Do you know people who suck all your energy?

[cville]

I have this colleague and every.single.thing she manages to turn around into something negative.  And usually about herself.  I know I'm Ranty McStosselpants, but I promise you all I posses equal capacity for joy and excitement as I do rage and annoyance.

Example.

Negative Nancy:  Hey, did you go to that marketing event?

Me:  Yes, it was fun [blah blah details] 

NN:  I looked at the final headcount, it didn't seem well attended.

Me:  It was a smaller event, but everyone really had a chance to talk, which is nice.

NN:  Yes, but I wouldn't do it again if I was in marketing.  What a waste.  I think we should do [blah blah idea that she's been hounding on for years].

Me:  ...

NN:  I saw they gave out [swag] with the firm's name on it.  I have been telling them for years that they need to add [catchphrase] to all of our branded items.  But no one has done it yet.  I have no idea why [firm] doesn't think it's important to emphasize [catchphrase].  

Me:  Yeah, well, you know, marketing people have their ideas about this stuff . . . [trail off because I just don't even know what to say]


I need another cup of coffee.  I arrived at work today full of pep, and by the time NN left my office I felt like I wanted to curl up in a ball and cry.  

[rupertpenny]

Do my husband and kid count?

For real though, I know the kind of people you're talking about. They are awful. Nobody likes an Eeyore.

[ginger]

Yes! I have a coworker just like thus but male.

Then, there's whiner-mc-complainer who thinks every procedure is stupid abs complains to me. I finally had to tell him I can't fix these things so he should talk to so-and-so. Ahhhhhhh

[Deleted]

Yes, my mom. She craves negativity and drama and I just hate it. I'm actually working in distancing myself from her because I just can't with her bullshit anymore.

[Serenity9]

Ugh. Why do people want to be this way? Doesn't it bring them down just as much?

I was actually planning to start my own coworker thread, but it fits perfectly here.

My coworker with an attitude struck again this morning.

My boss asked me about something yesterday evening after the paralegal left. I need the paralegal's input on part of the question, so I wrote the case name and "invoice?" on a post-it and left it on his desk, planning to have a conversation with him about it in the morning.

As soon as I walk in the door today, he says "This note means nothing to me. You really need to give me more information if you want me to be able to do anything with this. You need to give me specific information about X, Y, and Z."

Me: "It was really just intended as a reminder that we talk about it this morning, which is what we're doing now. So if you'd like to ask me questions about X, Y, and Z, now is the time."

Why was this an opportunity for him to scold me about how I write my notes, rather than just a friendly "Hey, you left me this note; what do I need to do?"

[LLL]

Ugh, those type of people are my kryptonite. I can't. 

[cville]

I just had a call with one of my favorite local counsels, so that helped. I love that guy. So cheery. He was the perfect counterpoint.

[iamali]

Yep.

The easiest thing to do is not engage. Like scotty said above, I am easily influenced by their negative attitude and knowing this I try to stay far, far away.

[koopa17]

Ugh, yes.

There are people that, without fail, are never cheerful/pleasant. I cannot stand walking down the hall and saying "hi, how are you?" "oooh hanging in there....."

Yes, we are all hanging in there. Our jobs still suck, but at least some of us manage to not be total drags about it. Just say "i'm good!" and move on.

[sewpinkgal]

Yes. I've tried to remove as many of them as possible from my life, though obviously that is much harder to do if it is a CW. Glad local counsel helped cheer you up!

[malibu]

The coworker I managed to get away from when I was promoted. Everything is a disaster, terrible, awful, no-good, very bad to her. All the time. Every day. I can't imagine living my life that way.

[W.T.Faulkner]

My coworker does this as well.

She is convinced that her job is The Most Difficult Job In The School.

Bitch, no.

[Deleted]

I had a CW like that once. In all seriousness she once said outLOUD this job would be great if it weren't for all these stupid clients! Um, those clients were our bread and butter, lady.

[anlo]

Yes, my step sister. She is "broken" a good deal of the time.

[MDmomof2]

Jul 24, 2014 8:53:18 GMT -5 Serenity9 said:

Ugh. Why do people want to be this way? Doesn't it bring them down just as much?

I was actually planning to start my own coworker thread, but it fits perfectly here.

My coworker with an attitude struck again this morning.

My boss asked me about something yesterday evening after the paralegal left. I need the paralegal's input on part of the question, so I wrote the case name and "invoice?" on a post-it and left it on his desk, planning to have a conversation with him about it in the morning.

As soon as I walk in the door today, he says "This note means nothing to me. You really need to give me more information if you want me to be able to do anything with this. You need to give me specific information about X, Y, and Z."

Me: "It was really just intended as a reminder that we talk about it this morning, which is what we're doing now. So if you'd like to ask me questions about X, Y, and Z, now is the time."

Why was this an opportunity for him to scold me about how I write my notes, rather than just a friendly "Hey, you left me this note; what do I need to do?"

I hate when people do this to me. If you need to make a note to talk to me about something, make a note to yourself, not to me. It's like when I've been sitting at my desk for hours and get an email that says, "Call me when you get a chance. I have a question."  It's YOUR question, you call me.  But I'd never react like your co-worker did. I'm a nice person

[BaliHai]

Emotional vampires. Yes. Unfortunately.

[cleo29]

I read your post with NN sounding like Sour Bill from Wreck It Ralph. At least it made an annoying person slightly amusing. I suggest this to you during future conversations.

[isabel]

Jul 24, 2014 8:52:02 GMT -5 @ygmg said:

Yes, my mom. She craves negativity and drama and I just hate it. I'm actually working in distancing myself from her because I just can't with her bullshit anymore.

So much this. I actually dread talking to her because there is so much drama. I am not a dramatic person and I have a really hard time dealing with that much negativity.

[Deleted]

Jul 24, 2014 13:14:00 GMT -5 isabel said:

Jul 24, 2014 8:52:02 GMT -5 @ygmg said:

Yes, my mom. She craves negativity and drama and I just hate it. I'm actually working in distancing myself from her because I just can't with her bullshit anymore.

So much this. I actually dread talking to her because there is so much drama. I am not a dramatic person and I have a really hard time dealing with that much negativity.

Yep, it's exhausting. She's even dramatic about getting in touch with me, lol. She calls, fb messages me within a minute if I don't answer the phone, then instantly calls again and leaves an urgent voicemail. All of this is usually to tell me something I give no shits about.

[gault]

I've had them. They are no longer a part of my life. Not worth it.

[ckinla]

I have a coworker who has a constant rain cloud over his head. It's so obnoxious - especially since it's a very small office and he bitches All. Day. Long.

[iamgrace]

My mom. My sister. My dad. Exhausting.

[isabel]

Jul 24, 2014 13:29:20 GMT -5 @ygmg said:

Jul 24, 2014 13:14:00 GMT -5 isabel said:

So much this. I actually dread talking to her because there is so much drama. I am not a dramatic person and I have a really hard time dealing with that much negativity.

Yep, it's exhausting. She's even dramatic about getting in touch with me, lol. She calls, fb messages me within a minute if I don't answer the phone, then instantly calls again and leaves an urgent voicemail. All of this is usually to tell me something I give no shits about.

Mine is more the constant guilt trips about not calling often enough, not having enough empathy for her situations, yada yada. She creates unnecessary stress on herself (and everyone else) and never seems to question that the negativity surrounding her might have something to do with, you know, her. I do a lot of introspection and self-assessment because of her. It's the only positive thing about it.

I'm sorry you deal with this shit too. It's exhausting.

[zoidberg]

Let's just say a close family member.

[happyholiday]

Jul 24, 2014 8:52:02 GMT -5 @ygmg said:

Yes, my mom. She craves negativity and drama and I just hate it. I'm actually working in distancing myself from her because I just can't with her bullshit anymore.

Ditto.

[trixiedicksnatch]

My mom and sister are selfish "takers" and always filled with asshole comments and negative drama.

It's frustrating because I have to deal with them regularly, and if I'm like hey you're kinda being shitty I get an onslaught of how I'm a terrible daughter/sister/parent/friend and that I basically created cancer because I'm an evil fuckwad.

It's exhausting walking on egg shells with them all the time.