At Fed Workers' 'Facebook,' Very Human Bureaucrats

In the days leading up to the government's near-shutdown, federal workers hunkered down at Govloop, the so-called Facebook of government workers, to share tips on dealing with the crisis. There was practical advice—"Water the plants. You may be gone for a while"; comical —"How about we grow beards during the furlough?"; and serious—"Has the threat of a shutdown affected your commitment to public service?"

Govloop was founded in 2008, and now has 42,000 members, reports NPR. "Most public servants want to do good," said Govloop's founder, Steve Ressler. "They're passionate about what they do and they want to give back." The site also helps humanize the stereotypical bureaucrat, as per one woman's Karate Kid post: "Happy to serve. Proud to be chosen. Grateful for the opportunity. Glad to be one of the team. Go govies. Govies ROCK!" (More government shutdown stories.)