To be freaked out by the buffet?

[BornInSydneyy]

We had a huge buffet at work today (last day today) and as my colleague who sits next to me was away all the food was placed on his desk.

I hate buffets really, just the smell is enough to make me feel sick. The team descended on it like a pack of hyenas.

People started plating their food up on my actual desk whilst I was trying to work ... food wrappers being left, cutting bread next to my hand on my mouse, leaving crumbs, piling dip on their plate on my desk.

Aibu to think it’s gross to be doing that and felt like my personal space was invaded?

I did snap eventually and told them to stop it.

• generation/general

Wondering what you did eventually nibble on!
(A few crumbs never hurt anyone)
And I am so putting a prawn in a stapler in 2018!

Dust Poocalypso. Just dust.

You do sound a tad misery guts,OP.
I get The scenario, we do this in our office. Someone brings in nice cheese and crackers and we are on it like a pack of animals. We all relish in the tastiness of it, it sparks conversations about food and stuff...it's just fun. I can totally imagine your colleagues giving each other looks whilst you stoicly sit there pretending you really need to be clicking that left mouse button but getting so annoyed someone has dared to slice some bread beside you.
I mean...it's hardly the end of the world.

You sound like a moody kid who doesn't like sharing. "Dont touch MY desk" well actually, it's not your desk, it's the companies desk :D

Cheer up misery guts.

OP if your only real issue with the buffet was just that people were using your desk as a "buffet preparation area" why not just ask them to stop and/or clean up after themselves?

"Sorry Jim but I'm working here, can you please deconstruct that sandwich on the 'buffet desk' or your own desk and not on mine, thanks!"

"Sandra, you're getting dip on my paperwork, please don't put food items on my desk."

"Mary, could you please clear up the crumbs you have left on my desk before you leave, please?"

"Steve, you're making a mess on my desk, can you clear it up and keep food on the buffet desk only, please?"

"Whoever left the empty crisp packets and biscuit wrappers on my desk, my desk is not a bin, please don't leave your rubbish on there for me to deal with."

OP I'd have been like you. I couldn't cope in an office as according to many people on Mumsnet, there's always some bugger eating something gross at their desk!

I'd just have put up with it and kept taking nibbles while I worked..and chatted with folk coming up to feed their faces. Crumbs I would've brushed off. Not worth getting in a flap over. Yes it was a poor location but it's not like it happens every day.

OP next year cram your desktop with stuff so there is no space for your colleagues to encroach on. Personally, I would have told the first one to invade my space to use another desk, that I didn’t want to risk getting grease and marks on the papers etc. Some people have no sense of what is appropriate.

Do you have food issues op? It's not normal to feel sick just smelling a buffet. In fact it's very far from normal. As is hating buffets, it's just a team lunch.

Yes they shouldn't have used your desk. Next time have a word with one of the managers, explain you have some significant issues and either try to be out when the buffet is there or ask for it to be placed elsewhere a for them to be sensitive to it. I'm sure they don't want to make you feel sick just by bringing a buffet in.

In the meantime maybe seek some help for any eating disorders you may be suffering from.

Buffets do smell horrible though ... cold meat smell mixed with crisps and chocolate ... blurgh.

I find it quite sad that the majority of you see bringing in bread and cheese as this huge event in your lives, that you must celebrate and talk for hours on end about it.

It's embarrassing when there's free food and people rush over. Scared they might miss out on a slice of pizza. No wonder this country has an obsity epidemic.

In the meantime maybe seek some help for any eating disorders you may be suffering from.

Don't try and self diagnose someone that you've never even met. It's incredibly insulting.