How to deal with an idiot?

Malaysia
November 5, 2008 11:13pm CST
I'm usually a calm and cheerful guy in office (at home, I've always been a cheerful person). But there's this senior colleague (yes, he can be considered as a supervisor of mine) who really gets on my nerves. He was the one who interviewed me last time. He threw me questions which were not for my level of experience and kept telling me I'm wrong without giving me any answer. He was also the one who went to UK for project with me. We stayed in the same apartment for few months (with another colleague who is a much nicer guy than him). He's the type of people who can wash his clothes 3 times a day, using the washer. And will scold you if you accidentally use the washer on "his" day. And he always thought he's an expert in badminton, pool and bowling. He lost to me in pool and bowling but I must admit his badminton skill is far better than mine. I'm a casual player. But what really got on my nerves is that, he will always laugh at you if you miss a shot - those sinister laughter. He will laugh, tease you and even asks you to go away since you are not good enough to play against him. And when he's not playing, he will stand next to the court and laugh at your mistakes. All my teammates don't like him including my boss. But in terms of technical expertise (job related), he's good. My question now is, if you're me, how will you deal with him? p/s.... I will just ignore him. That's the best I can do.
2 people like this
10 responses
@rsa101 (38166)
• Philippines
7 Nov 08
Well I think you just have to accept that there are persons like this and you should just let them be themselves. I guess he's just being competitive with you or he may see you as a threat against his position meaning that he must always check and see if you do have the skills to beat him out of his position. There are just like that person which shows some kind of superiority complex but in reality is just a hidden inferiority complex in himself. It is a defense mechanism of being inferior what he does is to let you feel he is superior than you are.
@rsa101 (38166)
• Philippines
7 Nov 08
Maybe that is why, he is getting older while you are a young blood in the company. Sometimes companies view younger employees as the potential leaders of the company that is why the senior members there might feel a little insecure in their position they are in because there will come a time that they will have to give in to the younger generation. Maybe that is the reason why they always show that he could compete with you in any way he can via sports or anything you might be interested in. Just let him be especially he is your supervisor.
• Malaysia
7 Nov 08
He's not really a supervisor. He's more like a senior. My immediate supervisor is my team leader, who doesn't like him either. Hahhaa. Ah well, he just created a joke saying that I have a girlfriend with the name Mandy. And I don't even know who is Mandy. =_= Anyway, it's all fine if he doesn't come and disturb me. :)
1 person likes this
• Malaysia
7 Nov 08
For your information, he's 32 years old, and I'm only 26. :D There is no way I can become his competitor. But yeah, we all know that he has this inferiority complex issue. He just bought a USD$ 180 badminton racquet and is now showing off in the office.
1 person likes this
@loxion (1553)
• India
6 Nov 08
Ha!ha!ha! sounds like a funny irritating guy you are dealing with there. I like people's ike that because what i would normally do is make theem embarrased, when they laugh just give them that look that say "damn you are right i never would have thought about that". But i think is will always be difficult for someone like you, as you have already describe yourself, but as for me....believe me they'll have a hard time time too My self Personally if you treat me good and decent then i'll do the same, if you show some resect then i'll do that also, again if you treat me with some idiots behaviours then where you'll get what you wanted This guy is probably taking advantage for the fact that you are'nt that much of an idiot like him and again for the fact that he is your supervisor and think that you'll always listen to everything he say
• Malaysia
6 Nov 08
The thing is, you cannot beat him down with all those verbal attacks. He will just laugh at it and that's all. One of my colleagues actually asked "Why hasn't anyone beat him up?!" LOL
@loxion (1553)
• India
6 Nov 08
I am sure he doesn't go out(like at night), because then thats when most people who knows how he treat other people will beat him. wow an idiot like that?hmmmm! i would probably have beat him long before his behaviour got to my nerves Idiots like that never go out because they know that they meet other BIG IDIOTS and the battle will begin, and i'm if you can try to beat him he will be defenceless, only his mouth will act as a defence. Wow i wish i knew him, i'll probabaly beat the hell out of the IDIOT, gosh.....
• Malaysia
7 Nov 08
Well, if I try to think in a positive way, he's quite a funny guy since he entertains everyone in the office with his idiotic nature. :D
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
7 Nov 08
I'll just give him the all the time. I hate people who are critical of others. I am a very forthright person. If I do not like a person, it shows very clearly on my face.
• Malaysia
10 Nov 08
Same here. If i'm pissed (which I rarely do), i'll show it on my face. :D
@Natara (169)
• Canada
6 Dec 08
Try your best to avoid him unless it is completely necessary to be around him. He sounds like one of the lawyers my parents work with frequently- rather egotistical.. I would say that you should talk to some other people if it seems that they aren't annoyed as you. Maybe they are doing something to prevent getting annoyed that you may not think of?
• Malaysia
9 Dec 08
Hmm, all of them are annoyed actually but not as much as me since they're not in the same project. Never mind, I'll just ignore him for now.
@MERCYAND (14)
• Myanmar
7 Nov 08
study from him ,if you can do the work as well as him ,you should feel he has changed.do not say the silly words like what you say.you feel better if you has the same skillas him. think yourself over,if you want to happy, no one can take trouble to you. you have not sth, you should learn more. it is a good advice to you. sure it is.
• Malaysia
10 Nov 08
He can make the guy with the best temper in our office to scold him. :D
@MERCYAND (14)
• Myanmar
7 Nov 08
you shou study the skill from him, do not attention his mistake,if you can do the work as well as him, i think ,the leader you say will make you as a friend.on working the skill louder more. so do your work well. do not worry about others.
• Malaysia
10 Nov 08
As of now, we have no project. He will start talking about real estate investing, facebook, bla bla, etc. Seriously, 2 years knowing him, I've given up on him. Same with the rest of my teammates.
@balasri (26537)
• India
15 Nov 08
However good he may be I cannot stand a rude and crude person.I always keep a very safe distance from people like these.You can find talented people and not good people that easily.The one thing I hate the most is the arrogant stupidity.
@jabaz007 (252)
• India
6 Nov 08
the best way is not to deal with an idiotm to save time and peace of mind.
• Malaysia
6 Nov 08
Easier said than done.
@Nhey16 (2518)
• Philippines
7 Nov 08
ohh so he's a bully.... the only reason people bully is because they want to feel good by doing bad things to others since they know that they have a lot of shortcomings... sometimes, it's best to let those people taste their own medicine... if you find time, let him feel what he was doing... and you would do that not only to make fun of him, but to give him a lesson...
• Malaysia
7 Nov 08
The whole team tried, but it's useless. I think he is finding opportunities to boost his own self confidence. We were having meeting with our COO about the team's direction. Towards the end, he told everyone in the room including the COO that he's a certified bla bla bla, and he is a good consultant bla bla bla (but cannot even speak English properly) and the company should give him chance to perform bla bla bla. A team meeting ended up becoming his meeting.
• Malaysia
6 Nov 08
Hi daydreamer... I'm sorry to read that you have to tolerate such a character everyday. It's sure is tough for you to handle I know as he is your superior. What you have done by ignoring him is the best solution that I can think of for now. Cos if you were to provoke him further, he can make your life miserable in the office. Is he holding the highest superior position in your company? Anyone else that you can report him to.. But for now just try to be more patience and good luck. Hope all turns out well for you..
• Malaysia
6 Nov 08
Fortunately, he's not the highest superior in my team. Unfortunately, even my boss has no idea how to deal with him but to pray that he'll resign by himself. And whenever he gets a call from recruiters, he will talk out loud to inform everyone in the office that he has job offers. And will start going around, telling people he has a new job offer with 20% more pay (oh, he also boasted that he has more than 100k cash). Well, he has been repeating that "stunt" for more than a year now. He's still here, to the dismay of many, including my boss (not the company boss though, it's my team lead).