A guy at work told me that I have a problem with my transmission just because he could hear me shifting as I rode by him in the parking lot!  Is that a load of crap, or is there a problem if I can hear myself shifting?

I asked him if he meant an odd noise or some sort of unusual clicking or clunking, but he said the shifting should be almost silent!  

I can hear mine shifting... and I was on a newer triumph sport bike and I thought the shifting with that was even louder than mine.

The GS is old tech and it's ok to hear the shifter clack. If it's operating smoothly and it's not a grinding or otherwise bad sounding noise, don't sweat it.

I would say it is pretty normal. It can sound louder going from first to second because you go through neutral but I wouldnt worry about it. I sometimes shift badly from second to first and it sounds like all the gears are gonna fly out, Im just not pushing done fast enough on the shifter.

Suzukis and Yamahas have very noisy transmissions.

Don't worry. It's normal that it makes some noise. As long as it shifts normal, nothing is wrong.

The Honda Nighthawk 650 (shaftdrive) of my dad also shifts very loud. I can hear it even when he rides out of the street. (very big CLACK)

Thanks for the load off!  I've done a bunch of work on this bike and it seems like there's always one more thing to fix!

Just another great reason to get a new aftermarket exhaust.  

When I was a little kid, riding in my dad's old ford.  I'd hear a noise that scared me and I'd ask him if that was something that needed fixing?  He would turn up the radio and say "There, it's fixed."