I work in building maintenance and often I’m out on the workroom floor fixing lights, water lines, or running wiring and while I’m working it always seems to attract a crowd of persons giving stupid comments or suggestions. plus, it never fails that one of my coworkers comes up and makes this stupid comment “having fun yet?”.
No you dimwit. And BTW, I’m working. I am NOT your entertainment.
The other day I while I was changing out a toilet I blew up at a guy coming in behind me wanting to chat. First I dont like being surprised and second, I didnt want an audience.
“You walking him or is he walking you?” Yes, thank you for pointing out that I am being dragged by a giant dog. I hadn’t noticed my arm coming out of its socket
OP, if it’s your coworkers can you say something to them? Either something sarcastic to shut them up or a sincere “I’m trying to concentrate at the moment”, depending on what your work environment is like?
sigh Out of the kindness of my heart I’ve tried to communicate with the help, even using “please” when requesting more wine–though truth be told I don’t know why I even had to ask–but I find they look at me as if I were from Mars. It’s obvious the simple creatures cannot deal with anything outside the natural order of things, so I’ve stopped.
I will admit that sneaking up behind me and startling me on the job is a great way to get hurt. But then, I work with children who periodically try to kill me.
I will also admit that any joke gets mighty honkin’ old after the fortieth or fiftieth iteration. After that, I have to fight to keep from thinking, “This person is deliberately trying to get on my nerves,” and remind myself of one of my personal mantras, “never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.”
Some of my co-workers tell me they are “always” having fun, when I ask them if they are having fun yet, doing something I don’t think looks like fun.
While my job isn’t the same as yours, I will admit that there are times when I want to say “just shut up, and go away, I’ll be happy to talk to you after this job is done”
And I almost always remind people who think I’m “lucky” to be going home at noon that I came in at 4 am. (not every day, but twice a week).
The US Coast Guard runs those and as of 1981, when I got out, they were mostly automated. I seriously doubt there are any manned lighthouses anymore.
I usually took “Are we having fun yet?” as commiseration; i.e. “Yeah, it’s a lousy job to do. It’s lousy when I have to do it, it’s a lousy job for you doing it now, and it’ll probably be a lousy job for the next guy who has to do it.”
No sarcasm on my part: if I have to operate lift equipment or shift a bunch of heavy things from point A to point B it is a lot easier if you don’t get in real close and try to make a human connection. Everybody is safer, I get done faster, and no Dad Jokes or weapons grade snark are deployed.
Im with the OP. I agree with Ford Prefects theory on human beings from Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy----if us glorified apes stopped talking, our brains would shut down.
Hence idiotic phrases like “Having fun yet?” My two favorites are “Smile!” and “You’re quiet!”.
I’m sorry for being introverted and not acting how YOU would want me to act in a social situation. Now fuck off.
Or, like the OP, admirably taking his job seriously with little time for nonsense from co-workers or other distractions. The OP should be applauded, the world needs more like him.
I get this a lot with trade shows., Unlike most other vendors, my displays are heavy and require more work than most which inevitably attracts a “Boy you have the hard job! Yuk yuk yuk!” from some jerk sales rep from another company as Im sweating my balls off feverishly trying to get ready for the trade show that starts in 15 minutes. To which I often reply, “Yeah, we like to put a little effort into our booth.”
