There's a guy at work who can be VERY FRACKING annoying at the best of times. He works on the desk opposite me and is the development tester type person so doesn't have the best job in the world for making people like him.

However, every time someone comes into the room to ask me a question his head sticks up over his computer screen and before I've had chance to spit out half a sentence in reply to the question he'll just butt in asking which part of the system it's about or if it's something he has looked at recently etc...

EVERY FRACKING TIME!

If he sees someone come to talk to me he will even stick his head up over his computer and listen in before the question is asked as though preparing to butt in!

I sent him a polite (and I do mean polite) email today saying something along the lines of "I am not sure if you are aware of doing it but it's very frustrating please stop if I can't answer a problem then I'll throw it open and you can take it over if you think you might know".

His reply was a list of examples of cases where he had interrupted and when he had been able to solve the problems etc! "So it is something he will always do if it is something he knows about." WTF!

I sent a reply saying something like "I know you are trying to help but please let me answer the question that is directed at me. If you think you might know about it then keep it to yourself. If I can't answer it and ask for any ideas from the rest of the room then you can take over. But please let me answer the question I am asked first."

I am being ridiculously sensitive? Does anyone else find being interrupted mid sentence very frustrating?

Anyway, he hasn't spoken to me since then... every cloud.

P.S. I know this is annoying as it is something I used to half do it when I worked at The Carphone Whorehouse until a girl I worked with literally shouted at me in front of a customer because I looked up a phone that the customer was asking her about. Although I was new and young and just trying to learn stuff and I didn't actually say anything at that time.

Nah.
Have you tried stabbing him in the eye with a blunt pencil?
Y'know, in a friendly manner but with just enough force to make him understand what you're saying to him. (8+)

Mark

Try this:



I DON'T REMEMBER ASKING YOU A GODDAMNED THING!

Oh and you know those leavers under the chairs that make them go up and down? Try walking past and knock it while he's drinking a hot drink

Not that I would ever do anything like that <<<<innocent

Maybe it is just me but this is very wrong. Why would you send an email to somebody who works so close to you? Surely you can achieve more with face to face conversation.

No, I know from past experience at other jobs and from talking to this guy in the past that doing that would have quickly raised the conversation to close to argument level.

This guy will always get the last word in and always answer back basically telling you that you're wrong and I am too easily wound up by him.

His best known phrase (known around the whole of development) is "I see what you're saying but...". And no matter how you explain something you will always get this answer and he'll go on to show how you are wrong. (N.B. Everyone in development get's this, not just me).

I was just thinking the exact same thing......

Just in case anyone missed it the first time around.

Mark

I like this.

plant some porn on his PC and get him fired

Yeah, this sounds like the best plan so far

Is there a formal grievance procedure where you work?
If so, read it and then follow it.

You've tried being reasonable. You've asked nicely and have done so in writing.
If he carries on being a tosser then this is a slam dunk, especially if he does it to everybody.

Next time someone addresses you by name or is facing you and he buts in ask if his name is also yours or he is in a parallel universe where he sits in your seat.

If not ask why he is interfering in other peoples conversations and eavesdropping when he isn't a part of the conversation. If you want his opinion you will ask for it, and you aren't asking for it.

++;

Or in case you missed it first time around

Now that sounds good.