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Woman Doesn’t Give In To Social Pressure From Coworkers, Doesn’t Care That It’s Going To Be Awkward
Woman in white shirt standing firm and not giving in to social pressure from coworker during a tense office conversation

Woman Doesn’t Give In To Social Pressure From Coworkers, Doesn’t Care That It’s Going To Be Awkward

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It’s one thing to be particular about cleanliness, but it’s another to be a “neat freak.” Those who identify themselves as the latter may run into some problems, sometimes with other people. 

This woman, who described herself as a “tidy person” who is “big on cleanliness,” had a rather tense lunch with her colleagues on her birthday. It began when one of them wanted to eat her lunch in her brand new car, which she declined. 

Things only escalated further when they arrived at the restaurant, prompting her to storm out on everyone. 

RELATED:

    Being a “neat freak” can be a source of tension with the people around you

    Image credits: romankosolapov (Not the actual photo)

    This is what happened to a woman, who describes herself as someone “big on cleanliness”

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    Image credits: lookstudio (Not the actual photo)

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    She explained how tensions rose between her and her colleagues

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    Image credits: Nevs

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    Clutter and mess are linked to negative emotions like irritability

    The woman’s overall reaction to the conversation with her colleagues while at the restaurant was supposedly due to stress. However, it may also be due to her brain’s natural aversion to anything messy. 

    According to Very Well Mind, clutter is often linked to unpleasant emotions such as confusion, tension, and irritability. 

    “To the brain, clutter represents unfinished business, and this lack of completeness can be highly stressful for some people,” an excerpt from the article reads. 

    The unkempt environment may also make a person feel like their life is out of control. According to a study on the effects of anxiety on spontaneous ritualized behavior, many people resort to cleaning as a coping mechanism during moments of high stress. 

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    What’s worse is that people who describe themselves as neat freak are often not in control of their urges. As science journalist and author David H. Freedman tells NBC News, “People who are neat are helpless to be otherwise — they’re prisoners of it.”

    Unfortunately, the woman had her birthday lunch ruined by something that may be beyond her control. However, she can take steps to reduce her stress. According tolicensed therapist Dr. Elliot Cohen, it’s simply about practicing embracing untidiness. 

    “If the stain on your garment or on a rug is peering boldly back at you, then turn your back on it and walk away instead of attacking it immediately with a cleansing solution,” he wrote. 

    It may take a lot of counseling and therapy to help the woman address her cleanliness obsession in a healthy way. Until then, she may need to mend things with her coworkers to avoid more awkward situations at work.

    Image credits: Andrea Piacquadio (Not the actual photo)

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    Some people in the comments had questions, while others shared their opinions

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    Miguel Ordoñez

    Miguel Ordoñez

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

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    Struggling writer by day. Frustrated jazz drummer by night. Space Cowboy 24/7.

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    Miguel Ordoñez

    Miguel Ordoñez

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Struggling writer by day. Frustrated jazz drummer by night. Space Cowboy 24/7.

    What do you think ?
    Apatheist
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    People who try to "get away" with pulling stunts like this are just self-centred and horrible. I'm glad for the OP that they didn't just accept it to be nice - if the person can't eat in the restaurant, don't go.

    Trillian
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why did she even ask if it was ok if she won't take no for an answer?

    Tabitha
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I agree with @Gondola360 that it stinks like a setup of the office neatnik. In their car, sprung on them at the last minute, on their birthday. Nasty a*s coworkers thinking it’s funny, then pulling attitude when their “joke” isn’t taken well. Here’s what I have t9 say about it: Schroedinger's D*******g: The person who says something cruel and nasty, then decides whether it was "just a joke" based on the reaction they get.

    Amused panda
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Definitely. The fact this colleague just happened to be in OP's car instead of travelling there with the other two, the timing of pulling out the lunchbox once they stopped, the suggestion that OP leave her car keys with lunchbox Jane. And regardless of what some of the comments suggest, just because she's a grown adult doesn't guarantee no mess, crumbs drop, sauces drip, accidents and messes happen. If it wasn't a complete set up and she'd thought it acceptable to eat in the car, Jane wouldn't have hidden the lunchbox and would have considered eating during the drive so as not to hold everyone up when they arrived at the venue.

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    Apatheist
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    People who try to "get away" with pulling stunts like this are just self-centred and horrible. I'm glad for the OP that they didn't just accept it to be nice - if the person can't eat in the restaurant, don't go.

    Trillian
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why did she even ask if it was ok if she won't take no for an answer?

    Tabitha
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I agree with @Gondola360 that it stinks like a setup of the office neatnik. In their car, sprung on them at the last minute, on their birthday. Nasty a*s coworkers thinking it’s funny, then pulling attitude when their “joke” isn’t taken well. Here’s what I have t9 say about it: Schroedinger's D*******g: The person who says something cruel and nasty, then decides whether it was "just a joke" based on the reaction they get.

    Amused panda
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Definitely. The fact this colleague just happened to be in OP's car instead of travelling there with the other two, the timing of pulling out the lunchbox once they stopped, the suggestion that OP leave her car keys with lunchbox Jane. And regardless of what some of the comments suggest, just because she's a grown adult doesn't guarantee no mess, crumbs drop, sauces drip, accidents and messes happen. If it wasn't a complete set up and she'd thought it acceptable to eat in the car, Jane wouldn't have hidden the lunchbox and would have considered eating during the drive so as not to hold everyone up when they arrived at the venue.

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