People who talk to themselves outloud

[aa]

I work in an office of 6-8 people depending on who comes in vs. work at home. Three out of the eight, when they do come in, talk to themselves out loud all day. Not an occasional comment, ALL DAY! I am wondering, would it bother you? I can’t tell if I am overreacting but I find it completely unnerving. Especially when they are all there on the same day! Im not looking for advice on what I should do, I’m interested in how others would feel if it was them.

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[miws]

I can recall at least one occasion of a coworker talking to themselves, which was when I was a cashier at White Center McLendon’s.

We had this one employee who did that all the time. His department and its customer service desk were the closest to the cash registers. It didn’t bother me, it was just part of who he was.

I know you don’t want any advice, and I don’t think this is, per se, but my brain can’t help but try to analyze why it bothers you.

I’m not a sports fan, to the point that I’ll mute the TV when the sports report comes up during newscasts, or any sports-related stuff, like reports on specific games. At the very least, I find them boring, but I especially find things like fan noise/screaming/cheering extremely annoying, and the rapid-fire delivery of the sports anchor, and the game’s radio/stadium announcers. All of the “fast pace” stuff triggers something in me as if I should be getting all excited. It’s almost as if someone is telling me “HURRY!!! HURRY!!! HURRY!!!.

So, I don’t think you’re overreacting, it’s just that it’s annoying to you for some reason.

-Mike

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[Vanessa]

Hello aa,
I would not be able to work with all of them talking to themselves. I have a hard time when there is 1 or 2, answering a phone call or simply mumbling to themselves. It’s impossible not to hear them, and to truly concentrate on my job at hand. Is there a possibility of wearing noise cancelling head phones? (although that would be annoying after awhile too.) Simple earplugs to help lessen the sounds?

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[CarDriver]

Are others in the office bothered too? I too was bothered when someone in the office did it. We (others were bothered too) found a simple solution in that when they started talking we would say “what was that?” They finally got the hint. While it’s possible there’s a medical condition that causes them to talk out loud, I’m also wondering that with working from home especially if they were alone maybe they were unconsciously thinking they were talking to coworkers not realizing they actually ARE in the office talking to coworkers??

• This reply was modified 2 years, 6 months ago by CarDriver.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 6 months ago by CarDriver.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 6 months ago by CarDriver.

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[aa]

I honestly just wanted to hear if others would be bothered. I am not interested in personal reflection on why it bothers me, or at least not here. And I am not looking for suggestions on how to deal with it. Simple question, would it bother you?

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[dmk]

Yes, it would bother me a lot.

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[Author]

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