There's a new girl at work that, upon first look, seemed nice. And normal.
But only a few days after her hire, the employee who shares an office with her began commenting about this new person's "quirk".
"She talks to herself."
Well, I thought. It could be worse. So she thinks out loud. We all do that at times, don't we? Perhaps the older staff person just wasn't used to sharing her former solitary office space.
I would listen to her complaints in an ever-increasing frequency, nodding my head in agreement, but honestly brushing off her concerns to pettiness.
Until I observed the "quirk" myself.
The new girl was in our mailroom, sorting envelopes. I happened to pass by, intending to check my cubby when I heard her.
Engaged in a loud conversation.
With herself.
No one else was anywhere to be found.
This wasn't the usual "oh, crap!" comment one may utter out loud... she was embroiled in a full-out discussion about every piece of paper she was handling, literally arguing with herself on what should be done with it.
I stood frozen in the doorway, mouth agape. I was unsure whether to intrude on the crowd of one.
She never noticed me as she continued her tirade back and forth.
I finally came to my senses and backed away quietly, of course making a bee-line to my co-worker's office, confessing my observations.
"Welcome to MY world...." she sighed, shaking her head sadly.
I must admit I felt bad for her, having to listen to that all day, every day.
But I was also never so glad to return to my own office and lock the door behind me.
Getta holda 
25 PEOPLE HAD SOMETHING TO ADD:
OMG- I love watching craziness like that. A few months ago there was a girl at my office who ended up being Schizophrenic (which was really sad) but she used to come in sometimes in her pajamas and then her boss would send her home. Then she would come back fully showered and done up a couple hours later without any recollection of being in the office earlier in the day.
Oh dear, I'd find that very awkward having to work with someone like that!
Oh, boy. I'd be torn between wanting to kill her and feeling sorry for her. I once worked with a woman who hummed incessantly. That high-pitched kind of humming, complete with vibrato? SO annoying. There was no pity there.
JD at I Do Things
I had a college roommate that did that. He was a genius. I'm not saying this girl is. I'm just saying...
Oh my... that it a wee bit spooky. I talk to myself a lot, usually in the car on my drive to and from work, but I DO realize that it is a conversation with myself. Has anyone asked her about this little quirk?
LOL - I worked with someone who did something similar. Drove me crazy. The boss loved it tho...cause she thought she was busy ... I was quiet and the boss thought I wasn't doing enough! LOL Every once in a while I'd talk to myself to ... just to give the boss the impression I was working.
LOL I worked with a girl like that. She was really nice, but it was hard for me to tune her out because I had trained her, so every time she started talking about what she was doing on the job, I felt like I had to listen in and help her. I wasn't getting any of my own work done, and she was driving me nuts! I finally said something to her about it and she told me that she was just thinking out loud, and I should just ignore her. What a relief - after hearing her actually say that, I was finally able to tune her out and get some work done...
That's what I keep telling to my other self: shut up already.
Oh yeah? Well don't get me started
Shut up I said! No-one is listening to you!
LALALALALALALA...
Jen: Wow. Well, I must say, this girl is nice and I think she does her work. She is just very loud...
Lady Banana: Yeah, I am so glad to have my own office!
JD: The girl she works with would agree wholeheartedly, I am sure.
Ed: Yes, there is a fine line there... many famous genius' do have what we would consider quirks, no?
Tara: It cmae to the point where she wasn't taking the hints at first, so the staffmember had to come out and ask her about it. She isi fully aware she does it; her last job complained about it too, but it doesn't stop her. I guess it's something she just can't control.
Drowsey Monkey: Ha!!! That is so funny! It's like I have to mess up my desk sometimes to make myself look busy; it's like if you're too efficient, it doesn't look good.
Jeanne: Good for you that you were able to tune her out. I know our staff member finds it hard. She would wear headphones if she didn't have to answer phones and have visitors to her desk so often. Otherwise, she could tune her out with some songs at least.
Be.Bart (and Bart.be): Ahahahahahahaha!!!! Now THERE'S a way to boost my comments ... have 5 readers, but 50 comments; one from each personality! That was great.
I wonder if there isn't some entertainment quality in that also, although it does have something very creepy and makes you think of scary movies with axes and knives.
Wow! That's funny! I used to work with a lady just like that. She'd hold in depth converstations with herself. I used to ask her... "what did you say? Are you talking to me?"... all the time! She'd just tell me, no, she was talking to herself. I learned to ignore her most of the time.
Me too... I used to work with someone like that, but not as extreme. This coworker would quietly mumble narrative responses to everything everyone else said around her, whether they were talking to someone else in the office or on the phone. She would literally add her own comments such as "yeah right" or "that's dumb" or "are you serious!" as if we couldn't hear her. Very odd.
Hi I found you through Drowsey! I like your blog! :)
About this post...wow, crazy, I wouldn't be able to work near a person who did that. I would definitely need a new office mate.
Also, I read your comment about your love of Star Wars! Cool, I'm going to check out your other site!
Hee hee. I feel so bad but I know I would have giggled. I am a bad person. Bad bad bad. Jo you are a bad person. No I'm not. Yes you are. Bad bad bad.
I read an article once that said that smart people tend to talk to themselves. I talk to myself, but most people don't seem to realize that this means I'm smart. So now what I do is talk to myself about that article.
Funny story, Maureen!
I've always "thought out loud" (when alone, of course) but didn't actually start holding "conversations" with myself until college. They were short conversations, always uttered under my breath, but they drove my classmates crazy. These conversations started after I noticed that when I would go up and ask my instructor a question, I'd figure out the answer myself. I realized it was the act of verbalizing the problem that ordered my thoughts in such a way that I'd deduce the answer. So I decided to save energy and just ask myself the question at my desk or lab bench... and... hey presto! It worked! LOL! Now I always talk myself through problems and questions! But NOT at full volume!
Nora: It’s entertaining for those who may view it once or twice, not so much for my poor co-worker who has to listen to it constantly!
Darla: Hah! I am surprised there are so many people here that have come across this somewhere... it’s obviously a common “quirk”. I guess there are just simply different degrees of “quirkiness”!
Jeff: Wow, now THAT would be irritating! Very strange, indeed.
Jessica: Hi! And welcome! And me too, I have had my own office for over 20 years; I cringe to think what would happen if I had to share now... Thanks for your compliments!
Jo: Hahahahahahaha!!! Oh, you ARE too bad!
Diesel: Har! That’s great! And who IS it that says they’re smart? Themselves? Must be.
Phoenix5: Oh, no... not ANOTHER one! ;) Glad to hear you could control your volume, at least.
I want to talk to myself in another language so I can pick that up. I think it could be a handy learning device...
Dee Dew Dee Dew, Dee Dew Dee Dew. Welcome .. to the Twilight Zone ... where one is never really sure ... one is ... alone.
VE: Hah! Now THAT would be a good excuse - at least you'd be learning something!
Iceel: LOL!!! How true, that!
Wow and I thought I was scary and annoying always singing to myself. At least I do it under my breath and stop when people are around. Occassionally I get caught but she is just CRAZY. However, if all of her personalities are great workers she could be a model employee and get three times as much done.
I love people-watching! Although it's a little different when the person is in your office every day....
My new coworker in in an office across from me and talks to herself constantly. It drives me crazy. I can usually tune people out - but not her. I want to tell her to shut up, but of course I don't. I was hoping someone would tell me how they have gotten a coworker to stop this irritating habit!! this is not good office ettiquete
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