High School Behavior

High-School Behavior in a Work Environment:
I have a question for you: Why is it that we end up joining 'clans' at work? Did you notice that our actions around our work place reflect on our high-school behaviour? I had interviewed people, (becuase I did a paper on this in my last English class)
What they had to say was quite intersting. A lot of them said that they join 'groups' to feel accepted, and so they won't be frowned upon... .ring a bell?
I am or was going thru the same thing at my work place. I even confronted the lady that was talking behind my back... I said, "I don't know what I did to you, or what happened between us, but I need to know so our work-relationship will improve."
Her response: "Nothing, you did nothing... I just prefer not to talk to you, or be around you."
OOOKAY then.
What is that? She didn't even give me a chance as a person...I am more grown up than she is, the lady is 56 years old. Last year around this time, another girl... I say girl cause she's in her 30's was picking on me and yelling at me in front of customers. One day, I'd had it. I took her in front to my manager and told her, *sobbing* "What did I do to you? I deserve the same respect that I've been giving you... I don't know what your problem is or why you're treating me this way, but it stops, now." She actually said she was sorry. When I left my bosses office, my other co-workers called me over their desks and said, "Way to go, it's about damn time someone stood up to her."
WHOA! Way to go me!! I think everyone should be treated with the same respect... as the saying goes "Be treated like you want to be treated." I take that to heart.