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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Colleague driving me up the wall

26 replies

TheWhisker · 27/02/2023 10:13

I sit opposite someone who I tend to get along with, although we're not friends. He went on annual leave and since he has come back he's been kicking the floor every few minutes loudly with his feet. Together with his insanely loud typing and loud eating noises, I'm going insane. Please tell me if it would be unreasonable of me to tell him to shut up?! I was murderous last week after a week of the bloody kicking.

OP posts:
IamtheDevilsAvocado · 27/02/2023 10:17

Ear buds...

Telling him?

Happygoclucky · 27/02/2023 10:20

Hate it when people are absolutely oblivious to how annoying their habits are. Can you put a radio on to drone out the tapping? Or put that anti fatigue matting under the colleagues desk that should absorb the taps!

heldinadream · 27/02/2023 10:20

"Mate, were you on a tapdancing course? Only you seem to have come back still dancing. It's a tad annoying, any chance of you knocking it on the head, I'd be really grateful, ta? Glad you had a good holiday! Was it fun?"

TeamadIshbel · 27/02/2023 10:22

TheWhisker · 27/02/2023 10:13

I sit opposite someone who I tend to get along with, although we're not friends. He went on annual leave and since he has come back he's been kicking the floor every few minutes loudly with his feet. Together with his insanely loud typing and loud eating noises, I'm going insane. Please tell me if it would be unreasonable of me to tell him to shut up?! I was murderous last week after a week of the bloody kicking.

Sounds like grounds for industrial action! I couldn't bear this. Sounds like misophonia though. Get yourself a pair of discreet earbuds designed for misophonia suffererers which will help. Explain to your line manager what's going on, he might end up moving desk.

Ohdearnotagain76 · 27/02/2023 10:22

Could it be a tic and he's not aware of it?

LetThemEatTurnips · 27/02/2023 10:45

I'd say something about the tapping. Just say it is making you jump or something.

Beadyeyes80 · 27/02/2023 11:19

Love this! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

KimberleyClark · 27/02/2023 11:46

Does he have restless leg syndrome?

Original poster
TheWhisker · 27/02/2023 15:04

It's honestly not stopped all day. I cannot cope!

OP posts:
Original poster
TheWhisker · 27/02/2023 15:05

@KimberleyClark he went on a week's leave and came back doing it. It didn't happen before this. I've known him for two years.

OP posts:
ThepicofmyhairymingeprovesIamsober · 27/02/2023 15:09

Bit weird that he’s suddenly started kicking the floor? Painful for him too I should imagine, if the noise of it is loud enough to annoy you.😮

Original poster
TheWhisker · 27/02/2023 15:26

ThepicofmyhairymingeprovesIamsober · 27/02/2023 15:09

Bit weird that he’s suddenly started kicking the floor? Painful for him too I should imagine, if the noise of it is loud enough to annoy you.😮

It is weird. I don't know if it's an anxiety thing.

I don't think it's causing him pain but the noise he makes on the floor is loud.

OP posts:
TheySeeMeRowling · 27/02/2023 15:43

Someone else annoying you isn’t their problem it’s yours. Telling a colleague to ‘shut up’ might not go the way you think it will.

RockGirl · 27/02/2023 16:16

I think that sounds terribly annoying, and I'm sure any of us would be very frustrated. However, please do not label it misophonia, because if the OP was truly suffering from that terrible disease they would not be posting on here, there would be some more serious repercussions taking place. It's not just 'an annoyance at sound', it's a neurological disorder that truly impacts a person's life (and their family and friends too).

MrsWojadobakowsky · 27/02/2023 16:27

Is there another floor below yours? Might he be annoying someone else too?

Original poster
TheWhisker · 27/02/2023 16:56

TheySeeMeRowling · 27/02/2023 15:43

Someone else annoying you isn’t their problem it’s yours. Telling a colleague to ‘shut up’ might not go the way you think it will.

Ha

OP posts:
Duvetdweller · 27/02/2023 16:57

As a PP asked - does he have restless leg syndrome?

Siriusmuggle · 27/02/2023 17:31

Want to swap for my colleague who types fast and loudly with one finger on each hand. It’s like that cat typing meme. Only at a million decibels.

LlynTegid · 27/02/2023 17:35

You should have said something about two or three hours after your colleague got back, dressed up as a concern.

HurryShadow · 27/02/2023 18:16

Siriusmuggle · 27/02/2023 17:31

Want to swap for my colleague who types fast and loudly with one finger on each hand. It’s like that cat typing meme. Only at a million decibels.

Our receptionist is of, erm, mature years, so was taught to type on a manual typewriter that required punching instead of pressing. I can honestly hear her typing from the other side our of office as she bashes away at the keyboard! Unsurprisingly it has to be replaced relatively regularly and she just can't understand why! 😂

The tapping/knocking would drive me mad though, especially if it's new. My DH does it and doesn't even realise he does until I point it out. I've kind of got used to it nowadays, but if we're sharing a seat or a table I do get to a point of wanting to amputate his knees. Luckily, as we're married, normally a hand resting on his knee is enough to make him realise. Wouldn't recommend doing that to a colleague you don't consider a friend though!

@heldinadream 's post is brilliant if you can get away with it as a joke.

KimberleyClark · 27/02/2023 19:43

Our receptionist is of, erm, mature years, so was taught to type on a manual typewriter that required punching instead of pressing. I can honestly hear her typing from the other side our of office as she bashes away at the keyboard! Unsurprisingly it has to be replaced relatively regularly and she just can't understand why! 😂

I’m also an old codger of 61 who was taught to type on a manual typewriter but I am not a noisy typer.

Original poster
TheWhisker · 27/02/2023 20:56

Duvetdweller · 27/02/2023 16:57

As a PP asked - does he have restless leg syndrome?

Does this come on suddenly?

OP posts:
chocolateisavegetable · 27/02/2023 21:00

heldinadream · 27/02/2023 10:20

"Mate, were you on a tapdancing course? Only you seem to have come back still dancing. It's a tad annoying, any chance of you knocking it on the head, I'd be really grateful, ta? Glad you had a good holiday! Was it fun?"

Please say this

HurryShadow · 28/02/2023 09:57

KimberleyClark · 27/02/2023 19:43

Our receptionist is of, erm, mature years, so was taught to type on a manual typewriter that required punching instead of pressing. I can honestly hear her typing from the other side our of office as she bashes away at the keyboard! Unsurprisingly it has to be replaced relatively regularly and she just can't understand why! 😂

I’m also an old codger of 61 who was taught to type on a manual typewriter but I am not a noisy typer.

Oh I get that - we had a lady that worked here for over 50 years and she was an immaculately peaceful typist on the computer. This colleague just cannot break the habit of a lifetime! Not annoying - just makes me chuckle when I hear the keyboard being battered!

MrsJessePinkmann · 28/02/2023 09:59

Just say " who's banging? " or " can anyone hear that annoying, banging sound? "

Hopefully he'll get the message.