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| Toby Flenderson: Actually he is kind of annoying! |
BÊTE NOIRE
Foreign. Noun phrase. Plural bêtes noires (pronounced same). Mid-19th century.
[French 'black beast'.]
The bane of someone's life; an insufferable person or thing; an object of aversion.
If ever a co-worker sends you a rock as a gift with a note saying 'Suck on this!', then congratulations - you can properly consider yourself someone's bête noire. This is also true if they take the time to egg your house, suggest that you're an animal rapist, say that you're the worst human ever or that they'd shoot you (twice) over Hitler and Bin Laden. With any one of these, you're firmly in bête noire territory.
Toby Flenderson of The Office suffered all of these indignities and more at the hands of Michael Scott, the Scranton branch manager of the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. Michael hates the fact that Toby, as the corporate HR representative, is not really under his authority, that Toby is often the first one other staff approach with their problems and that it's his job to object to and curtail Michael's frequently unethical, offensive, illegal and downright dangerous actions. Remarkably, Toby never reciprocates Michael's aggression or contempt, but rather remains ever calm and almost frustratingly mild.
Have you ever had (or do you have) a bête noire? Do you think you are a bête noire? If so, do please tell us all about it!
I had a co-worker at my last job who, while competent, had the most annoying voice. Having to listen to it day in and day out definitely brought out the worst in me.
ReplyDeleteI'm not so fond of my current job, but at least I don't have to hear that strident whine anymore.
Do you have an annoying voice, Nick? Could that be the root of your animosity? I'm often irritated (though not to bête noire proportions) by pretentious know-it-alls, which is a charge often leveled at me (as if they'd know what they were talking about).
DeleteWell, I recorded a Cake song for you after our discussion on my Green Lantern post from last week. You could judge for yourself using that, or with one of my many ridiculous mashups.
DeleteI couldn't stand the sound of my own recorded voice for quite a long time, but I've gotten more used to it of late. I don't think it's more annoying than most.
Interesting! Sadly my brain is too tired to form coherent comments... Just know I enjoyed this!
ReplyDeleteTomorrow I shall reserve the bus ride to a track meet for contemplating who my bête noire is and whose I might be!
I think you're too nice to either have or be a bête noire, Kara. And dare I say, if you have to have a think about who is your bête noire, the very bane of your life, then it suggests strongly that you don't have one. Sorry Kara - this is a club of hatred and intolerance that you're just not a member of! : o )
DeleteI have a horrible feeling I am the bête noire of a lot of people who, thankfully, haven't commented here yet.
ReplyDeleteYes, that's frightening. I don't know that I'm a bête noire to anyone, but what if I'm just that damn insufferable that I am and I don't know? There could be hordes of haters, maybe everyone I've ever got close to in my entire life, who find me insufferably odious. I feel a bit depressed now - I'm going for a lie-down.
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