# Annoying Co-Worker (long whine) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 6, 2000, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-co-worker-long-whine/21543 "2000-06-06T14:08:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SwimmingRiddles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SwimmingRiddles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwimmingRiddles)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2000, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-co-worker-long-whine/21543/1 "2000-06-06T14:08:42Z")
Currently, there is a small section of my temple that is throbbing. Why, you ask? Because my office is located directly in back of a woman’s whose voice is not unlike a gravely-nasally cat’s, with a heavy Vermont accent. But one who has been smoking for about 30 years. Who SAYS she doesn’t smoke because she doesn’t want her daughter to know. But we’ve caught her smoking in her car. This woman has a running commentary with herself on the daily trials of her life. And not quietly. LOUDLY talking to herself, or anyone who might listen, yelling about the “morons who sent this box to our department. No one with this name even works here! Ya’d THINK they could figure out that no one with that name works here. JESUS CHRIST!” She complains about everything. The paper is not the right thickness. The guy in repro screwed up her copies again. Well MAYBE if you filled out the form right, he’d be able to read it! I, as low Swiddle on the totem pole, have an office which is a converted storage closet. As a result, it’s big office, but with filing cabinets everywhere. I’ll be working quietly at my desk, and she’ll barge in with an armload of filing, in midsentance, whining about something. I’ve taken to reading aloud whatever I am working on to show that I am not interested in listening to her constant tirades. The thing that kills me is BECAUSE she complains about HOW MUCH she has to do, my boss assumes she’s busier than myself. Just because I have the self-control to keep my mouth shut, and handle my own problems, instead of consulting everyone in a 10 mile radius if I hit a road block. I find a problem? I fix it. She finds a problem? She whines for 15 minutes, bangs things aroung for 5, and gets my boss to fix it for her. No wonder she is busy. But yesterday, in a conversation with my boss, it became apparent she believes this chick is legitimately busy. As a result, I got 2 months worth of HER backed-up data entry that SHE should have been doing herself, because MY stuff is up-to-date. Whiney-chick takes at least 3 1/2 hour breaks a day (do NOT call them smoking breaks) and yet still claims she doesn’t take a lunch break, so she leaves a half hour early every day. She started coming in at 6:00 (supposedly) so she leaves at 2:00, leaving me with ALL the customer service. I take one break in the morning to get my bagel, which I take back to my office, and one in the afternoon, to get my lunch, which I take back to my office. ---
**Author:** ![SwimmingRiddles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SwimmingRiddles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwimmingRiddles)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2000, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-co-worker-long-whine/21543/2 "2000-06-06T14:12:05Z")
In conclusion, she’s driving me batty, making me HATE my job, and is making quitting sound more and more attractive. ARGH. Any suggestions on how to deal with this woman? ---
**Author:** ![Spolvy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Spolvy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spolvy)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2000, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-co-worker-long-whine/21543/3 "2000-06-06T14:32:06Z")
Horse Tranquilizers and Duct tape are usually effective 😃 But short of a felony, the only thing I’ve found to be effective with squeaky wheels like that is to tell them EXACTLY how you feel. Try not to get personal, don’t insult her, just defend your personal space. It will be awkward and weird for a while but it usually ends up in relief. Chances are, there are other co-workers who find her just as grating and they will appreciate someone saying what needs to be said. I’ve found people like that will go as far as you let them. Good Luck! ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Cynical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee59a6/32.png) [@Mr.Cynical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Cynical)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2000, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-co-worker-long-whine/21543/4 "2000-06-06T14:43:41Z")
Get her a pair of jeans with a big FB on them. ---
**Author:** ![JimmyNipples](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb9ed0/32.png) [@JimmyNipples](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimmyNipples)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2000, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-co-worker-long-whine/21543/5 "2000-06-06T14:57:32Z")
I think we’ve all had someone like that to work with. You could try laying the kindness on thick…real thick. After a while it should start to piss her off. From your description, she sounds like an attention hog,(poor poor pitiful me)tell here that you’ll reveal her smoking habits to her daughter if she doesn’t shut her yapper. If all else fails, hide behind a door with a stick, and wack away like Tonya Harding. On a serious note, I’ve found out that it takes too much energy to dislike someone you work with. Clear your mind, think pleasant thoughts and go about your job. That hiding behind the door with a stick is sounding better and better. Violently yours, . Graeme ---
**Author:** ![JimmyNipples](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb9ed0/32.png) [@JimmyNipples](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimmyNipples)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2000, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-co-worker-long-whine/21543/6 "2000-06-06T14:58:06Z")
I think we’ve all had someone like that to work with. You could try laying the kindness on thick…real thick. After a while it should start to piss her off. From your description, she sounds like an attention hog,(poor poor pitiful me)tell here that you’ll reveal her smoking habits to her daughter if she doesn’t shut her yapper. If all else fails, hide behind a door with a stick, and wack away like Tonya Harding. On a serious note, I’ve found out that it takes too much energy to dislike someone you work with. Clear your mind, think pleasant thoughts and go about your job. That hiding behind the door with a stick is sounding better and better. Violently yours, . Graeme ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2000, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-co-worker-long-whine/21543/7 "2000-06-06T14:58:08Z")
Buy some tuna salad. Wait untill everyone is gone, and enter the Evil Bitch’s office. Take the top part of her desk chair off the bottom frame (I’m assuming a telescopic alloy frame here). Insert tuna salad in exposed pipe. Assemble chair. Leave office whilst laughing diabolically. Wait two weeks and watch her go insane 😃 ---
**Author:** ![SwimmingRiddles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SwimmingRiddles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwimmingRiddles)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2000, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-co-worker-long-whine/21543/8 "2000-06-06T15:23:03Z")
Coldie, I like the way you think. Unfortunately, because my office is directly behind hers, I have to walk past her desk to get to the hall. So I’d suffer almost as much as she would. I’m thinking about jumping ship and joining a new hosting startup. Unfortuantely, they require a bachelors for an account manager, but there’s always that tricky “Or comparible experiance” clause. Also thinking about taking some design classes and doing web design. I am SO beyond data entry. FEH FEH and TRIPLE FEH. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2000, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-co-worker-long-whine/21543/9 "2000-06-06T15:36:43Z")
Buy her a bowl. Fill it with m&m’s. after a few days, melt whatever remains of the M&M’s in the bowl. Say the Gummi bears came back and took revenge. Rinse, Lather and Repeat. ---
**Author:** ![soulsling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@soulsling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soulsling)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2000, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-co-worker-long-whine/21543/10 "2000-06-06T15:42:26Z")
i can always send one of my boys out to take care of it **swiddles** , just gimme the address and what floor and office she’s in. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myron_Van_Horowitzski)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2000, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-co-worker-long-whine/21543/11 "2000-06-06T15:47:12Z")
Good lord… I work with this woman’s twin sister. Does she have a loud, disgusting fake laugh that can peel paint, too? ---
**Author:** ![SwimmingRiddles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SwimmingRiddles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwimmingRiddles)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2000, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-co-worker-long-whine/21543/12 "2000-06-06T15:53:30Z")
As a matter of fact, Myron, she does! When yours is annoyed at something, does she express it by making this noise that sounds like someone coughing while having sex? ::couAH couAH couAH:: ---
**Author:** ![soulsling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@soulsling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soulsling)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2000, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-co-worker-long-whine/21543/13 "2000-06-06T15:56:46Z")
::packing the a1 rifle, check, scope, check, chewing gum…:: ---
**Author:** ![radar\_ralf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b2d939/32.png) [@radar\_ralf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/radar_ralf)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2000, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-co-worker-long-whine/21543/14 "2000-06-06T17:38:35Z")
Has a name been created for a person who talks to their computer? My co-worker (we share an office) shouts at, yells at, and criticizes her computer all day long. It is quite disconcerting to hear her shout, “You dummy, don’t do that!” or “Not that way!” or “No, no, that’s not what I wanted you to do!” I wonder if someone has coined a word to describe this kind of behavior? Something like programaniac or vidiot or some such. I’m sure some of the folks here can come up with a good descriptive term. ---
**Author:** ![Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myron_Van_Horowitzski)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2000, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-co-worker-long-whine/21543/15 "2000-06-06T17:41:44Z")
Yes! And she’s annoyed a lot. In between the couAHs, she mutters, not quite conversation level, but not quite under her breath… I think it’s because she wants you to hear her, and when you pretend you didn’t (which obviously happens a lot) she can pass it off as talking to herself. Soulsling, when you’re done over there… ---
**Author:** ![soulsling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@soulsling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soulsling)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2000, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-co-worker-long-whine/21543/16 "2000-06-06T18:13:29Z")
::extra magazine of rounds, extra chewing gum, check, magazine for the long ride, check…:: ---
**Author:** ![soulsling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@soulsling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soulsling)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2000, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-co-worker-long-whine/21543/17 "2000-06-07T01:32:19Z")
let me know how my boys did ladies. i make no guarantees. 😉 i do hope your day goes well now.