161–170 of 175 posts
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Don’t people go to bars to socialize??
I have never experienced talking to a stranger at a bar - one goes with ones friends, and gets to know them better, but nobody known to nobody ever gets added to the conversation.
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Darker? Sounds like a much brighter side...
I was just telling someone how I wish there were higher expectations for personal hygene at airports. I've had many flights made significantly more miserable by smelly people who obviously haven't showered recently. A very slight dress code, like no sweatpants or tank tops, would go a long way towards encouraging people to wash themselves and wear clean clothes before they sit 6 inches away from me for 5 hours.
And let's not forget public transport...
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Where I live that’s considered pretty rude. You could however respectfully say that you’d rather listen to music or just say you prefer not to talk. Or just be short in your answers and don’t ask anything back. Most people get the hint quickly.
> Or just be short in your answers and don’t ask anything back. Most people get the hint quickly. Hah! As someone who used public transport for most of my life, I've suffered through more than my fair share of narcississtic self-obsessed extroverts who don't get the hint. And some people's tolerance for tedious conversation can be higher or lower. Mine's pretty low, so I know where the P is coming from. What's really…
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I would react politely to your children and, if further engaged by you, continue to converse with you politely. I would also genuinely, deeply, and silently dislike every second of the forced interaction. 99.999% of people might react the same, but that doesn’t mean we all feel the same.
catiopatio says:> "I would also genuinely, deeply, and silently dislike every second of the forced interaction." No verbal interaction is forced, especially one initiated by a child toward an adult. Act as you wish. Young people need to see examples of persons who are abnormal, maladjusted or even insane so that they can recognize them and learn how to deal with them in the future. Their Dad can explain that too.
Your assumptions certainly appear to demonstrate the inappropriate views many have towards those of us who do not particularly value their company.
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I would react politely to your children and, if further engaged by you, continue to converse with you politely. I would also genuinely, deeply, and silently dislike every second of the forced interaction. 99.999% of people might react the same, but that doesn’t mean we all feel the same.
If you don’t want to talk to them, why not just say so? “I’m afraid I’m busy, I hope you understand” or “Excuse me, but I would prefer to mind my own business”. They might not love the response, but no sane person would continue the conversation after that. Also, out of sheer curiosity, may I ask why you would dislike the interaction?
As to your last question, the “why” is simple. I find small talk to be both pointless and exhausting. I prefer to be left alone, and for those with nothing to say to say nothing.
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If you don’t want to talk to them, why not just say so? “I’m afraid I’m busy, I hope you understand” or “Excuse me, but I would prefer to mind my own business”. They might not love the response, but no sane person would continue the conversation after that. Also, out of sheer curiosity, may I ask why you would dislike the interaction?
It’s generally easier to carry the conversation to its natural conclusion — people tend to respond inordinately negatively to being bluntly told when others are not interested in a conversation. As to your last question, the “why” is simple. I find small talk to be both pointless and exhausting. I prefer to be left alone, and for those with nothing to say to say nothing.
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I would react politely to your children and, if further engaged by you, continue to converse with you politely. I would also genuinely, deeply, and silently dislike every second of the forced interaction. 99.999% of people might react the same, but that doesn’t mean we all feel the same.
catiopatio says:> "I would also genuinely, deeply, and silently dislike every second of the forced interaction." No verbal interaction is forced, especially one initiated by a child toward an adult. Act as you wish. Young people need to see examples of persons who are abnormal, maladjusted or even insane so that they can recognize them and learn how to deal with them in the future. Their Dad can explain that too.
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If you don’t want to talk to them, why not just say so? “I’m afraid I’m busy, I hope you understand” or “Excuse me, but I would prefer to mind my own business”. They might not love the response, but no sane person would continue the conversation after that. Also, out of sheer curiosity, may I ask why you would dislike the interaction?
It’s generally easier to carry the conversation to its natural conclusion — people tend to respond inordinately negatively to being bluntly told when others are not interested in a conversation. As to your last question, the “why” is simple. I find small talk to be both pointless and exhausting. I prefer to be left alone, and for those with nothing to say to say nothing.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
It’s generally easier to carry the conversation to its natural conclusion — people tend to respond inordinately negatively to being bluntly told when others are not interested in a conversation. As to your last question, the “why” is simple. I find small talk to be both pointless and exhausting. I prefer to be left alone, and for those with nothing to say to say nothing.
If you walk the footsteps of a stranger you will learn the things you never knew, you never knew. I certainly respect your attitude but a bit of interest in the unknown and bit of kindness can bring you a lot in life. But of course, you have the right to close yourself to unknown people. It is a thing of these times. Close yourself from others, open up to the toiletscroller, it's easier, more instant reward.
You have no wisdom (great or small) to impart while using others to assuage your need for external social validation.
“Children are taught never to speak to unknown grown-ups, especially those regarded by their parents as untrustworthy.” Not my kids, they talk to anyone. When they ask me a question about someone I encourage them to ask the person. When the want something I encourage them to ask (respectfully). They always, always get nice responses and I get friendly conversations afterwards. Think of yourself, how would you react?…