Small Talk: Along the Hills of East Tennessee

[GeeGolly]

I would continue venting to us for validation and support. I would also come up with a couple of phrases to say when she's being rude - something akin to, well bless your heart. A phrase that allows you to continue to express your frustration in a subtle way. The phrase is for you and not necessarily for the rude, insecure, poser. Maybe something like, by all means, take the floor, or, as I was saying before Miss Post shared her wisdom...

As you and @BitterApple said an end date helps. Focus on making yourself feel better and not anything she says or does.

You got this and maybe next time you'll be her supervisor!

[lookeyloo]

18 hours ago, Heathen said:

Putting this here so that I can vent and maybe get an impartial answer. Do you think it is rude to knowingly interrupt a coworker, or to continue talking after you interrupt? I was taught that it is rude to interrupt, and that if you accidentally do so, you should say "I'm sorry, go ahead" and stop talking. I have lived all over the country, and in every place I've lived -- small towns, suburbs, inner cities -- interrupting was rude. 

The person I'm supposed to report to repeatedly interrupts and talks over me when I am speaking to members of the public, even after being asked privately not to do so. She gets defensive when I bring it up (today she interrupted me to deny interrupting me and then accused me of yelling at her -- I hadn't even raised my voice because there were people around). I don't like her and I think she is incompetent, naive, self-absorbed, and a liar*. I can handle anything for three more weeks, but I have gotten to a point where her rudeness is quite literally affecting my ability to do my job because I can't talk to potential voters (this is a political job) without her interrupting and talking over me. 

(She also fails to respect personal space. Don't ever reach right in front of my face unless you actually want to piss me off. I swear I'm on the verge of ripping her arm off and beating her with it. I kept having to move away today because she was too close and she was bumping into me.)

*Example of her lying from today: We both got wagons to be used on campus. I got mine yesterday and expected to spend some time putting it together last night. It was a matter of opening the box, pulling out the wagon, and unfolding it. Absolutely no assembly needed. Today she wanted to use mine. I asked if she hadn't gotten hers (expecting a lie). She said she hadn't put it together. I said, "There's no assembly required. It just unfolds." She replied, "Well, it was acting weird." 

Please talk me down. I would not have taken this job if I had not been deliberately misled about nearly everything. I am miserable. It's just gross that I have to report to a profoundly rude fool who is so ignorant that she said, "What, a hurricane in Michigan?" when I mentioned Helene making landfall. I tried to be nice -- I really did --  but I can't do it anymore. 

Very rude.  It is my major pet peeve. I am trying to break some family of doing this to me.   When they start to talk over me I stop talking.  then they talk and say "what were you going to say" and I say "I forgot" and then they act annoyed and I don't say anything else on the topic.  Slowly they are improving.

[65mickey]

There is a saying that you can't change other people's actions. You can only change your reaction. If this is only going to last for a month, try to not react to her. It sounds like this person is your superior at least for now. Tell yourself that you can stand anything shy of physical abuse for one month. You said that you are afraid that you are going to lose your job. So don't let this person push your buttons. I know it is tough but remember you are in control of you destiny.  Do the best job that you can do, ask others for help when you need it and tell yourself it won't be this way forever. I wish you luck. 

[Me from ME]

Quote

It is my major pet peeve. I am trying to break some family of doing this to me.   When they start to talk over me I stop talking.

Speaking of annoying habits: my bf interrupts me to answer a question he THINKS (incorrectly) that I was in the process of asking.

I've tried several things: "Yes, that's an interesting answer but not what I was in the process of asking", "If I may finish my question", as well as expressing that it bugged me at a different time both gently and angrily.

The dilemma is that it is disruptive of good communication.

[BetyBee]

@Heathen- I'm so sorry you are stuck putting up with an employee from hell. I'm retired now, but stories about such employees always put me in mind of 2 women I worked with at the end of my career. I don't know how old your annoying coworker is, but she sounds willfully ignorant and immature. I think keeping as far distant as you can from her and her shenanigans, is your best option. I wouldn't discuss her with other employees, unless it's HR. I wish you good luck.