# Should I say something about this annoying behavior from a coworker? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 11, 2013, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-say-something-about-this-annoying-behavior-from-a-coworker/646814 "2013-01-11T02:35:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2013, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-say-something-about-this-annoying-behavior-from-a-coworker/646814/21 "2013-01-11T06:01:31Z")
> [@harmonicamoon](#): > > I don’t get it. If you hate it, why didn’t you move on to the BIG talk? Maybe she hated small talk, also. Change the subject. Ask her about her favorite orgasm. Does she like sex in elevators? “What religion are you?” “What do you think of all organized religions?” “Who did you vote for?” “How much money do you make?” “So, genocide in Somalia, eh? About damned time.” “How big is your husband’s penis?” So many topics of conversation you could have started. 🙂 (I actually sympathize with you, **drpepper**. It’s like when you’re trying to read on your lunch break, and some helpful soul comes and sits with you and expects you to talk with them instead of having a nice, enjoyable read.) ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2013, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-say-something-about-this-annoying-behavior-from-a-coworker/646814/22 "2013-01-11T15:04:52Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > This may be surprising, but I absolutely hate when people ask me “What’s new?” I can handle other questions fine, but this one just makes me want to throw things for some reason. I hate that question because it’s not just a greeting like “what’s up?” “What’s up?” I can answer with “hey, how’s it going” and keep walking. “What’s new?” sounds like they want a conversation, and you can’t get out of it with a generic greeting. > [@Jake\_Jones](#): > > I would go with this: “Not much, what’s up?” Ask “what’s up?” like he just said “I need to talk to you about something.” > > It’s subtle, yet to the point. It means, “I acknowledge your presence. Tell me why you’re speaking to me.” It puts the ball back in his court, conversationally speaking. “What’s new with you?” does the same thing, but “What’s up?” is a bit more direct. You can take this even further by asking “What can I do for you?” or “What do you need?” but I think “What’s up?” is a mostly friendly place to start. If he remains clueless through that progression, I would up the ante to “Sorry, I don’t mean to be rude, but I’m buried right now and I have a conference call in five minutes.” Or whatever other urgent thing you have happening in five minutes. > > For what it’s worth, I totally agree with you about small talk. Not a fan. If you want to small talk with me, you’re going to have to carry the conversation. It’s one thing to endure in the break room but another thing altogether if the guy is coming up to your desk every day for a repeated failed attempt at small talk. That would irritate the shit out of me. This sounds great. I’m going to try this. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2013, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-say-something-about-this-annoying-behavior-from-a-coworker/646814/23 "2013-01-11T15:19:56Z")
Good lord, people. Don’t you know that’s what they make weather for? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2013, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-say-something-about-this-annoying-behavior-from-a-coworker/646814/24 "2013-01-11T16:50:19Z")
And sports? And tv? ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2013, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-say-something-about-this-annoying-behavior-from-a-coworker/646814/25 "2013-01-11T16:59:11Z")
With every “nothing,” you reinforce the fact that everything in life is old and stale, nothing but endless _ennui_ to look forward to as we creep inexorably toward oblivion. Is it any wonder he looks sad, Debbie Downer? ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2013, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-say-something-about-this-annoying-behavior-from-a-coworker/646814/26 "2013-01-11T17:50:09Z")
Jesus, just ask him what he wants. ---
**Author:** ![Diamonds02](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Diamonds02](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diamonds02)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2013, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-say-something-about-this-annoying-behavior-from-a-coworker/646814/27 "2013-01-11T20:00:46Z")
Talk about what normal 20-something guys talk about. Drinking and fucking. Easy and instant convo! ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2013, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-say-something-about-this-annoying-behavior-from-a-coworker/646814/28 "2013-01-11T23:39:29Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > Good lord, people. Don’t you know that’s what they make weather for? > [@Cat Whisperer](#): > > And sports? And tv? **Lakai** , just turn into a news reporter. Grab a USA Today every morning, memorize the top stories, and you’re good to go. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2013, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-say-something-about-this-annoying-behavior-from-a-coworker/646814/29 "2013-01-11T23:50:17Z")
Why do you hate talking to people? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-say-something-about-this-annoying-behavior-from-a-coworker/646814.md?page=1)