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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I can't stand it when people use 10 words when they can use 1

55 replies

angelos02 · 10/04/2014 07:03

I work with someone that constantly tells me the far end of a fart rather than keeping things brief and to the point. I'm too busy. Tips on how to deal with this would be appreciated.

OP posts:
callamia · 10/04/2014 07:20

Some people really can't help themselves (others are probably just annoying Wink). My husband does this, and has dyslexia - he genuinely struggles to organise this thoughts sometimes - especially if he's a bit stressed. I'm sure some people don't have this going on, but if you ask clear and direct questions, then you can cut down on extraneous information.

Original poster
angelos02 · 10/04/2014 07:23

I asked what something (work related) cost. It should have been a one sentence answer. 10 minutes later, she was still talking! It is driving me mad.

OP posts:
Perfectlypurple · 10/04/2014 07:25

I have a bloke in my office that does this. It drives me nuts.

RobotLover68 · 10/04/2014 07:30

I always call this "a thousand words when one will do"

OP YANBU

ExcuseTypos · 10/04/2014 07:32

My dh does this when he's tired. I tend to be quite blunt and just interrupt.

So with your colleague, a minute after she's started waffling I'd have interrupted and said "sorry, can you just let me know the cost of x."

It usually does the trick.

Original poster
angelos02 · 10/04/2014 07:35

I've tried everything. I have my fingers hovered over my keyboard to indicate I'm waiting for her to finish talking. Doesn't work.

OP posts:
NotTodayJosephine · 10/04/2014 07:40

My mum sometimes does this when I'm on the phone to her. She just forgets to edit her -random- thoughts. It's not age related. I find her 'brain dumps' a bit self indulgent and deeply boring. Luckily, apart from this bad habit she is lovely so I am happy to put up with it to some extent. If it get too much I just tell her that she is being boring and that her thoughts don't translate well into a telephone conversation. Confused

cheeseandpineapple · 10/04/2014 07:45

Email her or does she sit right next to you?

tulippa · 10/04/2014 07:50

YANBU. I have a colleague who does this and I hear him talking to customers going "Well it's basically just essentially obviously etc etc........" while I am inwardly screaming "Aaargh! Shut up!!" I've started to think he thinks the more words he says the cleverer he sounds but it does not have that effect at all!

callamia funnily enough my brother has a tendency to 'over-talk' (not in the same way as my colleague) and he has dyslexia too - I never thought they could be linked.

PickleMyster · 10/04/2014 07:53

Haven't really got any advice, but you have my sympathy. I once worked as a nanny for someone like this. I very rarely got out of work on time because of it yet she knew I had other commitments outside of work (strange thing was at interview she made a point of telling me she didn't want me hanging around at end of day and she wanted to spend time with her DS Confused)I ended up quitting, partly due to that, but other issues too.
Is there anyone in your office that you could speak to about? Just explain how much it's sapping your time.

BigRedBall · 10/04/2014 07:55

I have a friend who does this! So boring and irritating. Her mum does it too, so it must be hereditary.

Original poster
angelos02 · 10/04/2014 07:56

I genuinely don't want to upset her but it is so draining. I don't think she realises she is doing it.

OP posts:
TheBigBumTheory · 10/04/2014 07:57

In a manner of speaking you may just be reasonable.

Original poster
angelos02 · 10/04/2014 08:03

I'm not the only person that has noticed this so I know IANBU. How can people be so lacking in self awareness?

OP posts:
Preciousbane · 10/04/2014 08:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

C4ro · 10/04/2014 09:00

Half an inch of meaning to every fifty feet of noise.

PickleMyster · 10/04/2014 09:14

Also my dad does this from time to time, and I find I have to word my questions to him very carefully, and once I've got my answer I tend to change subject/end conversation - bit rude I know but I have got things I need to get on with (plus it's prob easier to do that with family) or if I can get an answer from another source I'll go there.

Laquila · 10/04/2014 09:20

I definitely think a lot of people do it because they think it makes them sound more knowledgeable. The BBC serious Twentytwelve had some absolutely brilliant examples.

I get mildly annoyed when I see it in writing too - "we are active in thirteen different countries" - if you've got more than one country, WE ALREADY KNOW THEY'RE ALL DIFFERENT.

parallax80 · 10/04/2014 09:22

YANBU, but you should change your thread title to "I can't stand it when people are verbose."

Laquila · 10/04/2014 09:23

Serious = series

Comeatmefam · 10/04/2014 09:28

People like the sound of their own voices.

Original poster
angelos02 · 10/04/2014 09:52

It is at the point where I want to leave my job. I have constant headaches.

OP posts:
meditrina · 10/04/2014 09:59

"I work with someone that constantly tells me the far end of a fart rather than keeping things brief and to the point. I'm too busy. Tips on how to deal with this would be appreciated." (36 words)

Start close to home: "My colleague talks too much. How do you get someone to stick to the point?" (15 words)

Original poster
angelos02 · 10/04/2014 10:26

It is getting beyond a joke now. She was off on one, I turned my back to her, she didn't take the hint.

OP posts:
DaleyBum · 10/04/2014 10:29

My husband does this. I just tell him that he's doing it again. Just tell her.

Also, what meditrina said.