5 ms·

I always start the sentence with... "I know this is weird, but..." It helps me get to the actual point of direct confrontation, but by blaming it on myself it

by cschep 17y ago

I always start the sentence with... "I know this is weird, but..." It helps me get to the actual point of direct confrontation, but by blaming it on myself it helps absorb some of the awkward. Truly though, I hate it when people touch my laptop's screen!

cduan 17y ago
I'd also offer them an option, like a mouse to point with.
- pbhj 17y ago
  What use is a mouse if they don't know how to use a finger to point without touching? They'd probably start off by licking it or something.
lucifer 17y ago
There is nothing weird about wanting to protect your eye sight. This is one of those commonalities that does not require explanation. Its a shared experience: nobody('s eyes) likes looking at smudged up screens.
kailoa 17y ago
Big big upvote. This works much better than the passive-agressive method of silently glaring and cleaning your screen in front of co-worker. Here are more examples of the same technique: "This is totally my own OCD, but it drives me crazy if..." "Just a sec, I have to apologize, but..." "It's probably just me, but it kills me when..." (Don't forget to smile and be apologetic, tone is key)
- cakesy 17y ago
  Damn, what a bunch of sissies. Don't apologise for stuff that isn't your fault, tell them not to touch your screen. No need to make an excuse. Don't be rude, but don't be ridiculous over the top apologetic either.
  - harpastum 17y ago
    Well, I think the reason most people try to be nice/humorous is that the screen-poker is generally not aware that they are doing something wrong. They view their computer as a piece of furniture--something that sits on their desks. Making a joke or lighthearted comment is a lot more effective than saying "hey there, I know you just use your work computer for MS Office, solitaire, and Facebook, but I care more about this computer than most people care for their children. Keep your dirty mitts off of it." They'll probably never understand why you care so much for your computer, so it's better just to pretend you have some 'weird' issue with people touching your stuff.
    - skwaddar 17y ago
      If they are not an asshole "please don't touch my screen" is all you need to say.
rjurney 17y ago
Let out a little scream like a madman, "aaaahhh! no touch screen!" Silliness works. Or my favorite: "Touching my computer is like touching my penis. Seriously."
- vinutheraj 17y ago
  I don't think your favorite line will work if it's a female co-worker though !
  - lucraft 17y ago
    Well, she's certainly not going to touch your screen again.
- nudded 17y ago
  That is definitly one to remember. And it is actually good advice, making a joke out of it will make the other person feel less bad.
  - jsackmann 17y ago
    Unless they keep touching the screen. Then it could get awkward.
    - nudded 17y ago
      As long as your laptop doesn't increase in size, you should not worry
    - rjurney 17y ago
      Just up the ante. Scream like a madman, do a rain dance. Silly scales.
- simonista 17y ago
  In my opinion comedy only works in situations like these if you're also a bit silly/comic in other situations. Otherwise it's obvious that you're just using it to try to diffuse the confrontation and it doesn't work.
nailer 17y ago
It's etiquette that a lot of people don't know. For example, most people who don't work in technology (and a few who do) don't see a need to look away when you're typing a password - just as most people who don't work in (insert profession here) don't know about (insert profession based behavior expectation here).
- quellhorst 17y ago
  I type dvorak on qwerty keyboards, I don't care if they are looking.
  - loup-vaillant 17y ago
    I type Bépo (french Dvorak) on a blank keyboard, so they know I don't care.
pistoriusp 17y ago
I hate that. It's the same as people starting a sentence with "I'm sorry, but..." And then saying something that they're not really sorry about. It's not silly to not want someone to touch your screen. I think you should just come out and say it. "Please don't touch my monitor."
- bts 17y ago
  Personally I would use the "I'm sorry, but..." approach because I'd be legitimately sorry that I have to take conversation into an awkward direction for a moment. I think the direct approach, while some would appreciate it, is taking a bit of a gamble: there's too much of a chance the person could take it the wrong way.
  - pistoriusp 17y ago
    I have a theory, it may be way off, but are you an American?
    - gdp 17y ago
      Starting a sentence with "I'm sorry, but..." is a very British thing to do, in my observation (and Bill Bryson's, for that matter).
- drobilla 17y ago
  This is what I do, and it's never a problem. The reasons why you wouldn't want somebody touching your scren are pretty obvious. I'm not apologizing to someone else for /them/ smudging their filthy hand marks all over /my/ screen! There's a "please", it's not like it's rude...
  - chrischen 17y ago
    I would drop the please and just say "Oh, could you not touch the screen" and then explain why.
    - 17y ago

by cschep 17y ago

cduan 17y ago

I'd also offer them an option, like a mouse to point with.

pbhj 17y ago
What use is a mouse if they don't know how to use a finger to point without touching? They'd probably start off by licking it or something.

lucifer 17y ago

There is nothing weird about wanting to protect your eye sight. This is one of those commonalities that does not require explanation. Its a shared experience: nobody('s eyes) likes looking at smudged up screens.

kailoa 17y ago

Big big upvote. This works much better than the passive-agressive method of silently glaring and cleaning your screen in front of co-worker. Here are more examples of the same technique: "This is totally my own OCD, but it drives me crazy if..." "Just a sec, I have to apologize, but..." "It's probably just me, but it kills me when..." (Don't forget to smile and be apologetic, tone is key)

cakesy 17y ago
Damn, what a bunch of sissies. Don't apologise for stuff that isn't your fault, tell them not to touch your screen. No need to make an excuse. Don't be rude, but don't be ridiculous over the top apologetic either.
- harpastum 17y ago
  Well, I think the reason most people try to be nice/humorous is that the screen-poker is generally not aware that they are doing something wrong. They view their computer as a piece of furniture--something that sits on their desks. Making a joke or lighthearted comment is a lot more effective than saying "hey there, I know you just use your work computer for MS Office, solitaire, and Facebook, but I care more about this computer than most people care for their children. Keep your dirty mitts off of it." They'll probably never understand why you care so much for your computer, so it's better just to pretend you have some 'weird' issue with people touching your stuff.
  - skwaddar 17y ago
    If they are not an asshole "please don't touch my screen" is all you need to say.

rjurney 17y ago

Let out a little scream like a madman, "aaaahhh! no touch screen!" Silliness works. Or my favorite: "Touching my computer is like touching my penis. Seriously."

vinutheraj 17y ago
I don't think your favorite line will work if it's a female co-worker though !
- lucraft 17y ago
  Well, she's certainly not going to touch your screen again.
nudded 17y ago
That is definitly one to remember. And it is actually good advice, making a joke out of it will make the other person feel less bad.
- jsackmann 17y ago
  Unless they keep touching the screen. Then it could get awkward.
  - nudded 17y ago
    As long as your laptop doesn't increase in size, you should not worry
  - rjurney 17y ago
    Just up the ante. Scream like a madman, do a rain dance. Silly scales.
simonista 17y ago
In my opinion comedy only works in situations like these if you're also a bit silly/comic in other situations. Otherwise it's obvious that you're just using it to try to diffuse the confrontation and it doesn't work.

nailer 17y ago

It's etiquette that a lot of people don't know. For example, most people who don't work in technology (and a few who do) don't see a need to look away when you're typing a password - just as most people who don't work in (insert profession here) don't know about (insert profession based behavior expectation here).

quellhorst 17y ago
I type dvorak on qwerty keyboards, I don't care if they are looking.
- loup-vaillant 17y ago
  I type Bépo (french Dvorak) on a blank keyboard, so they know I don't care.

pistoriusp 17y ago

I hate that. It's the same as people starting a sentence with "I'm sorry, but..." And then saying something that they're not really sorry about. It's not silly to not want someone to touch your screen. I think you should just come out and say it. "Please don't touch my monitor."

bts 17y ago
Personally I would use the "I'm sorry, but..." approach because I'd be legitimately sorry that I have to take conversation into an awkward direction for a moment. I think the direct approach, while some would appreciate it, is taking a bit of a gamble: there's too much of a chance the person could take it the wrong way.
- pistoriusp 17y ago
  I have a theory, it may be way off, but are you an American?
  - gdp 17y ago
    Starting a sentence with "I'm sorry, but..." is a very British thing to do, in my observation (and Bill Bryson's, for that matter).
drobilla 17y ago
This is what I do, and it's never a problem. The reasons why you wouldn't want somebody touching your scren are pretty obvious. I'm not apologizing to someone else for /them/ smudging their filthy hand marks all over /my/ screen! There's a "please", it's not like it's rude...
- chrischen 17y ago
  I would drop the please and just say "Oh, could you not touch the screen" and then explain why.
  - 17y ago