# I'm sitting next to Eeyore! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 14, 2012, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sitting-next-to-eeyore/615742 "2012-03-14T14:02:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sitting-next-to-eeyore/615742/21 "2012-03-16T13:11:22Z")
I used to work with an Eeyore guy - I used to call him that when he got particularly glum. He was actually a really good guy and got the joke. Not only was he Eeyore-ish, but he was from Wisconsin and had that really nasal twang, which made him sound like even more of a sad sack. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sitting-next-to-eeyore/615742/22 "2012-03-16T16:04:35Z")
That’s me. I was given the nickname “Eeyore” at two separate workplaces, ten years apart. I don’t understand why. Personally, I find myself very pleasant and the kind of co-worker everyone would want. ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2012, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sitting-next-to-eeyore/615742/23 "2012-03-16T23:43:27Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Here, [I’ll fix that for you.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kffacxfA7G4&ob=av2e) 😃 You bastard! Someone pointed out the other day (here? Reddit?) that of course Eeyore is always down: he has to walk around all day with a nail in his ass. That had never occurred to me. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2012, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sitting-next-to-eeyore/615742/24 "2012-03-17T08:44:25Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Here, [I’ll fix that for you.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kffacxfA7G4&ob=av2e) 😃 > > Excessively negative people are fun to mess with - they make me turn up the chipper to 11. I mean, the happy-go-lucky chipper, not the one out back that goes, “WRAAAWRRRRRRR!” I was expecting Rick Astley… That was MUCH worse! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2012, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sitting-next-to-eeyore/615742/25 "2012-03-19T00:40:10Z")
Better to have an Eeyore coworker than a Piglet IMO. Or a Tigger. _shudder_ ---
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2012, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sitting-next-to-eeyore/615742/26 "2012-03-19T01:16:23Z")
I know two people who I’d classify as “Tiggers”. They are both enormously wealthy entrepreneurs. ---
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sitting-next-to-eeyore/615742/27 "2012-03-20T01:08:30Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > I don’t understand why. Personally, I find myself very pleasant and the kind of co-worker everyone would want. (Just because I’ve been listening to _Gilbert & Sullivan_… and it’s out of copyright… and not to suggest in any way that **kunilou** is really like this): 🙂 [QUOTE=King Gama] If you give me your attention, I will tell you what I am: I’m a genuine philanthropist – all other kinds are sham. Each little fault of temper and each social defect In my erring fellow-creatures, I endeavour to correct. To all their little weaknesses I open people’s eyes; And little plans to snub the self-sufficient I devise; I love my fellow creatures – I do all the good I can– Yet ev’rybody says I’m such a disagreeable man! And I can’t think why! To compliments inflated I’ve a withering reply; And vanity I always do my best to mortify; A charitable action I can skillfully dissect; And interested motives I’m delighted to detect; I know ev’rybody’s income and what ev’rybody earns; And I carefully compare it with the income-tax returns; But to benefit humanity however much I plan, Yet ev’rybody says I’m such a disagreeable man! And I can’t think why! I’m sure I’m no ascetic; I’m as pleasant as can be; You’ll always find me ready with a crushing repartee, I’ve an irritating chuckle, I’ve a celebrated sneer, I’ve an entertaining snigger, I’ve a fascinating leer. To ev’rybody’s prejudice I know a thing or two; I can tell a woman’s age in half a minute – and I do. But although I try to make myself as pleasant as I can, Yet ev’rybody says I’m such a disagreeable man! And I can’t think why! [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sitting-next-to-eeyore/615742/28 "2012-03-20T01:54:41Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > That’s me. I was given the nickname “Eeyore” at two separate workplaces, ten years apart. > > I don’t understand why. Personally, I find myself very pleasant and the kind of co-worker everyone would want. I’m like that too. I’d hate being stuck next to Pollyanna all day long. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sitting-next-to-eeyore/615742/29 "2012-03-20T02:23:43Z")
I’ve worked with a combination of Eeyore and Tigger on two very different projects and I greatly enjoyed it. Especially since my work environment was such that I could use their nicknames with the whole team. We all poked fun at each other. If you can’t laugh at your foibles, you are going to have more troubles in life. Pollyanna is my boss on my current project. I really like her but her goals are often unrealistic. ---
**Author:** ![T.Slothrop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3e96dc/32.png) [@T.Slothrop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/T.Slothrop)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2012, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sitting-next-to-eeyore/615742/30 "2012-03-21T07:04:09Z")
My brother’s Irish mother-in-law _ **is** _ Eeyore. My brother does Irish MIL imitations like: "Oooh, if you put the glass of water on the table it will spill when the IRA are building the bombs and the wires will short and the house will blow up.’ so he is imitating an Irish grandmother doing an unintended imitation of Eeyore. He does it very well. It is hilarious but it annoys his wife. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2012, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sitting-next-to-eeyore/615742/31 "2012-03-21T12:48:02Z")
My MIL is a marginal Eeyore. For example, she would buy a lottery ticket, then worry that if she won, someone would kidnap her granddaughter (my daughter) and hold her for ransom to get the winnings. Now that my daughter is an adult, this isn’t much of a concern anymore. She also refuses to go on cruises any more because one of them \*might \*require medical care outside of the county and it \*might \*be really expensive so she couldn’t possibly enjoy the cruise, so she won’t go. Oh well… ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2012, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sitting-next-to-eeyore/615742/32 "2012-03-21T14:25:58Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > That’s me. I was given the nickname “Eeyore” at two separate workplaces, ten years apart. > > I don’t understand why. Personally, I find myself very pleasant and the kind of co-worker everyone would want. I think I have an understanding of why. I get told I’m ‘angry’ or ‘bitter’ a lot. After a few years of looking at myself and others I think I figured out why. It’s because if the other person were to say what you’re saying in a similar voice _they_ would be depressed about the situation. That doesn’t mean you are, they just think everyone reacts the same. This just happened to me last week, I was at mediation with my ex. I tend to get loud when I feel I’m not heard. I was told not to get angry about what we were talking about which was driving to pick up my kids. I have to talk to the mediator again today because she _wasn’t_ listening to me when I was ‘mad’. That’s why I’ve never liked it when people say most communication is non-verbal since no two people have the same communication style people put their own bias into the conversation. ---
**Author:** ![Surly\_Chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Surly\_Chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surly_Chick)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2012, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sitting-next-to-eeyore/615742/33 "2012-03-21T15:47:41Z")
I work with a Tigger. It’s exhausting. She’s so damn perky that I just want give her a paper cut and pour lemon juice in it. But she’d find something positive to say about it, I’m sure. “Oh, it could have been a lot worse, I could have lost a finger. I’m so happy it’s just a papercut!” Urg. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sitting-next-to-eeyore/615742/34 "2012-04-10T15:29:54Z")
> [@T.Slothrop](#): > > My brother’s Irish mother-in-law _ **is** _ Eeyore. > > My brother does Irish MIL imitations like: "Oooh, if you put the glass of water on the table it will spill when the IRA are building the bombs and the wires will short and the house will blow up.’ > > so he is imitating an Irish grandmother doing an unintended imitation of Eeyore. He does it very well. It is hilarious but it annoys his wife. Thank you. However, I must point out that **Attacklad** has recently developed a more accurate and hysterical imitation of the lady in question. ---
**Author:** ![FlyByNight512](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/82dd89/32.png) [@FlyByNight512](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyByNight512)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sitting-next-to-eeyore/615742/35 "2012-04-10T15:54:32Z")
> [@Apollyon](#): > > (Just because I’ve been listening to _Gilbert & Sullivan_… and it’s out of copyright… and not to suggest in any way that **kunilou** is really like this): 🙂 I’m not familiar with that one… so I mentally set it to the Modern Major General song. I like it. Edit: Found it on Youtube. It’s actually pretty close. ---
**Author:** ![T.Slothrop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3e96dc/32.png) [@T.Slothrop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/T.Slothrop)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sitting-next-to-eeyore/615742/36 "2012-04-11T10:03:01Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > Thank you. However, I must point out that **Attacklad** has recently developed a more accurate and hysterical imitation of the lady in question. I need video. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand you need to be_r_at_e_ your kids more often. ---
**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sitting-next-to-eeyore/615742/37 "2012-04-11T12:03:49Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > He just came back from lunch and complained about how much the grilled cheese in the cafeteria cost him. It was “_uhhhn_beli_eeeeee_vable!” At some point I’d turn to him and say “You know, Bob, I _totally_ believe it. I totally do.” ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sitting-next-to-eeyore/615742/38 "2012-04-12T00:29:51Z")
> [@T.Slothrop](#): > > I need video. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand you need to be_r_at_e_ your kids more often. Nah, the mother in law has that covered. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sitting-next-to-eeyore/615742/39 "2012-04-12T00:46:07Z")
> [@Edward\_The\_Head](#): > > I think I have an understanding of why. I get told I’m ‘angry’ or ‘bitter’ a lot. After a few years of looking at myself and others I think I figured out why. It’s because if the other person were to say what you’re saying in a similar voice _they_ would be depressed about the situation. That doesn’t mean you are, they just think everyone reacts the same. I think that’s part of it. I’ve been told I have a very monotonic voice. It doesn’t sound that way in my head, so I’ll take their word for it. But a very important thing is, what are we Eeyore’s being negative about? For example, I’ve always tried to be co-operative and helpful with my co-workers, and have never felt that they were some sort of imposition on me. Likewise, I’ve never (in the workplace) run down my boss or the company in general. However, as one of my bosses once noted, if you ask me whether the glass is half-full or half-empty, I’ll more than likely tell you the glass is dirty, and why can’t I ever get a clean glass. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-sitting-next-to-eeyore/615742.md?page=1)