I don’t talk about politics or religion at the workplace, yet there is a drama queen that loves just blurting out what she thinks to everyone around.
My way to go so far has been to ignore her, but sometimes I just want to yell at her how incoherent she is.
Then I’d be the one starting drama I guess…
I’m looking for advice to deal with these kind of people. I don’t want to work listening to conspiracy theories.
You have basic human social cues and a the minimal amount of empathy. So you won’t be able to ignore a person. As mush as people say it you can’t actually ignore people. The best you can do is minimize interactions.
Try to understand that people like this are desperate and crave interaction. They want someone to validate them. This can come by agreement or by argument. Either of those options will fuel them. People like this are unwell, though appear functional.
If you confront this person they will know they have a ‘live one’ and will NEVER EVER LET YOU GO. Do not engage unless you deliberately want to give them the interaction they are so desperate for.
Give non-responses, grunts, etc to them . Stuff like ‘huh, must have a lot of time on your hands’ ‘ok’ ‘huh’ Keep body language to a minimum. Like others have said this is for all topics. Even a small smile on a point of agreement is a small crumb of the interaction they are desperate for.
Headphones all the time.
Quit. You will know your workplace and know if they given any care at all about a professional environment. Most ‘HR’ departments or managers are simply not equipped to deal with a drama person who doesn’t cross the line to blatantly illegal. If you are in the unicorn place that cares and is willing to shut down a person like this speak to a manager or HR. If you don’t work in that place, time to move. This isn’t advice for everyone. You are bothered enough to want to engage with this person. It’s obviously on some level effecting you. Over more time it may not get better.