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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Woman at work burst out laughing at me

250 replies

ConfusedNUpset · 27/02/2022 19:48

I do bank shifts for the NHS, therefore I’m not in one place, I move around so don’t really get to know anyone properly as such.
Yesterday I was on shift when the senior came into the clinic to borrow something. She asked how the day was going and I said “not too bad thank you”. That was all I said. Well she started sniggering looked like she was trying to hold it back and then burst out howling with laughter. I didn’t know what to do so I kind of laughed along and just said “what is it?” But she couldn’t talk, she had tears rolling down her face and was literally bent over screaming with laughter. I asked again what was funny and she just waved her hands at me as she couldn’t speak. Anyway I decided to just carry on with my work and she eventually scurried out of the room but I could still hear her laughing in the corridor.

So I was paranoid anyway. This morning another staff member came in for something and asked what I’d done to senior as she was hyperventilating when she got back to the office. I told her she’d just burst out laughing for no reason and she said that was unusual as she’s a miserable sod normally.

Now I’m ultra paranoid. I’m due back there tomorrow but I’m so self conscious now and feel like I can’t say anything as she’s senior (as in two bands higher than me).

Any suggestions as what she might have been laughing at?? Could it be that she remembered something funny and I just happened to be there? DH keeps telling me to forget about it but it’s really playing on my mind.

Name changed as ultra outing!

OP posts:

CounsellorTroi · 28/02/2022 09:49

@LetHimHaveIt

For a start, I don't think OP did mishear the woman.

But ok, let's say she did. For the woman to have found OP's response screamingly funny, it must have been an illogical answer - in which case the woman must've realized OP had misheard/misunderstood. Especially as OP asked her what was funny. So whether the woman is just a bit of a twat who can't control herself, or she can't be bothered to come and explain to an obviously bewildered and embarrassed bank worker, why her response to a misheard question, was so inadvertently fucking hilarious.

And if the OP had misheard she’d have asked the question again if it was anything important. That she didn’t indicates that either the question wasn’t important or that the OP did not in fact mishear her. Either way her behaviour is off.

ShittyFingers · 28/02/2022 10:02

I did this at work once and I was mortified. A colleague was telling me about something really personal … I could feel it coming on and I tried so hard not to start laughing but that made it even worse. Before long I was in absolute hysterics with tears and everything. Thing is she ignored my laughing and carried on talking which made it even more funny. When it got to the point where I was doubled over she finally asked “what’s funny?” And I couldn’t answer her, firstly because I couldn’t stop laughing but secondly because I didn’t actually know what I was laughing at myself!

I felt awful and did go to find her afterwards and apologised saying I had an uncontrollable nervous laugh, a bit like tourettes which is true.

MrsLargeEmbodied · 28/02/2022 10:24

i think she came in to the clinic to escape what had made her laugh, and there was no escape
she should have explained to you though

Spaciet · 28/02/2022 11:01

@Ivyonafence

Unbelievably rude behaviour by her.

I think you should tell her, you're upset and confused as to why she was laughing at you yesterday and you would like to know what that was about because now you're wondering if it was something you said or did.

It's cruel to do that and not explain herself. Anyone would be bothered by it. She should have to address her own behaviour here.

Seems like that'd cause more drama than it's worth. Of course if she's rude today rightly pull her up on it but jeez.

KeyboardCat · 28/02/2022 11:44

Reminds me of an act in The X Factor where Louis asked a contestant 'Do you have any pets at home?' and the guy said 'Yeah my mum, she's here with me today though' and everyone burst out laughing. Poor lad looked so confused!!

(Obviously he thought Louis had said 'parents')

MaryBeardsShoes · 28/02/2022 12:15

Does no one get this sometimes? Someone says something and a funny thought pops into your head, but it's too hard/pointless to explain because its would only be funny to you, and then you can't stop laughing because it's so ridiculous, and then more ridiculous, and more ridiculous. It's really embarrassing tbh! Tends to happen when I am super stressed.

DameHelena · 28/02/2022 12:35

@MaryBeardsShoes

Yes. But it's only polite to come back and explain afterwards, when you've recovered.

Joinedforthis22 · 28/02/2022 13:34

My guess is she let out a silent fart and in shock burst out laughing but not wanted to admit it. Either that or she's deranged.

WiddlinDiddlin · 28/02/2022 13:40

I would be guessing...

Something happened before she spoke to you that hit her afterwards and the explaination would have made no sense to you...

You misheard her, she asked something else, to which your response was funny, but she was laughing too hard to make sense so took herself off to calm down.

Either way its a bit rude to scream laughter in your face and not come back later to apologise, but its a thing that happens sometimes to some people.

Kanaloa · 28/02/2022 14:54

@TempName01

Come on, just because someone had a laughing fit doesn’t mean she is mentally ill or having a breakdown, surely the most likely thing is that something funny happened! She couldn’t tell the OP what it was as she was laughing too much. Ask her today OP!!

Doubled over screaming and in tears at a new member of staff and physically unable to explain why? That’s not normal laughter at something funny.

RobertaFirmino · 28/02/2022 15:37

You say this woman is senior clinical in the NHS? In a department that presumably has staffing issues if they need to call on bank. My guess is that every single day for this clinician is hard going and being told that it's 'not too bad' sounded like the most ridiculously hilarious thing to her at that given moment. Perhaps she was having a really awful day, where everything that could go wrong did go wrong. I know I have a tendency to laugh when things are going spectacularly tits up.

That is no reflection on you though. You gave a polite answer to her question. It's what anyone would say. The issue is not you at all - it is likely to be her working conditions that are the problem.

MoodySky · 28/02/2022 17:35

How odd. Did you find out any more today OP?

SnowFlo · 28/02/2022 17:41

Please try and find out what it was, I'm intrigued

Hmm1234 · 28/02/2022 17:44

It was probably your calm and professional response. Seems like she was expecting someone to have a moan about the job with her

Pinklemonade1 · 28/02/2022 17:46

It sounds like she could be on the brink of a breakdown 🤷.
Definitely absolutely nothing to do with you.

Mazzini · 28/02/2022 17:46

The first thing I thought of was Bill Bailey's funny sketch. It's on YouTube, search his name and 'not too bad'. I would accept this woman's got a cracking sense of humour and likes Bill Bailey, or she's completely barmy..

DoorWasAJar · 28/02/2022 17:50

@KeyboardCat

(Obviously he thought Louis had said 'parents')

😃😃😃

linsey2581 · 28/02/2022 18:24

@ConfusedNUpset I am also a bank nurse and regardless of your banding you should have a word with her as professional attitude stinks! I’m a band 2 and I’ve stood up to band 8 face to face. I had enough of their attitude towards bank staff especially healthcare workers, apparently as we are not registered nurses we know nothing about nursing. Stand up to them!

Georgyporky · 28/02/2022 18:32

Do you have a different accent to her ?

dcthatsme · 28/02/2022 18:32

Odd. Probably more a reflection of her hysteria. Perhaps she's at the end of her tether. Overstretched NHS etc etc and your polite measured answer tipped her over the edge. I'm sure you haven't done anything odd or wrong. Sounds like she's lost the plot!

Mamarama2u2 · 28/02/2022 18:33

Could she have asked a different question and you misheard? She’s clearly an arsehole though and has caused you anxiety by not explaining what’s so hilarious! Try and forget about it, she’s clearly a d!ck!

wentworthinmate · 28/02/2022 18:37

Avoid like the plague, ignore her when in her presence in the future. That's what I'd do anyway. She doesn't deserve politeness or your time.

WonderfulYou · 28/02/2022 18:54

I think she was laughing at something else - either something popped in her head or she’d just had to hold her laughter in in front of one of the patients for a long time.

I do this all the time - just randomly burst out laughing when I’m walking down the street and the more you try not to laugh the worse it is.

She was very rude to not explain why she was laughing though and I wouldn’t go out of my way to be her friend.

SunshineCake1 · 28/02/2022 19:01

Maybe she wanted an actual explanation of how things were with the patients.

ChocolateIsAlwaysTheAnswer · 28/02/2022 19:09

Similar thing happened to me once but at a friend's house. I was only about 10. I hadn't heard something my friend's mum had said so replied with 'Sorry?" Her, my friend and her sister all erupted with laughter. Maybe it just sounded strange coming from a young kid but it still embarrasses me to this day. Sorry you had a similar experience. Her behaviour, her problem x

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