cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/26365993
I’m the quiet, introverted one and I may be on the spectrum. I like to do my job and go home. I hate drama and drama queens and ignore people when they start gossiping. Many extroverts find that offensive and talk behind my back like teenagers do. This stupid drama is the only reason why I quit my job after finding a new one.
I agreed to stay 4 weeks with the company because some coworkers are actually grown ups, it is a breeze to work with them and I can use their experience to be a better professional.
Back to the immature ones: Past me would ignore their sarcastic and passive aggressive comments, which took a toll on me but now I have nothing to lose and I couldn’t care less what they think of me, meaning I started to answer back using their same tone and so sarcastically and passive aggressively as them: they yell at me accusing of doing something on purpose, I politely tell them to calm down and to seek help.
Most of my coworkers are women. Since I started answering back and being a jerk, they toned their b%tchiness way down, it is more pleasant to work here now.
I don’t understand why my coworkers treat me with some respect now that I’m being a jerk and I hate I have to be a jerk to be treated with a modicum of respect. I don’t know if I’m wrong but I think they have an idea of what a man is supposed to be and now that I fit their definition of a man, they leave me alone because they see in me something familiar to them.
I find it sad I have to be an ass to be treated with respect and I hope to find a workplace where I can be myself and work with no drama.
Is this something that’s going to happen no matter where I work?
Okay, first off, fellow introvert here:
The problem you’re describing isn’t really an introvert-extrovert thing, it’s a sociable-antisocial thing. I think your gender dynamics theory has some merit, too, but what you need to understand is that, before, you were acting antisocial.
Ignoring people is antisocial, and moreso when it’s people talking about their feelings. To you that was worthless drama but to them it was their emotional experience. Now you’re engaging; and yes, with hostility, but at least there’s communication and connection.
And in my experience, a lot of more blunt people have trouble telling passive-aggression apart from a more indirect communication style. “Did you email Bob from shipping yet?” is very blunt, to the point of rudeness. “It’s important that Shipping is up-to-date on these developments, Bob is their point person” is much less confrontational.
So I’d say it’s not being a jerk that’s improved your situation, it’s matching communication styles with your teammates.
Matching communication styles is the key here. If there’s a general chatty vibe to the team and you’re the only one not engaging then you’re the odd one out and that will invite comment.
If your team are chatty, you don’t need to go all out at the same level they are, but showing some willing and chatting at least sometimes will usually be enough to ensure harmony. Knowing how to disengage without causing offence or annoyance is also an important skill.
wait, so i’m forced to interact with crappy people if i want to be left alone? why would they take offense in you just wanting nothing with them?
Not OP but this is a hell of an insight, thank you.
You’re right that I would have no frickin clue what that second sentence would mean. Someone asking me if I emailed Bob yet directly would not offend me, and I’d prefer it.
My only solution so far has been to say directly to my coworkers that they won’t offend me by asking directly but that doesn’t work 100% of the time. I get paid to do my job, not decode 400 lines of possible subtext from a passing sentence because they’re afraid of asking a question.
I still say hello and act friendly though. ¯_(ツ)_/¯
In case this is helpful (to whoever)
Response Options:
Sure is. Bob is great. Is there a problem?
That makes sense. Who is Bob?
Sir, this is a Wendy’s. Can I cake your order. (Only applicable if you are on shift at the Wendy’s you work at.)
Wendy’s puts your order in a cake now?
These gimmicks are getting to be a bit much.