Tuning out toxic coworkers

Sheri · Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 2:37 pm Post subject: Tuning out toxic coworkers

Ugh ugh ugh - two of them within spitting distance!!! Just very bitter women with empty lives who are nasty to be around. Other people in the area are afraid to rock the boat so they just go along with the insanity. I choose to ignore them for the most part and that sometimes ends up with them acting like children and making obnoxious loud conversations. (this is a fairly casual office environment).

I don't want to get into particulars, just trust me when I say they are awful. One of them won't speak to me when anything good happens - say for instance if I come back from vacation or buy a house. Not that she's any better than that to anyone else, it's not really personal to me. BUT I have to work near them! (tried getting moved, not an option)

So for right now I sit here like a cyborg with a phone headset one for one ear and my radio semi loud on the other side of me.

For the most part I try not to let them bother me - but you know, day in, day out, hour by hour - it just wears on a person!!!!

Comments? Suggestions? Really - thanks for just listening!!

Sheri
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ddoll · Joined: 06 Mar 2003 Posts: 3067 Location: RI

Sheri, please see my other post about Tourettes Syndrome.

But if it was me...I'd sing showtunes...LOUDLY.
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Sheri · Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 4:37 pm Post subject:

Hey ddoll, I answered you in the other forum -- thanks for the advice - I'm thinking maybe Easy Listening sung loudly will be more effective. She's a real hard rock fan and I am thinking that my off key Barry Manilow (Love Barry!) might jar her enjoyment of classic rock extended guitar riffs....

Sheri
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ddoll · Joined: 06 Mar 2003 Posts: 3067 Location: RI

Ha-ha!! Barry Manilow is a great revenge tactic, Sheri!!

You know, one of my friends told me about a great gag to pull on an office mate.

He said you switch keyboards with the person. What ever you type comes out on their computer screen.

Another one is to switch the person's mouse settings to left handed.
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~ddoll~

"Forgive your enemies. It messes with their heads."

Rosebud · Joined: 15 Dec 2003 Posts: 877 Location: CT

I don't have obnoxious people near me at the moment.

I don't know how the switching keyboards could work, unless I guess they are wireless? We are supposed to lock our screens when away, so no switching of mouse settings either.

We used to have many Sun Workstations and people would constantly be sending "sounds" to other parts of the office. Usually it was for fun, but sometimes it was because someone was annoying. Those people would get the toilet flushing type sounds. Back before we had cubes and it was a more open setting it was more funny to be able to follow the sounds, by the expression of people's faces.

kathi · Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 8:52 pm Post subject:

I LOVE the showtunes idea!!! Sheri I can come over and teach some to you. Let's start a of list of the most annoying (I'm certain ddoll can add to it).

1) Bushel and a Peck from Guys and Dolls
2) When I Marry Mr. Snow from Carosel
3) Surry with the Fringe on Top from Oklahoma
4) What's the Buzz from Superstar
5) Small House of Uncle Thomas from The King and I

Brian's list (you may guess which show he hates)

1) June is Busting Out All Over from Carosel
2) Clambake from Carosel

I'm sure we can come up with some more when we aren't so tired!

kathi

BillJ · Joined: 03 Nov 2003 Posts: 907 Location: Northern Virginia

Irritating show tunes?

Hmmmm.

Yzma would rpobably say: "anything from West Side Story" (which happens to be my favorite).

I would agree with Bushel and a Peck... add to that :

We've got magic to do from Pippin
The entire score of *beep* Yankees
The entire score of M. Butterfly
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BillJ · Joined: 03 Nov 2003 Posts: 907 Location: Northern Virginia

Sheri,

If you can stand it, start playing cd's of bagpipe favorites... I have lots if you want them.
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Sheri · Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2005 8:15 am Post subject:

Bill,

I can stand it and I am certain that my coworkers cannot - you may be on to something!!!

Thanks!

Sheri
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WillCAD · Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2005 11:25 am Post subject:

Sheri, i can also provide you with various movie soundtracks, including The Punnisher, the Matrix, and a few other noisy metal albums, not to mention my extensive collection of John Williams stuff (Star Wars, Jurassic Park, etc).
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Yzma · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 833 Location: Woodbridge, VA

EVERYTHING from "West Side Story" Oh...did someone mention that already?
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PrincessRosie · Joined: 17 Sep 2005 Posts: 13 Location: Way Down Yonder

Sheri--

In the grand scheme of things, people who act like them are miserable and revel is spreading their misery to everyone around them.

Your good friends celebrate your victories and are there to catch you when you fall. Find out who your real friends are and hold them close.

As for the rest of em--I won't use my famous expression here, but I'm sure you get the gist of it.

Be happy!

Sheri · Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2005 6:19 pm Post subject:

Thank you Miss Rosie - and may I say it is a great pleasure to see you again!!!!

Sheri
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When you wish upon a star, your dreams come true