I this a firm and polite way to tell an opinionated coworker to stop pushing his agenda I don't care about?

I've observed if I say nothing (because I simply don't know how to react), opinionated people think you agree with them, which I don't. I don't care.

what I want to tell him, next time he starts ranting: 'I don't care what you think, leave me alone'.

However, I may have to work with this person in the future, so what about 'you don't have to tell me everything you think, most of the time I don't pay attention' and if he keeps pushing it 'it's tiring working with a person who has to rant to feel good, it's boring and makes me ignore you, which is a problem, because we work together.' And leave.

What about 'everybody has problems, maybe talk to a therapist? I cannot help you'.

Or maybe simply leaving when he starts his rants?

BonesOfTheMoon ,

What exactly is he saying? I'm not sure what you mean, like politics?

boatsnhos931 ,

Start giving responses like you haven't been listening. I like to start with " I had some tacos last night and I tell you whut" "Do you hear that noise? You don't? It's like a faint whining" "have you seen my stapler, I saw it like 3 weeks ago and I really liked it.." start showing them every cute pic you have on your phone or tell them you want them to watch this YouTube video real quick. I'm a professional at annoying people so YOUKNOWHATIMSAYIN hit cha boy up

iamtrashman1312 ,
@iamtrashman1312@lemmy.world avatar

Not OP but have a very similar problem: what if the above also isn't working?

dumblederp ,

There's a lot to be said from simply walking away from someone.

42yeah ,

Yeah, just feign telephone call. It’s polite (kinda?), and hopefully he gets the message.

uriel238 ,
@uriel238@lemmy.blahaj.zone avatar

I'm very tempted to choose a brain worm of your own and push that agenda at him to assert dominance, but that's because I can be a passive-aggressive fuck if I feel someone is being overly aggressive.

Judgemental religious folk can bring out the Azathoth Hypothesis in me.

TubularTittyFrog ,

ignore them. why do you ahve to talk to this person about anything other than work?

vestmoria OP ,

because he engages, won't disengage and I don't know how to politely tell him to piss off.

I don't want drama and people like this have a tendency for that.

FlashMobOfOne , (edited )
@FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world avatar

There are some good responses here.

I'd also add that any time something's making you uncomfortable at work, it's a good rule of thumb to document it. Who said what, date and time, etc.

It's just good to have that info in case someone's behavior gets worse.

TubularTittyFrog ,

amen. i got a shitty co worker fired. i complained about her multiple times, and so had aother people.

she would corner people in the breakroom and like brag about her sexual exploits loudly. it was sexual harassment. she's also do it over the phone at her cube. it was disgusting.

Mellow12 ,

Say to them.

Look. I see you’re very heated on this subject, but I can’t afford to care right now. I don’t want to get worked up about this. All this conversation is going to do is bum me out or make me agitated. It’s not good for my work environment. I’m just trying to concentrate on my work and hopefully get through the day in a better mood than when it started.

catloaf ,

You got pretty good answers last time you asked this. Were they insufficient? I don't see that you responded to any of those answers: https://linux.community/post/837122

RedditWanderer ,

And clearly, he works/lives in a place where he has this kind of character around. It's not really fair to say "why are people like this in general".

Like if this guy works at a redneck pawnshop in the middle of nowhere, I can imagine he gets a disproportionate amount of these opinions from people who can't read the room.

forrgott ,

"I'm not interested in discussing this matter with you; please drop the subject so I can focus on work."

Politely insist he drop it multiple times. If he refuses, depending on how severely this is affecting you, you are well within your rights to seek out a supervisor to discuss the issue. But I'd be as plain and direct as possible to minimize any chance of him turning the tables on you and complaining to a superior first.

Or, make it clear you're not interested and just go on ignoring him?

originalfrozenbanana ,

I’d like to keep work about work. This conversation is not appropriate for work.

d00phy ,

I think this is the best answer. Think of it in terms of what would the boss (a good boss, that is) say? I can actually hear my managers say this. Many of the options here could be taken by the other person as you thinking you’re “better than” them. This is a fair and accurate response that doesn’t get personal.

originalfrozenbanana ,

Yeah it is important to set boundaries. It’s critical, actually. But it need not be judgmental or cruel. Work is a place where I go to give my time and labor for money. It’s nothing else. I have friends, family, and a therapist. OP’s coworker may not, and that is sad. But their behavior is hurting OP, which means it’s time to set a boundary.

OpenPassageways ,

This was my initial thought, but it's not clear from the post whether this is a work-related rant or not. It certainly could be a rant about issues that do affect work.

jet ,

Hey, let's just focus on work right now.

And don't engage with any of the other conversations

slazer2au ,

Not like they will get the reference.

https://res.cloudinary.com/teepublic/image/private/s--mAV5C7vL--/t_Resized%20Artwork/c_fit,g_north_west,h_1054,w_1054/co_ffffff,e_outline:38/co_ffffff,e_outline:inner_fill:38/co_bbbbbb,e_outline:3:1000/c_mpad,g_center,h_1260,w_1260/b_rgb:eeeeee/c_limit,f_auto,h_630,q_auto:good:420,w_630/v1669561008/production/designs/36931199_.jpg

SidewaysHighways ,

We'll bang okay?

Rolive ,

I'm Commander Shepard and this is my favorite comment in this thread.

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