this post was submitted on 23 Feb 2025
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is this how extroverts function? (lemmy.ml)
submitted 8 hours ago* (last edited 8 hours ago) by sarah2653@lemmy.ml to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml
16 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/26365993

I'm the quiet, introverted one and I may be on the spectrum. I like to do my job and go home. I hate drama and drama queens and ignore people when they start gossiping. Many extroverts find that offensive and talk behind my back like teenagers do. This stupid drama is the only reason why I quit my job after finding a new one.

I agreed to stay 4 weeks with the company because some coworkers are actually grown ups, it is a breeze to work with them and I can use their experience to be a better professional.

Back to the immature ones: Past me would ignore their sarcastic and passive aggressive comments, which took a toll on me but now I have nothing to lose and I couldn't care less what they think of me, meaning I started to answer back using their same tone and so sarcastically and passive aggressively as them: they yell at me accusing of doing something on purpose, I politely tell them to calm down and to seek help.

Most of my coworkers are women. Since I started answering back and being a jerk, they toned their b%tchiness way down, it is more pleasant to work here now.

I don't understand why my coworkers treat me with some respect now that I'm being a jerk and I hate I have to be a jerk to be treated with a modicum of respect. I don't know if I'm wrong but I think they have an idea of what a man is supposed to be and now that I fit their definition of a man, they leave me alone because they see in me something familiar to them.

I find it sad I have to be an ass to be treated with respect and I hope to find a workplace where I can be myself and work with no drama.

Is this something that's going to happen no matter where I work?

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[–] Nemo@slrpnk.net 30 points 7 hours ago (5 children)

Okay, first off, fellow introvert here:

The problem you're describing isn't really an introvert-extrovert thing, it's a sociable-antisocial thing. I think your gender dynamics theory has some merit, too, but what you need to understand is that, before, you were acting antisocial.

Ignoring people is antisocial, and moreso when it's people talking about their feelings. To you that was worthless drama but to them it was their emotional experience. Now you're engaging; and yes, with hostility, but at least there's communication and connection.

And in my experience, a lot of more blunt people have trouble telling passive-aggression apart from a more indirect communication style. "Did you email Bob from shipping yet?" is very blunt, to the point of rudeness. "It's important that Shipping is up-to-date on these developments, Bob is their point person" is much less confrontational.

So I'd say it's not being a jerk that's improved your situation, it's matching communication styles with your teammates.

[–] HobbitFoot@thelemmy.club 1 points 11 minutes ago

Yep. I'm on the blunt side and I've been told by some people that they thought people did something wrong based on my direct communication. I had to respond that I work in an industry where you have to be blunt to communicate what you want, so bluntness is the standard.

On the flip side, I've gotten frustrated by people who are far more passive in giving direction because it ends up leading to poor decisions and rework that should have been addressed because they didn't provide clarity when asked to.

[–] sarah2653@lemmy.ml 1 points 21 minutes ago

Now you’re engaging; and yes, with hostility, but at least there’s communication and connection.

it’s not being a jerk that’s improved your situation, it’s matching communication styles with your teammates.

do you know those couples where they only communicate yelling? Why would a sane person want that? It still doesn't make any sense. To you engaging with hostility is better than not engaging but I still find it appalling and prefer silence and quietness over yelling and drama. Yelling is extremely draining.

OTOH your post makes me understand how some people think, hopefully a very reduced number of people, but if this is how some of my coworkers communicate and expect me to communicate, quitting is still the right choice. This cannot be healthy on the long term.

Going on, I'll match my new coworkers' communication style and volume, but it can get really ludicrous if 2 "adults" at the office start yelling at each other (reason why I prefer to simply disappear)

Still baffled, because yours is a whole novel idea to me: angry communication, even toxic, aggressive and unpleasant is better than no communication. Not saying that I agree with it, but I'll think about it when dealing with some of my coworkers.

[–] notabot@lemm.ee 3 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

Matching communication styles is the key here. If there's a general chatty vibe to the team and you're the only one not engaging then you're the odd one out and that will invite comment.

If your team are chatty, you don't need to go all out at the same level they are, but showing some willing and chatting at least sometimes will usually be enough to ensure harmony. Knowing how to disengage without causing offence or annoyance is also an important skill.

[–] sarah2653@lemmy.ml 1 points 4 minutes ago

If your team are chatty, you don’t need to go all out at the same level they are, but showing some willing and chatting at least sometimes will usually be enough to ensure harmony.

my team is not made of people who simply want a hello. I don't want to even say hello because if I do they'll dump on me a monologue about their weekend, what they cooked or the reasons why they're angry at another coworker.

Knowing how to disengage without causing offence or annoyance is also an important skill.

can you write an answer with tips to disengage without causing offence?

I don't think I can do this: while your post seems genuine I still find it ludicrous to have to placate needy people with attention this way. If I give them a bit of attention, they'll want more and talk to me even more about their feelings at the workplace and distract me, something I don't want.

[–] umbrella@lemmy.ml 1 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago) (2 children)

but at least there’s communication and connection

wait, so i'm forced to interact with crappy people if i want to be left alone? why would they take offense in you just wanting nothing with them?

[–] sarah2653@lemmy.ml 1 points 3 minutes ago

why would they take offense in you just wanting nothing with them?

I still don't get it, but they're this needy, apparently

[–] Nemo@slrpnk.net 4 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

They take offense because "wanting nothing from them" implies that they have nothing to offer. Even if this is true, it's still rude to imply.

And yeah, pretty much the only way to get needy conversationalists off your back is to throw them a bone once in a while, even if it's only a "ooh that's rough, but whatcha gonna do?" or a "not bad, yourself?"

[–] sarah2653@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 minute ago

They take offense because “wanting nothing from them” implies that they have nothing to offer.

but some of them do have something to offer: job experience and know how, but they fixate on gossiping and badmouthing other coworkers when they're not around.

[–] Broadfern@lemmy.world 11 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

Not OP but this is a hell of an insight, thank you.

You’re right that I would have no frickin clue what that second sentence would mean. Someone asking me if I emailed Bob yet directly would not offend me, and I’d prefer it.

My only solution so far has been to say directly to my coworkers that they won’t offend me by asking directly but that doesn’t work 100% of the time. I get paid to do my job, not decode 400 lines of possible subtext from a passing sentence because they’re afraid of asking a question.

I still say hello and act friendly though. ¯_(ツ)_/¯

[–] MNByChoice@midwest.social 5 points 7 hours ago* (last edited 7 hours ago) (1 children)

In case this is helpful (to whoever)

"It's important that Shipping is up-to-date on these developments, Bob is their point person"

Response Options:

  • Sure is. Bob is great. Is there a problem?

  • That makes sense. Who is Bob?

  • Sir, this is a Wendy's. Can I cake your order. (Only applicable if you are on shift at the Wendy's you work at.)

[–] CarbonatedPastaSauce@lemmy.world 2 points 4 hours ago

Wendy’s puts your order in a cake now?

These gimmicks are getting to be a bit much.

[–] Dagwood222@lemm.ee 13 points 7 hours ago

Here's the secret.

There's a huge difference between not speaking to people and saying a few words.

If someone says "hello" to you and you ignore them, they think you're snubbing them. If you just say "hello" back then they are usually satisfied.

Try timing your interactions. You'll find if you spend even 15 seconds talking to people they'll end the conversation themselves.

[–] HubertManne@moist.catsweat.com 4 points 5 hours ago

My general experiences with having kick up the agressiveness is dealing with other men. Most of my experiences with women have generally been fine but I am in tech so any women are pretty intelligent and educated.

[–] tetris11@lemmy.ml 5 points 7 hours ago* (last edited 7 hours ago)

I gotta admit, it's way easier to be a moody silent anti-social guy than to be one as a woman. I've seen plenty of the former (am one myself) and it's just shrugged off like "oh he's just like that", but to be a moody antisocial woman is practically a death sentence in an office environment.

I don't have any answers, but you do have my sympathy. I can only say it pays to learn how to force a smile, even if it feels insincere.

[–] makeshiftreaper@lemmy.world 3 points 7 hours ago

Unfortunately, yeah. The more you let people walk over you the more comfortable they get doing it. Being blunt is a good way to stop that kind of behavior, when someone is rude asking direct questions like "why are you saying that about them?" makes people uncomfortable and will get them to stop dragging you into drama. Especially in today's American climate people feel emboldened to attack people they see as "weak" so you need to not appear "weak" and (this is the much more difficult part) stand up for everyone else who the bullies are targeting