Annoying Co-Workers Vent

swhite2012

I am a student worker in a small department in the context of a larger school in the University. I am the only student working here. the other 6 or 7 people are all middle aged and older and this is their full time job. When I am here my workstation is at a computer at the front desk. Because of the location people are constantly walking by/behind me to do things. It is a fairly slow job, and when I'm not helping students I am on my computer doing homework/knotting/whatever. It's not a problem and I am allowed to do it. I've been here for 3 years now.

My issue is how nosy my co workers are. I am a fairly private person and I don't spout all my personal info to everyone like what's going on in my daily life. People will always comment about things I am doing on my computer or whatever when they walk by. Say I'm browsing craiglist looking at cars for whatever reason (I like to browse and look at cars/apartments/etc...just for the heck of it). Then someone will be like "Oh, swhite are you looking for a new car/apartment/furniture?".  Today I had my graphing calculator out for homework and one co worker picked it up and was like "This is a big calculator!". Just now someone was walking out the door and stopped and stared at my sweatshirt for a minute and said "I've never seen that logo before. Is that a brand name?". It's never anything big, but all the little things add up and get on my nerves.

I'm never doing anything that I would be ashamed of talking about or that I'm not supposed to be doing, I just get annoyed with how nosy they all are. I know that they are just trying to be friendly and strike up conversation, but I think it's a little rude and inappropriate. I wouldn't go stand behind them at their desk and comment on whatever they're doing. Am I being completely ridiculous here? 

bethsmiles

I don't think you are being completely ridiculous, but maybe just a little bit ridiculous. It's not like they are purposely invading your personal space to annoy you it's just where your workspace is.

swhite2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_annoying-co-workers-vent?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:1d381fc3-9f51-4a99-ba78-cff1e6b7c6f9Post:e40cdd4d-07e5-417c-88f4-825983bea551">Re: Annoying Co-Workers Vent</a>:
[QUOTE]I don't think you are being completely ridiculous, but maybe just a little bit ridiculous. It's not like they are purposely invading your personal space to annoy you it's just where your workspace is.
Posted by bethsmiles[/QUOTE]

<div>Oh I know they're not purposely doing it, and I know I'm being picky. It's just I wouldn't think it was ok to comment on things they're doing even if it was obviously out in the open. I know it's kind of ridiculous, I just needed to vent it out. </div>

elannis

That kind of thing does bug me ... I hate people looking over my shoulder at what I'm doing, regardless of what it is. Even working here at home I have my computer desk facing the entrance to the room because of it, lol, so I know what you're talking about. I always feel silly for feeling that way, but I still can't help it. Is there any way you can angle your computer away from people? Outside of that, I'm not sure what will help.

Elle1036

I'm a really private person, too, so I understand.  I don't even like FI to watch while I surf the internet, even if I'll end up telling him everything later.  And when I was at home weekend before last, my uncle borrowed my car without asking and I almost lost it.

Sorry.

csousa1

I've talked before about the creepy guy that I work with. Of late, he has been less creepy, but here is an example of something that drove me up the wall.

I don't know if any of you have heard of Pirate's Booty - it's like a healthier version of a cheese puff. Well, I had them at work on Friday, and was trying to enjoy an afternoon snack, when...

Weirdo walked by and said, "Ooo, are you eating popcorn??"

"Yea, kinda." I go back to typing furiously - an OBVIOUS signal to leave me alone.

"Well, is it popcorn or not?"

"It's kinda like popcorn, yea."

"Is it tasty?"

"Yes..."

Walks right up behind me. "Well, what kind is it?" Grabs the bag. "Oooo, Pirate's booty. That's a funny name."

At this point I hear not-so-subtle snickers from the other side of my cube. It is a well-known fact how odd this guy is, and my co-workers get great enjoyment out of it. Needless to say I was extraordinarily displeased at that moment with the name of my afternoon snack.

All that to say - if you are giving off clear signals that you don't want to talk when your co-workers ask you these question and they persist anyway, then yes, that is irritating. Try being even clearer about not wanting to talk about whatever it is. But if they are letting it go after your signals, then try to keep in mind that many people are just wired in a way that wants to be sociable and friendly. I can relate to you - having been shy most of my life I sometimes find being asked friendly questions wildly annoying, but I try to keep in mind that they really are just trying to be nice and make conversation.

peekaboo2011

Yeah, I had a girl do that today.  It super annoyed me because I was trying to be on TK and she was like "Oh, go back to Pinterest - I was reading that!!"  Bitch please, go get your own pinterest account.

elannis

Lol, it would be really weird for someone that you're not close with to come up and pick up your food, bagged or not. Maybe he was trying to get you to offer him some, lol.

csousa1

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_annoying-co-workers-vent?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:136Discussion:1d381fc3-9f51-4a99-ba78-cff1e6b7c6f9Post:1cfc1937-01fe-4353-b65c-768d0f180d20">Re: Annoying Co-Workers Vent</a>:
[QUOTE]Lol, it would be really weird for someone that you're not close with to come up and pick up your food, bagged or not. Maybe he was trying to get you to offer him some, lol.
Posted by elannis[/QUOTE]

Right? I totally thought to myself, "If he shoves his grubby hand in there to take some, I am immediately throwing the bag in the trash." Yuck.

Swazzle

I hate this too!! 

My "office" is different than most, it's very open, we all sit next to each other in rows basically, we all have multiple computer screens.  So whenever someone walks down my row they always feel the need to comment on something.  

"Not engaged yet? I thought you got engaged in August?" 

No shiit. Mind your own business. 

"Oh what's this, the lunch order already?" 

No assshole that's what my family is making for Thanksgiving next week.

"Shopping again?!?!"

YOU'RE NOT MY MOM, BACK OFF!

elannis

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_annoying-co-workers-vent?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:1d381fc3-9f51-4a99-ba78-cff1e6b7c6f9Post:2c2e0628-61c8-4202-97fc-c4b20aa5d2be">Re: Annoying Co-Workers Vent</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Annoying Co-Workers Vent : Right? I totally thought to myself, "If he shoves his grubby hand in there to take some, I am immediately throwing the bag in the trash." Yuck.
Posted by csousa1[/QUOTE]

That'd be my response too ... never know where a person's hand could have been, lol. I hate when people don't get your clues though, even when they aren't exactly subtle.

peekaboo2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_annoying-co-workers-vent?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:136Discussion:1d381fc3-9f51-4a99-ba78-cff1e6b7c6f9Post:c453efef-f535-4491-a933-1863297a3b87">Re: Annoying Co-Workers Vent</a>:
[QUOTE]I hate this too!!  My "office" is different than most, it's very open, we all sit next to each other in rows basically, we all have multiple computer screens.  So whenever someone walks down my row they always feel the need to comment on something.   "Not engaged yet? I thought you got engaged in August?"  No shiit. Mind your own business.  "Oh what's this, the lunch order already?"  No assshole that's what my family is making for Thanksgiving next week. "Shopping again?!?!" <strong>YOU'RE NOT MY MOM, BACK OFF!
</strong>Posted by rdr716[/QUOTE]

This reminds me of an exchange I recently had with a woman in reference to my housing search for my internship.  She was like "You need to do this and this and get a budget and do this and that..." and she would not shut up.  I seriously almost said to her "You know, I think the fact that I hold a college degree and managed to get this internship (which is actually quite difficult to get, thankyouverymuch) demonstrates that I might actually be able to handle my own life, and make me well aware of these facts.  So, if you could BACK OFF and let me do this, all you have to do is provide me a space to live and I will pay you for it."

Needless to say, I won't be staying there.

Also, who rents rooms specifically for graduate student interns and young professionals and then instills a 10pm curfew? 

lunarsongbird

 
 

 

doubleSS07

OMG I shiit you not this JUST happened to me!!!!

I'm sitting here minding my own beeswax, eating my homemade turkey chili (which is effing awesome BTW) and reading this thread and my tech is like
"oh that smells good"
"Thanks" I say
I'm eating and he's standing at the door STARING at me
What do you need?  oh nothing? Don't you have some place to be?  I'd like to eat my lunch without you staring at me!  Oh ok sorry yeah bye...

That was the conversation...I'm not nice to him because he's all messed up from drugs.  Don't do Meth kids..its NO BUENO!!

alanna91

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_annoying-co-workers-vent?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:1d381fc3-9f51-4a99-ba78-cff1e6b7c6f9Post:58fecc1e-e27d-4f6e-ad23-117f4c8a627d">Annoying Co-Workers Vent</a>:
[QUOTE]I am a student worker in a small department in the context of a larger school in the University. I am the only student working here. the other 6 or 7 people are all middle aged and older and this is their full time job. When I am here my workstation is at a computer at the front desk. Because of the location people are constantly walking by/behind me to do things. It is a fairly slow job, and when I'm not helping students I am on my computer doing homework/knotting/whatever. It's not a problem and I am allowed to do it. I've been here for 3 years now.
Posted by swhite2012[/QUOTE]

You just described one of my jobs, the one I am currently at in fact, almost exactly! The only difference is that there is another student with me right now. I thought it was funny :)

For advice, you just need to let it slide. You can escape work to go to class, but for them it's their full time job and they just need to find stuff to keep occupied. Good luck!

Edited for spelling.

ravenray

I feel you pain yet I have no advice I Just turn my back to them and pretend like they aren't there.    I may or may not be a b!tch.

lunarsongbird

You can always wear earplugs like I do somedays.