Anyone got some colleagues/bosses that make you hate your job?

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So, I try to avoid discussing politics or current events at work. For my mental health, I just don't want to discuss these things at work or get into arguments with people I work with. I found myself in a situation where I work with this older Director who is insufferable. This guy is what I would consider a typical Trump supporter Republican. Reactionary, listens to Ben Shapiro, yells "Let's go Brandon" like he has Tourette Syndrome whenever he's triggered by something in the news. I stay neutral, try to divert the conversation to something work related or just ignore him. It can be pretty draining.

Recently, he starts a conversation about how he's tired of the racism at work. Curious about this, I engaged him and listened to what racism he's seeing at work. Well, it turns out that all the black people are "racist" towards him. The injustice he's suffering is that they are not as friendly or chatty with him as they are to other people in the office. Now I have to hear this guy pout and whine about this "racism."

9/24/2022 2:54:04 PM

had to quit my last job bc the new boss was a nazi from hell

some people are just awful to work with or for and, thankfully this is a decent time to switch jobs if necessary - especially with educated chaps such as ourselves :3


my current job there's a new super who kinda barks orders like she's been there for years but, thankfully it doesn't affect it too much bc of of unions

9/24/2022 3:31:39 PM

For now I'm just doing what I can to ignore this guy's non work topics or try not to be too disagreeable with him (just to not piss him off and add to his victim complex). It's becoming a regular feeling where I grit my teeth and hope he drops dead.

9/24/2022 4:11:24 PM

I have to post on TWW with bbehe. It's terrible.

9/24/2022 4:26:58 PM

I used to work with a guy like this. He was an old, blindly conservative, loud, opinionated asshole that loved to try to rope you into political arguments by holding the most insufferable opinion possible. He was the only one in the office with political paraphernalia on display; from "Hillary the Witch" to "MAGA hats".
I've talked about him a few times on here, actually:
https://thewolfweb.com/message_topic.aspx?topic=647358&page=32#16543663
https://thewolfweb.com/message_topic.aspx?topic=647358&page=32#16544245
https://thewolfweb.com/message_topic.aspx?topic=647358&page=32#16546442
https://thewolfweb.com/message_topic.aspx?topic=647358&page=32#16550910
https://thewolfweb.com/message_topic.aspx?topic=647358&page=33#16552932


Anyway, he didn't make me hate my job. Though, I loathed having to work with him sometimes. I actually had my desk moved, in part to get away from him (across the aisle).

I wonder what harebrained things he has to say now? We were all working from home because of the pandemic when January 6 happened. He was fired a while back, and I never even got to hear his loud mouth proclaiming Trump's innocence.

9/24/2022 4:28:20 PM

I’ll have to follow and contribute to the Crazy shit my coworker says series.

I also get the “privilege” of him sharing his opinions about other people in the office. This usually involves him talking about their appearance or sexuality.

9/24/2022 4:58:20 PM

I actually have a black girl at my work who I am pretty sure is racist towards white people

it's nothing I've complained to anyone about, it's just kind of weird seeing it the other way :3

in my particular case, I've been nothing but nice, and I'm not a stupid redneck Trump supporter (just a redneck ) so I'm not sure what that's about

but it's overtly obvious and I find it weird and uncomfortable

the second she gets around a black person she gets all happy and talks to them and hootin' and hollering and all that, but then I say something nice (literally everyone in the office likes me so it's new territory for me) and she sometimes will make a little bit of a noise, or just completely ignores it. and it's pretty much the same with almost all the other white people in the office

can I get a cool story bro?

just kind of sucks though bc the previous several people in her position have been awesome and they've all been smart enough to leave the damn place

9/24/2022 5:33:28 PM

A conversation earlier this week:

Him: If they pass this thing, by the time your kids are your age, everyone will have to be veggie like you.
Me: (confused about wtf he's talking about) Who's passing what?
Him: If they pass this there will be no more meat and Texas will secede, cattle is the biggest part of their economy, and I'm going to move to Texas when that happens.
Me: (realizing he's reacting to some shit he heard from some right wing talking head) oh, cool.

For context I should mention that I'm on a plant based diet and the only reason this ever comes up is because I request a meat free option when lunch is provided at work.

9/24/2022 5:40:50 PM

Quote :

"I actually have a black girl at my work who I am pretty sure is racist towards white people it's nothing I've complained to anyone about, it's just kind of weird seeing it the other way :3 in my particular case, I've been nothing but nice, and I'm not a stupid redneck Trump supporter (just a redneck ) so I'm not sure what that's about but it's overtly obvious and I find it weird and uncomfortable the second she gets around a black person she gets all happy and talks to them and hootin' and hollering and all that, but then I say something nice (literally everyone in the office likes me so it's new territory for me) and she sometimes will make a little bit of a noise, or just completely ignores it. and it's pretty much the same with almost all the other white people in the office can I get a cool story bro? just kind of sucks though bc the previous several people in her position have been awesome and they've all been smart enough to leave the damn place "

I have limited experience talking to black people at work, so take this with a grain of salt...

In the context of the last 6-7 years, they don't trust being themselves around people not like them.

Can't say I blame them if they assume someone is a Trump supporter and don't feel comfortable around them. Closest person in my life that's a Trump supporter is my brother and he revels in the racism. Had to stop talking to him because he would send me racist stuff to laugh along with him and would get belligerent if I didn't.

9/24/2022 6:20:26 PM

OP, this is tough.

I work with some older white men that are tuned in to conservative propaganda outlets and have a real victim complex despite their many advantages in life and their comfortable living and place in society. They often lament about the future and what it's going to be like for me (I'm 38) and people younger than me / next generations, although I assure you that such "concern" does not extend to environmental impacts from boomer climate change denialism. No amount of contortion allows me to share their crazy viewpoints, but I'm expected to agree with them. Apparently I will never be able to be a company leader in the current environment because I'm a white male and will be blackballed somehow. This, despite the fact that the company has only ever been led by white men including now for over 150 years. I don't feel threatened or disadvantaged in any way. I just say I don't strive to be a company leader (true), so I don't care. Every grievance at work becomes a tortured political analogy about how Democrats are ruining the country. It's just so tired, and occasionally, I lay my annoyance bare and they back off or moderate a little bit, but only temporarily. Or either they'll say the same crap as before and qualify it with a lead-in like, "I know you probably don't agree with me on this, but. . ." I don't want them to die as they do have some redeeming qualities and I had a pretty good relationship for 10+ years until Trump came along and gave them permission to be assholes in public, but not being propagandized would be a nice first step.

Also, BubbleBobble, cool story, bro!

9/24/2022 7:43:52 PM

9/26/2022 8:50:33 PM

None of my coworkers are insufferable assholes.

But it always amazes me that people I interact with in a work setting (sometimes customers, or truck drivers, or peers at other companies) will say some racist shit or jump right into political talk within just a few minutes of conversation. Like, I’m just trying to make small talk with a truck driver and he starts in on whatever the latest Tucker Carlson/Fox News talking point is…sometimes blatantly racist stuff, sometimes wacko conspiracy stuff, or anything in between. I fully acknowledge that I work in an industry and live in an area that is very very red. But it always makes me wonder, what vibe am I giving off that makes others think stuff like that is cool to say around me? I’m just trying to make small talk about the weather or business or very mundane things and they want to tell me how there’s only 2 genders or whatever.

9/27/2022 7:28:37 AM

The only co-worker that'd fit into this thread for me was a senior programmer at a job I briefly had. I was new (only there about a month or so at the time), and his team was too busy, so when he asked if anyone could help with something, I said I would.

He sent me the super brief ticket, and when I asked for more details, he said he wouldn't tell me, since he wanted me to "feel the pain" of the engineering team being separated (a decision that'd happened before I even joined, and which he disagreed with).

Anyhoo, my supervisor eventually jumped in to see if he could help, and when that went nowhere, we ended up reporting him to the director of engineering. Surprise surprise, nothing happened, and I started looking for a new job.

9/27/2022 9:44:45 AM

^^yes, that also baffles me.

I don't know you, at all. We've been small-talking for five minutes. What makes you think I'm going to agree with your whacky nonsense? And why do you think it's appropriate to bring up in a work-setting? I brought my car in for an estimate for some work, and within a few minutes, you're trying to get me to engage about last night's Tucker Carlson show. I'm trying to (politely) make it very obvious that I have no desire to engage in the conversation, but you just won't shut up about it!

(luckily almost every one I work with doesn't do this)

[Edited on September 27, 2022 at 9:46 AM. Reason : ]

9/27/2022 9:46:09 AM

I've been very lucky I feel like. In my career, I've only come across one person that I could not work with.

As far as PackMan's issues are concerned, even though I've never had to do this, I probably would not hesitate to take that mess to HR. People, especially at his level, should be smart enough to not engage in politics at work. At the very least, you should be able to survey your audience and choose your words carefully.

Sounds like this buffoon has no business holding the title of director.

9/27/2022 9:58:51 AM

Yesterday he complained to me that the biggest challenge he’s facing is the politics at work. The lack of self awareness with this guy surprises me sometimes. I’m not sure it registers with him that my lack of response or changing the subject means I don’t agree with him or not interested in the topic.

Capitalism propaganda has rotted this guy’s brain. When he’s not giving his political opinions he’s obsessed over money and celebrities. I almost feel sorry for him sometimes because he has such a selfish and shallow perspective.

9/27/2022 10:28:43 AM

If I haven't worked with an insufferable asshole does that mean that I am the insufferable asshole??

[Edited on September 27, 2022 at 10:42 AM. Reason : Wait tww is a terrible place for me to ask this]

9/27/2022 10:41:50 AM

This reminded me that the last time I drove by Mace Sporting Goods in Mebane (it's right on the side of westbound I-40), they have a huge TRUMP 2024 banner over the entrance, and they also have it displayed on the large electronic sign out front.... why? Apparently they think it's important enough to lose (probably a decent amount) of customers.

[Edited on September 27, 2022 at 10:46 AM. Reason : it's 2022 and he hasn't even declared that he's running....]

9/27/2022 10:45:54 AM

If they lose business it will be because of “wokeness” and “cancel culture” or something about their freedom of speech (which to them, I think, means they’re entitled to an audience for whatever they want to say).

9/27/2022 11:24:29 AM

^^^I was thinking about saying something along the lines of:

All the people you folks are complaining about seem to be conservative/Republicans...so, perhaps you guys are the insufferable ones?

And it would have been intended as a joke, but it would have backfired.

I DO NOT discuss politics at work. Years ago it was possible, but now, it just causes problems.

Again, turn this guy into HR.

9/27/2022 11:29:09 AM

Maybe I am. But I’m not going around like a sad, lonely guy looking for someone to share my opinions with.

9/27/2022 11:43:03 AM

^But see that's the thing, conservatives have at least 4 radio shows to which they can tune in and hear their opinions yelled back at them. They aren't lonely. There are plenty of people they can talk to who agree with them about their politics outside of work.

Sounds like he's on a mission to convert the masses, and we all know that's a lost cause.

9/27/2022 11:52:58 AM

That’s what the internet is for. Go find a subreddit or make a Twitter account and yell about it.

Inherently this is an issue, right? We all want an echo chamber. Nobody really engages in good faith discussions on stuff. It’s just “here’s why I’m right”. But it’s not like I have any room to talk, I don’t engage people I don’t know that approach me with their political opinions.

[Edited on September 27, 2022 at 11:59 AM. Reason : A]

9/27/2022 11:56:08 AM

It’s mostly reacting to the latest thing they heard from their favorite right wing outlet.

9/27/2022 12:08:45 PM

From my experience, it's almost always conservatives that want to discuss politics, uninvited, to anyone that will listen (even if they don't want to listen). I'm sure there are plenty of liberals that do the same thing, but I really hardly ever encounter that, except maybe just a passing remark about how awful Trump is or something. Even when the liberals know that those around them probably agree with them, they usually seem to know that it's inappropriate to bring-up in a business/professional setting (or even in a casual setting if they're around people they don't know well).

I was sitting in traffic yesterday, and a landscape pick-up truck pulled up beside me with their windows down, and they were blasting some talk radio, and all I heard was something like "It's unbelievable how Joe Biden is calling for mass violence".

9/27/2022 1:18:41 PM

I must have missed that call.

9/27/2022 3:02:09 PM

We were all wondering where you were at last month’s antifa meeting.

9/27/2022 3:06:03 PM

i enjoyed reading this thread

thanks to everyone who has contributed

9/27/2022 7:08:43 PM

I was in the break room getting coffee and he showed up. There was another coworker there who is a Biden supporter. We were on the topic about everyone being back in the office. It must be regular thing where he rags this guy about being a Biden supporter and laughs about Joe Biden saying Covid is over. The other coworker tries to correct him that Biden said the pandemic is over but Covid is still out there and Trump was even worse. I thought it would be a good time to take on the mantle of insufferable asshole and joined the Biden supporter in a few minutes of laughing about Trump’s buffoonery and criminality. I think he felt embarrassed. Later, during another break, he talks to me and has a completely different tone and is extra complimentary about my work. Not sure I did the right thing and this is going to bite me in the ass later but it was cathartic.

9/27/2022 8:12:52 PM

excellent, i will be back for more updates

9/27/2022 9:57:58 PM

^^FEELS GOOD MAN

9/27/2022 10:35:37 PM