12 years of the same 'joke' and I have the rage! AIBU

[Hotflushesandchilblains]

I have worked in the same place for 12 years, with mostly women and a few men. One of those, A, is giving me the rage big time and I cant figure out why I am so annoyed by this stupid so-called 'joke'. Most people live in the county we cover, but I live in the next one over. Since I have met him, A regularly makes the same joke about me not having electricity, running water, etc etc - you get the picture, that we are backward where I live. Just recently its making me want to punch him. I have told him its not amusing any more (not that it ever was). He is a bit of a 'character' anyway - very attention seeking and the kind who wants to be cracking jokes all the time. I think I am generally annoyed with him lately because there is a big project going on at work which I have done much of the set up for, and which he is trying to muscle in on. But I seem to be able to keep my feelings under wraps until he trots out this stupid joke. Is it as obnoxious as it feels?

@Manxexile I'm not remotely embarrassed. 😊

With these sorts I find getting a slightly far away look in your eye and smiling slightly like you are thinking of something funny, works very well. If they ask, then «Oh I was just thinking of something..» These types are very insecure and if they think you think them foolish, they will back off fast.

Tell him he needs some new material. 🙄

I feel like I'm in the minority here but why is it bothering you that much? You know it's not true because it's wildly ridiculous. Just take the piss back 🤷

You should be!

Enough people have corrected you...

Nice. On a thread about bullying.

In no way is it racist lol.

12 years though! Torturous…

Don't be silly. It is no doubt annoying after 12 years but it isn't racist.

Guaranteed, almost everywhere in the country will have some other, usually neighbouring, place they look down on and make fun of.

Where I grew up it was, well, it was where I grew up! At secondary school all the people from other places made jokes about us living in caves etc. Yawn.

OP can't you deal with him through disinterested sarcasm!

"Oh George, I think I gave heard that one 15 times now, can you think of a new one"

BTW you don't live in Staffordshire do you?

I'd start taking the piss back every time "ah yes Colin and your county has the highest number of nobhead men who wear pink chinos" etc etc

When Colin starts his bullshit you interrupt and say (loudly, while clanging some cutlery off the side of a glass)

“everybody shush. EVERYBODY! COLIN IS DOING HIS ONE JOKE. PLEASE PAY ATTENTION. I’m so sorry, Colin. I didn’t want anyone to miss it. Go ahead”

then get the group to rate how it was compared to last year.

"Colin, I don't want to embarrass you, but you do know you've been cracking the same 1980s style "joke" for twelve years, yes? Bit embarrassed for you really. The rest of us have moved on. Hurry along now, yeah?"

None of that is racist though

I don’t agree with this, I lost so much respect for Gary Barlow due to this moment! I think it is sinking so low to make personal comments.

I would be exasperated OP. I think calling it out each time he comes out with it (“joke’s over now Steve” type thing) is best. But if there are other issues and it persists might move to writing it down/taking it further.

Yes, spot on we all “shag sheep” but at least we aren’t annoying fuckers!

o

Also, start calling him Colin all the time.

"Bantz" is bullying. Report ot to your hr/ people whatever they're called
Now team.

And then you can tell him you're going to make a complaint about him if he makes one more comment. And then do.
Don't take the crap anymore.

* Eyeroll *

He sounds like a bully and a chauvinist. Tell him his behaviour is insulting. If he says things like, It's just s joke etc, repeat it and say, Stop it.

It's a bit tedious, i get that, but that's all. Seriously , get a grip!.

You do understand that racism is about race don’t you? Not about which county in the same country that you’re from?
Shropshire, for example, isn’t a different race to Staffordshire. It’s a county

Don’t just throw the race card out when it’s not even required

And if you mistook County for Country-then that would be xenophobia.

It still wouldn’t be racism.

And herein ends your lesson.

Hope that helps!

Tell him he’s being racist just to confuse him 😂 Look at the confusion it’s caused on this thread!