I have tried all of the above tactics, keeping quiet so as to not add fuel to their overactive imaginations is not working, they are bored and it just seems to outrage them even more, asking them to discuss any problems they think they have with me, ends in you guessed it “silence” or you are imagining this, they like going round scaremongering and have started a little bit to turn on each other, but I still seem to be their main target, and gossip can be quite damaging (when it is allowed to get out of control) as much or if not more than backstabbing.

To finish off my little piece here, people who feel the need to act like this or behave like bullys are generally cowards, they are sad, unhappy people, who probably have issues or bigger insecurities of their own, simply smile and feel sorry for them or alternatively u could ask them next time if the school bully shoved their head down the toilet when they were in high school lol.

However, if this idiot is someone who receives “special treatment” or “protection”, then i don’t see a point. You don’t go confront your boss’ son when you know he is well protected.

On a serious note, I’ve encountered a similar problem, and ignored it until the issue escalated and my supervisor was dragged in by the same gossip-starter who made it seem as if the whole team was against me, not him. I chose then to point out that if he had an issue with me, to come to me directly and not drag in the whole world.

Suffice to say, I left that hell-hole later on, and that boot-licker is still there, licking boots and starting ‘nasties’ about other people.

My point here is – sometimes ignoring the situation, or confronting it – works depending on the individual or the situation itself.

I believe the best thing to do is not to gossip about anything which is based on nothing…. just to be fair to everyone.

If someone start telling me something bad, related to another person…my impression of that “gossip monger” is – u talk bad about him in front of me, so i assume u’ll talk bad about me in front of others as well…and if that’s the case, why should i trust u?

Joan – sure thing. I’ll be very grateful if you can include me in your blogroll. Thanks again

Can I add your blog to my blogroll? I find your posts very insightful and helpful. Thanks!

When I say “move on”, I mean don’t try to get yourself dirty by messing about with such “pigs”. The best thing to do is get through the situation dignified like what you mention. One of the best ways I felt was to confront the guy head on or just prove the detractors wrong.

To me, such backstabbers are cowards because they with their insecurities feel threatened by such people and use this method to protect/advance their career.

Anyway, come to think of it, I think at some point in our career, we may have done a little bit of this too though in less sinister fashion like spreading gossip or rumours. We may not have known it, but probably the person on the receiving end felt backstabbed.