also because managers tend to be rubbish at organising themselves.  I’ve done the job myself recently - I was the interim PA for five months to one of our higher level managers while they were trying to recruit permanently. The one I worked for is just the nicest person, but also chronically disorganised.  I used to have conniptions looking at her calendar; she adds things without telling anyone and gets herself double and triple booked.  Drove me mad.

I like clutter.  I live clutter.  I clean when it reaches the point in which I can’t stand it.  Doesn’t happen often.  So, clutterers unite!

And if anything does involve paper to a distressing degree, I delegate it to one of my underlings…

Hmm. That makes me sound terrible on second reading. I’m actually quite nice for a boss type, honest.

Is there an official line between clutter-er and hoarder?

Best guess:
1. Whether the clutter hinders your ability to function.
2. Why the clutter is there in the first place.

I’m pathologically tidy.  I have no regrets.

Hmm, reminds me I “forgot” to vacuum over the weekend. My desk at work, now shared with another fellow (Palinista no. 1!) is always a mess. My books at home, once removed from the shelf will wait months until they are placed back and if the dust on the wainscoating in any indication, my small apt. is a supreme fire hazard.

Fuck off neat freaks.

I’ll happily bite you, HTP.  Glad to see you getting into the spirit.

Hey HH. Thanks for creating a day for schlubs like moi and thanks for dropping by.

Is there an official line between clutter-er and hoarder?

See my previous comment re: involvement of fire department.

Hmm. That makes me sound terrible on second reading.

Yes. Yes, it does. You should have used the word “minions.”

Yes. Yes, it does. You should have used the word “minions.”

I have called them that in jest before, actually…