Advice on subtlety needed please

No, that's my "I must stay quiet, listen and look intelligent" pose - it fails on all counts but it photographs well.

Originally Posted by SoulKiss

Half the time I don't realise I am doing it until I feel pain.

Same with me, it's horrid. But embarassing him isn't going to help the situation, he'll be aware he's doing it some of the time but perhaps not aware it even annoys you Ed.

Buy him some of this from Boots. I use it and it's the only one that works for me, most don't even touch the surface...it's so good I have to be in pain before I put it on stupidly, it makes everything taste horrid! At least then you're helping not just making him feel sh!t.

[timwilky]

Just remind him a keyboard is a filthy place. He might wash his hands after the toilet, but did the last person to use it before him do so. Have they been scratching, picking their nose, poking ears etc. Before using that keyboard, and now he is shoving all those nasty little bugs into his mouth.

Yuk.

Or for subtlety, just leave a breakfast menu for the local cafe on his desk and wait for him to ask you. "Because I thought you must be starving, self cannibalising like you do"!

Edit, it is a revolting habit. The wife does it, moans she has no nails and they hurt. I ask her why? and she cannot answer me. I shout at her whenever I catch her at it.

[Viney]

Easy.

Oi John (Not his real name) can you buy some food, or stop biting your nails mate. Its putting me off my toe nail chewing. Cheers.

[Bibio]

change your attitude towards it. he can't help it, its a habit we all have them in some way or another. make a game of it for yourself ''wonder how long it is till one of his fingers bleed'' kind of thing.

I'm with Bib. I got psorasis on my scalp and I'l sit with my fingers in my hair not always scratching and it really annoyed a girl I worked with and she used to yell at me everytime i did it.
Half the time i didn't realise I was doing it and the rest of the time I was just made to feel like a stupid girl/ team embarrassment who couldn't stop a habit.
She raised a greivance case against me cos I wouldn't do what she said she was not my supervisor and I end up off work with stress becuase of it.

so yeah change the attitude It ain't hurting you

I sit between a hummer and a lip slapper/clicker, dirve me bloody potty they do. Generally its tough tits you've just got to co-exist or alternativly TYPE HARDER that somes helps, espechially when they stop it in order to ask if you're ok

Easy.

Approach him undetected from behind, put a bag over his head and knock him out with a heavy but blunt object. Tie him to his chair securely leaving the bag on his head and when he wakes up slowly pull whats left of his nails out of his fingers with pliers, then do the same to his toe nails. Then cover his fingers and toes with salt and vinegar and shout BITE 'EM NOW YA BASTWAD!!!

A few punches to the head wouldnt do any harm whilst your at it.

Or....

Every time he puts his hands on the desk whack his fingertips with a large mallet.

I suggest the latter course of action. Mind your own business. Move your desk/monitor a bit.