AIBU or too sensitive?

[littlemisssarcastic]

What makes some people always burst out laughing when someone has a problem/bad day/something unfortunate happens, in front of the person who has had the misfortune, to their face?

It really pisses me off, so I'm hoping to understand why some people do it, and hopefully, by understanding, I will feel a little less pissed off by it.

I only know of a handful of people who do this, but I just don't understand what is funny.

Examples in the last week (I work alongside one of these people so see them everyday.)

My mobile phone froze, I need it for work, my colleague began sniggering.
My mobile phone then completely broke, my colleague burst out laughing.
I was presented with a huge workload due to my mobile phone breaking and colleague once again bursts out laughing.
I needed to leave work early to take DC for a hearing test, there are hearing problems in the family, colleague knows this, and promptly burst out laughing again.
This colleague is actually my superior, so I need to go to her with any problems I have, but it is actually really off putting when you have a problem and she cannot contain her laughter. Every single week, something someone says to her has her sniggering and laughing, and it's always when something has gone wrong for the person telling her. I find it infuriating that she appears not to take colleagues issues seriously because surely by laughing she is conveying the message that she finds it funny?
Another colleague had a bereavement and asked for time off to go to the funeral which was not met with laughter or sniggering, but when she explained to everyone else that X would not be in for a day next week, she was grinning widely, so widely that she was almost laughing again IYSWIM. Thankfully, the bereaved colleague was not present at the time.

I had a friend who I have now distanced myself from because while everything was going well, she was lovely, I still think for the most part she is lovely, but as will happen in anyone's life, sometimes we get bad news, bad days, problems and she would always snigger and laugh. One particular time, I was approached by another person in the street and shouted at and this friend just stood there hiding her face in her scarf absolutely pissing herself laughing. Why do some people do this?

I'm not sure if it is a nervous reaction, but it really annoys me. If I am explaining something I am sad or angry about, the last thing I want to be greeted with is someone who is shaking with laughter then guffawing with laughter in my face.

AIBU or over sensitive, or do you not know anyone like this?

Not really sure how best to handle it tbh. Have been ignoring and trying to look past it up until now.

I think it sounds like your colleague is the problem, not you! Maybe she's not even aware she's doing it.

It often seems to be an immature maybe nervous reaction. I think they are also glad it's not happening to them. An (ex) friend of mine used to do this at the most inappropriate times and it was just down to her problems with social skills and immaturity.

Some people laugh when they feel anxious or uncomfortable, not because anything is particularly funny. It could be that? I have a colleague who laughs whenever she says anything, ever. At first it was strange but I have now realised it is a sign of social anxiety.

This colleague is actually my superior

This is absolutely unacceptable and unprofessional behaviour.

I would be making a list of all the occasions where it has occurred, as you've done above but with times and dates too, and taking it to her superior.

No way should you have to put up with this in the workplace, I don't care what the reason behind it (nerves whatever). She should learn to handle it.

Some people laugh when they are uncomfortable or don't know what to do to help. Sometimes it is involuntary. Like a nervous giggle. I have done it on occasions.

Cross post with buttercup.

She sounds a bit odd??? I get people laughing when there's a series of unfortunate events, but usually they're laughing with you.

Your colleague sounds like a Bitch, - clearly she's so lonely in her personal life she has to find amusement in other peoples misery. I have a similar colleague, she's very selfish and regularly laughs and smirks when other people are having a tough time

mouse

The term for this is Schadenfreude, taking delight in other people's misfortune.

Bitch works equally well.

When I get nervous, often at inappropriate times, I smilefor some rreason. I hate it, I know my reaction though and how inappropriate it is and bite the inside of my.mouth to hold it back. I moderate it with great success and slight ulcers as a result.

Your colleague doesn't sound like she's nervous, she sounds like a twat in all honesty. She's obviously awareof her reaction and does not care either because she thinks iit's funny and actually is laughing at all of the.misfortunes or...no it's pretty much just that. Has anyone ever called her on it?

Your friend sounds the same type, immature and loving drama. Have you missed her since distancing?

I think sadly the question is: why do these people act so shitty. They aren't reacting, they're acting badly. I would bet on it. I would complain about your colleague and keep distance with that friend.

Just nerves. Then the worry about it makes it self perpetuating...

I would also disagree with nervous laughter, I've spoken to many others who also laugh or grin when they shouldn't and unless a person is completely ignorant to it they would attempt to moderate. That's just my.opinion though, perhaps the friend if not usually a git should be given benefit of the doubt. For colleague though that's way too many incidents- and just ones you and people you.know habe had with them to be anything but deliberate.

And usually you apologize for it too because you know it can.upset

Nervous response/social anxiety. I have been guilty of this, thankfully rarely but completely involuntary. I feel dreadful about it, and seem to have grown out of it somewhat.

Thanks for replies. Perhaps colleague does feel nervous or doesn't know the answers to the issues she is facing, but if that were the case, I'd have thought she would ask her superiors for advice. There is always someone who could advise her. She would only have to pick up a phone and call them.
I have resorted to calling her superiors myself if I have any issues which isn't as often as you might think because 9 times out of 10, if I have an issue that needs resolving, she will just look at me blankly after I have explained it and then begin giggling without giving me any reply.
When I ask her what she will do, her usual answer is 'I don't know' then when I suggest that if she doesn't know, perhaps she could ring the manager to ask, she always always replies with 'There's no point, they never answer their phones when I ring.'
Her other favourite reply is 'I can't be bothered, don't worry about it, I wouldn't.'

Yes, I am frankly amazed that she still has a job, but she does.

As for the friend, I get along ok with her when I see her but we are not close anymore, after the incident where she laughed when I was being shouted at in the street.

Should probably mention that my colleague has never been able to stick a job for long and is only my superior because one of the managers knows her family personally.