Would you be angry over something like this?

[Butterlite]

I wouldn't be passive aggressive and not talk to them for something they obviously didn't realize bothered you. That's a bit unfair. Not everyone has social graces or knows our standards. Letting them know how you feel in a respectful way (like a previous poster suggested, perhaps making a joke out of it) is usually a better way to solve it, rather than stewing about it and talking about them behind their back.

 

[loves]

Will be irritated because I am a clean freak however it's only crumbs and I can brush them off. So long as there is no spilling of mayo, gravy, sauce so basically anything liquid; I'm fine!

 

[Sparkletastic]

Lamb, responses are a choice.
And not everyone flies into a sh!t fit over dropped crumbs.
Some just find it funny. Then move on.

Of course ignoring everything is not okay.
But picking battles one finds important saves sooooo much time & stress.

We may not be communicating well. I'm not understanding the lamb reference.

I've heard the saying that all responses are simply choice. But I think this oversimplifies human interaction and the impact of some people's behaviors on others. I think it also too often places the burden of behaving with civility on the person to whom something has been done. I'd offer that there are some circumstances that have a very narrow band or even just one type of appropriate response. So yes, it's always wise to pick your battles. But sometimes things can be handled in ways that don't engage in anything close to "battle" but do draw appropriate boundaries.

That being said, I don't think anyone who has responded suggested that anyone have an overly strong reaction to this situation or as you call it - a poop fit over crumbs. But some of us have said that people should be pleasantly yet directly encouraged / reminded to modify their behavior to respect others' property. Something their moms and dads should have taught them as children.

 

[Evia]

If someone is rude to me in the street or a shop, its not nice, but its no big deal - I'm unlikely to ever see them again. But work is different, it throws us together with people that in other circumstances we might prefer to avoid. If those working relationships are going to be pleasant and productive we have to find a way to rub along. We spend a lot of time with our work colleagues, and therefore sometimes I think it means niggles need to be addressed - in a way that's both prompt and proportionate. I'm speaking from experience - I once took over management of a team in which I eventually discovered that all the sabotage, backbiting and *****ing going on dated back to an incident several years previously concerning a baked potato. I'm not kidding, and it wasn't funny. Soul destroying stuff.

 

[Valeriee]

I ignored her for a bit after the situation because I was offended that she would be disrespectful over my personal belongings and I couldn't help feeling angry. She knows that I would never eat a sandwich over my desk without holding a plate or napkin, so she should have known better than that. As to why I didn't say anything, she isn't the type of individual who takes any degree of care of her belongings, so I don't think that she would understand. It would all come down to her saying that I am too uptight. Also, I didn't want to humiliate her, as all in all she is a decent person and I think she would have felt bad to some extent. I just let my anger pass, and then went back to speaking to her. If I ever see a similar situation starting to happen again, I will simply try to be proactive.

 

[lovieluvslux]

Today, after I got in to work, I left my handbag on my desk with some of my items out and went to say hello to a colleague who had come back from sick leave As I stepped away from my desk, another colleague went up to my desk and started chatting with us (she went up to my desk to be closer to us). She ten proceeded to eat her sandwich while standing right over my desk and personal belongings (including handbag) Crumbs fell on handbag and desk, and she didn't even bother apologizing or wiping them off. Would you find this behavior somewhat out of the ordinary? I didn't say anything to her but I had to wipe everything up afterwards and haven't been talking to her much today.

I would have helped her and given her a napkin and pointed out she getting food everywhere. Some people are clueless.

 

[RubySun]

Crumbs around my stuff? Not so bad. Crumbs IN my bag!? Hell no! I would say something either way.