There’s a big difference between saying something awkward and purposely trying to upset someone.

For one retail worker, that line was crossed when a coworker started telling graphic stories about people eating certain types of animals.

He already knew she loved animals and had a sick dog at home, so there was really no reason to bring any of it up.

But rather than stopping when she clearly wasn’t interested, he kept going.

Then he admitted he was only doing it to see if he could “mess her up.”

Read on to see what she plans to do next.

AITA For informing my manager of an unappealing conversation from a coworker?

I work in a retail store and spend most of my time with one other individual. We aren’t tethered to our desk area, but that is where our workstations are, so when we’re not helping customers, we are there. We have many differences of opinion, but we are cordial.

I am a huge dog lover. Our store allows dogs, and I’m fairly notorious for always greeting and petting the dogs and asking their names, guessing the breeds, etc.

A couple of people in the store will nudge dog lovers in my direction because they know it’ll brighten my day. I don’t think it helps my sales any, but it sure makes everyone happy.

At first, she tried to be polite but dismissive.

Earlier today, after saying hi to a repeat customer and his dog, my desk mate mentioned that I really liked dogs a lot. I agreed.

He then told a story about how he once ate dog when drunk and described the taste and texture. He knows I have an ailing dog at home. He knows I love dogs. I can’t fathom why he thought this was a good time to break out that story.

I tried to be polite and dismissive and said something about how, yes, other cultures do eat dogs, and it’s not very anthropologically sound to judge them for that.

But then, he told an even worse story.

He then went on to tell a graphic story a friend told him about cooking and eating cats, which I won’t repeat here. As soon as he started in, I tuned him out and started working on some open tickets on my computer.

Before he finished the story, I said I was trying to focus, and he said he knew. He was just trying to see if he could “mess me up.”

Then he kept telling the story as I kept ignoring him (there was no one else around for most of the story, so I was the only possible audience until the last couple of minutes).

When he finished, she let him know that she didn’t appreciate the story.

At the end, I let him know there was no reason for him to have told the story, and his reply was, “Well, it was a lot more graphic when my friend told me, but I left those parts out.”

Honestly, I can’t fathom any reason for his behavior other than to directly get under my skin.

I’ve asked a few times in the past to be moved to another department and been told there are no foreseeable openings. My manager acknowledges that he knows exactly why I’m asking.

Now, she’s planning to turn him in.

So knowing that as long as I’m at the company, I’ll be stuck with this worker has been a challenge, but as a huge animal lover, today seriously crossed the line.

After going for a long walk and thinking it all over, tomorrow I’m planning to tell this all to my manager and let him know I’m actively looking for work, and if I find anything, I will be giving as little notice as possible.

Then I’m going to call HR, let them know I’ve talked to my manager about it, and make sure it’s reported.

AITA?

Wow! There’s no wonder she’s so upset. That guy sounds terrible.

Let’s see what the people over at Reddit think about what happened.

Here’s what this person would say.

Yes, this is good advice.

According to this comment, she should go straight to HR.

If you enjoyed this story, check out this post about an employee who was passed over for a promotion, so got a job with the competition and quit immediately.

It does appear that way.

What a mean thing to do!

There’s no reason to keep talking about something you know bothers someone just to get a reaction out of them.

And then the fact that he admitted he was trying to “mess her up,” really takes his behavior to another level.

Hopefully, reporting him will make him think twice before trying something like that again.