Difficult people
 

I'd like your guys and gals inputs. I'll make my long story short: 2 yr. period at my school. I'm an active runner and frequent the track for exercise. There's this guy, about 60+ years old who is anal retentive and always demonstrates his power-trip. This guy always approaches me and others about not putting my foot on the shot-put guard while I'm tying my shoes, or not to put my bicycle on the Astroturf. I only use the track when it's not in official use i.e. for the school's organized athletic events. I carry myself in a civil and reasonable manner. I don't look for trouble.

But this guy and I, a couple nights ago, got into it. I finally had enough, we got into an argument and our voices escalated. I literally yelled, "you're just an anal rententive person with a power-trip issue...." He kinda shut up after this comment because I hit the nail right on the head. I doubt the issue is resolved.

How would you handle power-trip, anal rententive, micromanaging people?

Too wordy. I would have just called him a douchebag.

OK, the guy is always on a power-trip, he loves pestering people for petty things.

From my psychology class:
1. Never argue/fight with a power-tripper, they feed off of it. Stand your ground with them however when the situations arises.
2. Encourage others to respectively tell the guy their feelings on the subject matter. If multiple people are saying the same thing, he is more likely to realize he is the problem.
3. Do things when they ask you nicely and do not do them if they ask rudely to encourage him to behave properly.

I still say tell him he's a douchebag.

I agree w/ #3. I tried that. The first time I had contact w/ this guy, I simply thought he was "just doing his job." However, his tone of voice gives you the sense that he presumptuously expects you to acquiesce to him.

Meh, if you tell him he's a douchebag, he'll know exactly where u r coming from.

People on power trips usually feel they are better than you or somehow officially/unofficially in charge. Making them ask nicely for things and now bowing down when they are rude helps them realize they are not the alpha.

Maybe the guy is the groundskeeper, or he has seen other people tear up the school's property. No doubt there is likely an issue in this guy's past that something of his got destroyed by careless people and this really grinds his gears.

I'd probably acknowledge that I heard his message and that you generally respect the school's property (hence using the track only when it is off hours and not when it is being used by the school). In short, "You don't have to worry about me, and I am sure you've never seen me do anything damaging to school property." If he doesn't respond to reason, I'd probably say something like, "What's it to you?" or "Who do you think you are, Groundskeeper Willie?"

I seen him approach other students and neighborhood folks who use the track, and I asked a few of these people what their experience was with this guy. They responded the same. I guess most people are afraid to confront this guy, or it's not that important to them and they're giving him lip service/going through the motions to get him off their backs. However, I use the track frequently, almost everyday, and at times I see this jerk. I don't look for trouble. I mind my own business and act civilized.

He acts on double standards, I'll give a real example. It's taboo but I'll keep it politically correct as possible. My university is in the 'hood. USC, zip code 90007. He lets the neighborhood middle school kids who are the same ethnicity as him, do as they please. He never micromanages nor breathes down their necks. They got some kind of after school athletic program. But he'll do it to me and other students. My school is predominately white with Asian people as the biggest minority. Most students, and especially Asians (I'm Asian) are passive and dislike confrontation. Who likes confrontation? But when it's time to put your foot down, you gotta, otherwise people will take you as a pushover.

If you ever watched the comedy "In Living Color," he is very similar to the character Jim Carrey played, "the cherub of justice" or whatever. The guy's a scrub who wants his voice heard. I honestly want to pop him in the mouth.

Where you at?

edeeZee, how old are you? just curious

early 30's

Ok! This guy is 60+, "don't yell at him", or even call him a bad/dirty/curse name. California has an Elderly Abuse Law, it can land you in jail, plus probation for 3 to 5 years! Plus the fines and restitution are very expensive!
I'm not trying to tell you what to do, just trying to keep you out of a lot of legal trouble.

:wtf2:

haha I agree with steve.....wayyyyy too many words

just tell the guy to shut up already and take some fibrecon to liven up his day.


i'm always polite to the elderly, but being pestered at is another story.

Thanks for the advice, but if an "elderly" person pesters you for unreasonable things, I think acted within reason to yell at him.

As a matter of fact, during our yelling contest his spit was flying towards me and vice versa. It looked like when umpires argue with baseball players.

This guy's the kind of chump who gives you weak reasons as to why you shouldn't put your foot on the shot put guard in order to tie your shoes, a physical object that gets hit with immense physical magnitude from 10 lb+ shot put spheres and metal discs. :shakes head:

Uhh, sorry. I'm dealing with a power tripping person.

Where you were arguing....how many floors high was it?

just ignore the guy and carry on......... never ever raise ur voice even if he does.

LOL, what do you mean how many floors? Do you suggest I push him off?

tell him to see his family doctor if cialsis is right for him.

Noooo I would NEVER suggest such a thing!!! :icon17::bowrofl:

tell him to call the scooter store and if medicare insurance denies him, they'll give the scooter free....no charge to him.

:wtf2:

tell him to get a premier bath tub, it comes with a bulit in seat....... so no chance of falling
fully functional bath tub door with latches for easy entering in and out.... all premier tubs come with a no quibble garantee.

haha i would have ignored him but at least u gave him a piece of ur mind... nvm just air out his tires haha

you should pretend you are " WE TODD DID" mke him feel bad for yelling at you.

lol........ shum....

i do that when the wife will not let me byu something in the store. I ack all we todd did and call he my big sister. she usually always says yes cuz she gets embarassed easy and i don't really give a shlt