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AIBU?

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Original poster

I am being precious. But I still wanna go "'urgh you are disgusting"

100 replies

Pancakeflipper · 20/01/2011 12:06

I am being precious.

I work 3 days a week. I sit next to a colleague. It is very obvious whose desk is whose.

They insist on chucking their banana skins ( I hate bananas even with my kids I am cringing cutting up a banana and handling the skins), apple cores, sweet wrappings ( don't mind that easy to pick up) and used teaspoons they used for their yoghurts. With all the lick marks on.

And I want scream " stop chucking it on my desk you gross person. "

But I think I am being precious. So I remove the debris myself shuddering.

Every Monday there are stains on my desk which I have to clean cos' my imagination will go into overdrive on what it is.

I put a in-tray between us last week. It was gone this Monday. He said "there was no room for me coffee, hope you don't mind". Our desks are massive and he has no clutter on his.

I don't want to fall out with him. But how do I get over myself? I need to loosen up.

OP posts:
BlueCat2010 · 20/01/2011 14:54

How about buying a bin and putting a nice bow on it as a present - then put it on his desk and if queried then simply say it's for him as he obviously hadn't got one of his own.

Next put your in-tray back, and say you tried not having it there but it doesn't work for you.

Finally, point out the dirty marks/rubbish on your desk and say in a disgusted voice 'oh, I don't believe how minging some people can be - look at this!' and proceed to clean it whilst tutting.

A bit passive I know, but in the interests of working relationships it may be worth it!

giyadas · 20/01/2011 14:56

Just remember to post an update.

MinnieBar · 20/01/2011 15:10

Actually one of my colleagues used to do something similar - we have hot-desking (aka not enough pcs for everyone and if you try and log onto one that you haven't used in a while it takes aaaaages) and this person used to leave little piles of food detritus wherever she'd been sitting - orange peel, bread crusts, tea bags from stewed herbal tea etc. etc.

While I was on ML my other colleagues got so fed up with it (and they had spoken to her about it but to no avail) that they simply swept it all up one day and plonked it on her most-frequently-used desk where she would definitely be that day.

When she arrived and saw it, she did a big stagey sigh BUT never did it again...

ledkr · 20/01/2011 15:27

Did i used to work with you?Grin
A colleague used to have a banana phobia,we couldnt even eat one it front of her,however she would leave everything on her desk,ols soup or pasta bowls,half full coffee cups etc sometimes for a whole weekend,i was suffering from terrible morning sickness and had to face that everyday.

Original poster
Pancakeflipper · 20/01/2011 16:45

Ledkr - I ain't that bad.....honest.. I just shudder when I touch a banana. I do not ban them. But we did have a guy who used to microwave something in the kitchen that smelt of dog food everyday and the smell would creep down the office. It did cross my mind to start a petition to have that item of food banned. But he was a bodybuilder and I am a chicken.

I think there could be a bin issue cos' the Healthy and Safety person decreed we had too many and they were a hazard cos' we would fall over them ... That's a different thread isn't it? In 10 yrs I had never tripped over one but I am glad the opportunity is now more remote...

Anyway from 2 people sharing 1 bi we are now down to 1 bin per 6 people but the other 4 don't sit near us... So on Monday I shall go bin nicking and put a bin near his desk and see how we go...

OP posts:
taintedpaint · 20/01/2011 16:47

I'm not sure what bothers me most about this, the disgusting food habits or the rage-inducing territorial coffee stuff.

You must come back and tell us what happened on Monday. What a cock you work with!

Angry that he could even come out with that line about having nowhere to put his coffee on your desk. I would bring something in from home that he can't physically move, or perhaps a cute little photo of your DCs that would (hopefully) be uncomfortable for him to move.

What the fuck is up with this moron that he can't use his own desk for his coffee?! And don't even get me started on the food!

Geocentric · 20/01/2011 17:31

Its the whole 'big dog pissing to mark territory' thing. Maybe you should pee on his desk - that might fix it! Grin

Original poster
Pancakeflipper · 20/01/2011 17:43

I shall wear my best knickers that day Geo.

OP posts:
ensure · 20/01/2011 17:50

Good grief. I pity his wife. Stand up to him on Monday!

Original poster
Pancakeflipper · 20/01/2011 18:37

Ensure - there is no wife. He is very single. I wonder why.......

OP posts:
LittleMissHissyFit · 20/01/2011 18:42

Put your in-tray where ever you wish to put it.

If and when he has the cheek to move it, put it back and tell him "while we are at it, I can't bear bananas, much less their skins being dumped on my desk, it's disgusting and rude to do that to someone elses desk, Kindly keep your own rubbish, coffee, whatever on YOUR desk, I'd not dream of doing anything like this to yours, kindly afford me the same respect'

YOU HAVE to stand up for yourself FGS.

MadamDeathstare · 20/01/2011 18:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mousymouse · 20/01/2011 20:09

I just read "thongs"... :o

MadamDeathstare · 20/01/2011 21:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mousymouse · 20/01/2011 21:22

or placed strategically on his desk..

MadamDeathstare · 20/01/2011 21:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CointreauVersial · 20/01/2011 22:00

Jeez, just tell the guy!!

"Do you mind not leaving your shit all over my desk?!"

I work part-time, and I'd go mental if it happened to me. There would be a public enquiry involving the whole office.

Kelziz · 20/01/2011 22:05

You're not being precious, he sounds like the type that sits next to a woman on the train and opens his legs really, really wide. I hate that type.

fireblademum · 20/01/2011 22:42

It's worth telling them though. a manager at my last place was a messy shit. I came back after a few days leave to find crumbs and grease all over my desk.
Knowing full well who the culprit was I stood up and loudly asked whatmessy fuck had left their shite

He apologized and cleaned it up. Never happened again.

ZillionChocolate · 20/01/2011 22:55

A word of caution? - Can you be sure he's doing it? If you're not there, presumably it's your (reasonable) assumption. I'd ask him as part of your challenge.

create · 20/01/2011 23:03

If so much as a corner of a file overlaps from my desk to my neighbour's, he will cough loudly, glare at me and push it back - then smile!

It's all very friendly and he has a way with him that means I couldn't take offence, but he makes a valid point. Your desk is your space - your collegue's coffee cup shouldn't be on your desk let alone his rubbish.

Goodynuff · 21/01/2011 05:47

get a spray bottle, fill with water
each time his stuff crosses over, spray him
it may take a while, but he'll learnGrin
it works with the cat, and look how many people say you can't train cats!

agedknees · 21/01/2011 07:15

Next time you have a real snotty cold make sure you throw your used tissues onto his desk.

Then he will know what it feels like.

onceamai · 21/01/2011 07:41

At the expense of sounding a bit serious, this sounds to me as though he is bullying you. I think you should raise it with your manager. He needs a bin, the office needs a visit from health and safety and some standards need to be set for everyone - and all staff should be encouraged to take a lunchbreak rather than using the work areas as a cafeteria.

mousymouse · 24/01/2011 10:45

we are waiting for a coffecup/bananaskin update :)