Bullying

A man named James joined the department in which Hans worked. They were colleagues. James was good to most of the staff, but abrupt to Hans. 

James pleased their manager. Hans thought the manager liked James.

When the manager was watching, James was polite to Hans, but not at other times.

The department was accommodated in one large room. Hans heard James's voice whenever he spoke. Hans was aware of James whenever he walked past him.

James often talked on the phone. He spoke loudly. He used words and phrases like "paranoid", "cuckoo", and "his mother didn't want him" amongst business talk.

Sometimes Hans found himself synchronized with the sounds and body movements of third parties.

Hans felt pain and fear. He couldn't concentrate on his work.

Hans tried everything he could think of. For a while he regularly said 'Good Morning' to James. Nothing changed. Then Hans tried ignoring him. Nothing changed.

Hans couldn't complain, because James did nothing illegal.

Hans heard about bullying. He read books and looked at websites on the Internet. He felt some consolation. However, the kind of covert behavior that hurt him wasn't included in the definitions.

Hans felt anxious, frustrated and hopeless.