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"How Do I Explain That My Coworker's A Raving Lunatic?"
Olsen Twins, Women Of Letters

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JayBird
11/05/09

In reply to "How Do I Explain That My Coworker's A Raving Lunatic?"
Now compelled to share my crazy story. I work in IT for a credit card company. Years ago, when I was just project managing, one of the Indian contractors popped into my cube and said we needed to talk. Since it is quite common to have people working on your projects whom you have never met, I assumed he was on one of my projects and there was a problem. I asked what I could do for him, and he said "I think you and I should be together. I think we're soul mates"

Completely flabbergasted, I explained that I was flattered but married, ya ya ya trying to give him a polite brush off. I even LEFT MY CUBE and walked off, and he kept following me.....

Somehow, he knew my birthday was coming up. The following week I found a nicely wrapped PM book - one that retailed for about $150. I stomped around until I found his desk, gave him the book (in full view of his team) and said "This is inappropriate."

He kept emailing me from the office mail and from gmail - love you, won't you go out with me?

I finally got creeped out enough by it to tell our site lead. She was in India at the time but called me, called the contractor, and had the man's contract cancelled. His visa was pulled and he was going home. I was excited - right? no more problem, no more oddness.

Not so great. Corporate HR calls me two days later to say that he never showed at the airport and the INS can't find him. Creepy stalker dude is out!

He was never found.

I hid at home for a little bit. I was pretty sure he knew where I lived.

I ended up filing a police report; I later learned that he was a devout Muslim with a bad temper! We had an anthrax scare in the office two weeks later...so of course that is where my mind went.

And lastly; bitch had a GLASS EYE!!!!! #askadeadperson
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superconnected (is it time to leave?)
11/05/09

@JayBird:
That's a really scary story. It's a good reminder as well to keep these kinds of things in mind when people are overly friendly.

One thing though: what does him being devout muslim has to do with anything? C'mon. Crazy people come in all creeds. #askadeadperson
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JayBird
11/05/09

@superconnected (is it time to leave?): He came from an area of India known for the frequency of acid attacks. Now, I do have a limited existence but I have never heard of any Christian, Buddhist, Toaist, Shintoist, etc. use acid as a weapon to disfigure your enemies..... #askadeadperson
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FrannyR
11/05/09

In reply to "How Do I Explain That My Coworker's A Raving Lunatic?"
I also have a co-worker who is definately a bit "off", so I read Lucy's answer, hoping for some guidance. It sucked. I can't really explain what's off with the guy at my work either without resorting to weird anecdotes. Lucy should understand is that those off behaviours are NOT isolated events in an otherwise normal life, they are part of a larger pattern. And after you've spent long enough time observing that pattern, you start to worry and look over your shoulder. My co-worker is not just an eccentric, I've met enough of those to be able to tell the differance. And the person who wrote in wouldn't have done so if she/he thought there was something more to this person than just being an original. I've been genuinely scared of the guy at my work, I've removed my adress from online registries in case he decides to send me a bag of feces or to stalk me. Wouldn't put it past him. I wouldn't put anything past him, he is so strange you can't predict or assume anything about him. Others have tried talking to our boss, but she just responded like Lucy "Give him a break, maybe you misunderstood, it doesn't sound that bad etc", which you don't want to hear after mustering up the courage to adress this, talking it over with co-workers and friends for weeks, going over in your head what you wanted to say. The person who talked to the boss left shortly after, about 60% of that was because of the weirdo. I'm thinking about leaving too, he is just too creepy.

I'm a living person, but my advice is: Run. Run like the wind. Run like cheap pantyhose, RUN! #askadeadperson
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boxspelunker
11/05/09

@FrannyR: It is so easy to just wave it off and be like, "Well, some people are just weird, you know?"

I knew a guy on the internet for many years. He was always a little creepy. We kinda set him up so he would yell at a friend and I could get mad at him, but he went WAY overboard and did some scary shit about it. I got freaked out and blocked him. He still finds a way to contact me every few months. Explaining that he wants to keep being friends, he misses talking to me, I was being a crazy bitch (there's always a dig at me, which reminds me why I don't want to be near him in the first place). He swears that I got mad because he yelled at a friend, despite me telling him it was because he was acting like a sociopath.

I have considered getting a restraining order. Someone refusing to speak to you for almost 2 years should be plain as day to anyone that they don't want to talk at all. Especially when every contact is followed by a block. I am worried that he will find me on other sites and places. I hate hearing from him. It's just a sack of bricks to the head about how creepy he really is. And how glad I am that I don't talk to him.

This guy the writer works with could be a harmless weirdo, or he could be a creepster. I would report it to the boss and leave it at that. Avoid having too much contact with him or seeming too friendly. Keep an eye on him. I don't know, what else can you do? #askadeadperson
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Erda
11/04/09

In reply to "How Do I Explain That My Coworker's A Raving Lunatic?"
I wish that we could submit our own quandaries to Ask a Dead Person, because I have more than a few problem in which I could use the input of Jane Austen, Michel Foucault and Jack Kerouac. #askadeadperson
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Plum-Pie
11/05/09

@Erda: You should PM Sadie with this idea! I love it! #askadeadperson
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MargaretMoony
11/04/09

In reply to "How Do I Explain That My Coworker's A Raving Lunatic?"
I'm with Jack Kerouac. #askadeadperson
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maude_flanders
11/04/09

In reply to "How Do I Explain That My Coworker's A Raving Lunatic?"
Jesus Christ: Y'know, you should really be more careful how you treat beggars. That's all I'll say. Verily."

Sorry Jesus, not if they handle me; if YOU happen to be one of those bordering-on-mugging/getting-too-aggressive beggars, then that's YOUR problem.

Why would you tell someone about a stranger getting rough with you and then be aghast at a suggestion that you should have been violent right back? (I guess cutting off the hand is TOO violent?) #askadeadperson
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Beets.Go.On is the Fat Yogini
11/04/09

In reply to "How Do I Explain That My Coworker's A Raving Lunatic?"
I'm going to have to go with Mr. Kerouac on this one. #askadeadperson
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Laulau
11/04/09

In reply to "How Do I Explain That My Coworker's A Raving Lunatic?"
I love that you used Henry Darger. That would explain the knife as well! #askadeadperson
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Steve Holt's Mother Part Deux
11/04/09

In reply to "How Do I Explain That My Coworker's A Raving Lunatic?"
Scarlet O'Hara: It sounds like someone needs a little chin music. #askadeadperson
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elixthecat
11/04/09

In reply to "How Do I Explain That My Coworker's A Raving Lunatic?"
is this coworker's name creed by any chance? #askadeadperson
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Lizard in the Wires - synthesizer signals suspense!
11/04/09

In reply to "How Do I Explain That My Coworker's A Raving Lunatic?"
Son of Sam: Hey lady, the neighbors dog wants what the neighbors dog wants. #askadeadperson
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Keep it cool
11/04/09

In reply to "How Do I Explain That My Coworker's A Raving Lunatic?"
I sort of feel for the dude. You know, one person's crazy is another person's weird. But what if someone is crazy? For real? Do you have a social obligation to do something about it? Can we really predict violent behavior? And even if we can, does it matter?
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maude_flanders promoted this comment Edited by Keep it cool at 11/04/09 5:39 PM Keep it cool was starred Keep it cool was unstarred

Omitofo
11/04/09

In reply to "How Do I Explain That My Coworker's A Raving Lunatic?"
Philip K Dick: Perhaps the government has placed him in your office and laced him and/or you with drugs as part of a test to see your collective reaction. #askadeadperson
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curiousgeorgiana
11/04/09

In reply to "How Do I Explain That My Coworker's A Raving Lunatic?"
I'm going to use verily more often in the future. But for now, verily, I must continue with my evening studies. Verily. #askadeadperson
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jigglyball
11/04/09

In reply to "How Do I Explain That My Coworker's A Raving Lunatic?"
Charles Dickens: Why, I must pen a tale about these events! Not only will his personage be dusted in working class grime, but his name shall be Mr. Madd - I say, aren't I ever so clever?! #askadeadperson
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Edited by jigglyball at 11/04/09 5:38 PM jigglyball was starred jigglyball was unstarred

ladyM2000
11/04/09

@jigglyball: Errr... don't you mean Charles DICKENS?

Sorry, big Dickens fan here. (Not in that way!) #askadeadperson
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jigglyball
11/04/09

@ladyM2000: Haha, you're so right. Please, someone, revoke my English degree.

It's been a terrible day. I'll fix it. #askadeadperson
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Kristinkles Ingabogovinanana
11/04/09

In reply to "How Do I Explain That My Coworker's A Raving Lunatic?"
Pam and Jim, is that you? #askadeadperson
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