How do you deal with someone who never shuts up?

Question

I work opposite a guy at work who never ever shuts up and it drives me up the wall. This morning he went on for an hour about his breadmaking machine, he talks constant drivel. he talks about Big Brother constantly and I can't stand the programme. I've taken to wearing ear plugs but he just gets sulky and there is nowhere else I can sit to get away from him.
How do I go about ignoring him without upsetting him? I have put up with his inane chatter for two years now and am at the end of my tether.

Answer 1

two words... duct tape

Answer 2

I feel for you, that´s a tricky one. First of all, reporting people to the boss is a thing you should be very, very sure about. I´d push that idea aside for the time being and see whether it maybe can be solved in some other way. If you say, "he doesn´t know what he´s talking about most of the time" - why do you ask him questions? You know the way he reacts to them, so whenever possible, ask somebody else. One thing you should be very clear about is the pushing work off on you. Next time he asks you to do something that is clearly his task (there´s nothing wrong with working as a team when that is appropriate), simply smile and, as nicely as you can, tell him sorry, but you are awfully busy already and need to get yada-yada done in time. Be firm and clear. I´m afraid that´s what you can do at the moment. Unless that doesn´t work and he doesn´t get it - and unless you have solid proof about the talking to his wife, playing online games and leaving work early stuff, your boss might take reporting a co-worker as anti-social behaviour, for all you know. Good luck!

Answer 3

I know EXACTLY what you mean !



It`s one of the worst torture methods a person can be put through ! It wreaks havoc with your concentration , your mind , and your sanity !



I`ve found that the lower the IQ , the more a person will talk , which accounts for the inane drivel ! This doesn`t apply to women nearly as much as men , because women love to talk .......it`s their reason for living ! A woman can tell you her entire life`s history , from birth to the present , without even ONCE coming up for air !



Men are entirely different . A normal conversation between two men of normal intelligence lasts about 30-45 seconds ........ a phone call , about 90 seconds .......... and up to two minutes if it`s a matter of life and death . Any longer and your male friends begin to wonder about you !



Back to your co-worker ............



There are really only two solutions to your dilemma , Otis ! One is to simply pull out a .44 magnum next time he opens his mouth , and blow both his ears off ............ with one shot !



The other solution , which is slightly more legal , is to invest in a portable air-horn ! Every time he opens his mouth , you give him two or three ear-splitting blasts of the horn ! In a day or two , he`ll have learned the meaning of the phrase "silence is golden" , and you can work in peace !

Answer 4

Can you talk to your boss or hr about a new work station?



Stop worrying about your co-worker being upset. Get your i-pod going. Do you have any idea how many free pod casts their are out there on all kinds of subjects? I look forward to new shows every day!



It is also time for you to learn how to cut him off. Stop being the enabler that gives him all your free time. Don't let him finish his story's. Say that you have a dead line to meet and that you need to focus on what you have to do.



Does he pay your rent? Does he feed your dependents? If you were down and out would you call him for help?



Didn't think so. So why are you going to let him drive you out of a job?

Answer 5

Reason people chat that way to particular people, is because they feel comfortable and really trying hard to please someone..



All you need to do is work as normal as you can, be busy..if you are not busy then let them talk and you be the listener...however this is the time where the art of pretending to listen has to develop.



If his a good guy then why be annoyed? see it as you being him and think of a way you can actually be so polite in a manner showing that you are not really interested in a BB for example..just say it in a good way "" OH NO! DONT TELL ME YOU WATCH THAT""



What you do is emphasize on things you just want him to stop talking about..



IF the bread maker...Just be firm and polite ""God Talking About bread maker, I hate those things"" Just be polite but hitting the point.



I hope it makes sense as It works for me.

Answer 6

Listen to your iPod(mp3 player or whatever) and turn the volume up real loud. If he says 'why you ignoring me', or gets sulky, explain to him that your not, your just listening to music. Chances are, he'll ask you what your listening to and then you could talk about something that's actually interesting to you. If that dont work then well, who cares if he gets annoyed with you? He's annoyed you constantly for years! Get your own back ;)

Answer 7

Speak to your boss, he should be working NOT chattering.



Otherwise just agree with everything he says, and if he dont shut up, just make up an excuse like "i got a headache, can you be quite" or "im realy busy on something can you give us a minuite?"



The last thing is just to turn around and say "Shut The F**** Up!" possiably resulting in you being fired.

Answer 8

Have a text primed to send to a friend, so that whenever he's off on one of his boring talks, you can let her know, she can then ring him up and ask him politely or otherwise to stop talking and get on with his work as he is being watched. He'll never know it's you.

Answer 9

There are a few ways to handle this.



1. You could just tell him that you are annoyed.



2. Listen to your iPod or mp3 more often to signal that you are busy.



3. Ask for a new office cubicle or job position.



4. Talk to other people more often.

Answer 10

I know you don't want to upset him, but ... forget it. If the only way to get this to stop involves upsetting him, I'm afraid you'll have to take this course of action or keep dealing with the totally inappropriate obnoxiousness.

Answer 11

In addition to ear plugs, do what I do when wifey yaks nonstop....just let it go in and out all the while nodding and going uh-huh, that's nice and mmm-hmm and yup and oh, really?



He'll be too busy yammering to notice you're not paying any attention.

Answer 12

Is there another chatter box where you work? Maybe you could introduce him to that person. Or just tell him you are sorry but are busy and just don't have time to listen right now.

Answer 13

Just pretend you are constantly busy and have loads of work to be done by a short deadline.



So next time he start interrupt and say really sorry got to do this .....



keep doing it and hopefully he will get the hint !!!

Answer 14

Do you have an ipod or mp3 to listen to? If so then turn it up to full volume.

Works wonders for me when my Dad won't stop his incompetent complaining!

Answer 15

Continue with the earplugs and let him sulk. So what if he does? He will get the message after a week.

Answer 16

Say something off the wall and so off subject that it silence him into confustion. XD

Answer 17

just tell himyouve got a headache can you please be quiet or something



or just go for it and lose your temper Once, and shout at him tell him to shut up, okay hell be offended for a bit but hell get over it



:)

Answer 18

Just try to Ignore him, show him that you don´t care about what he says. Try it, it might work.

Answer 19

don't be the quiet one. tell him to stop drilling your ear.

Answer 20

ducktape

Answer 21

get a new job or move to a different office. xD

Answer 22

The best solution in the world. KILL HIM!!!

Answer 23

iPod.