What would you do...

My mother had this very bad habit. When people visited and were deep in conversation or listening to a story, she would interrupt in mid-sentence and ask if they wanted her to refresh their drink or some other inane question. By the time the guests had replied, the conversation would be disrupted or the storytelling truncated. I really don't think she was being rude on purpose, it was just a bad habit. She was a social person and truly liked people.
 

I’m a sensitive person so that would be difficult for me. But I know one thing I’m not the type of person who would ever pursue that person again as an acquaintance or friend. I’m like an elephant, I never ever forget.
 
PVC said:
My mother had this very bad habit. When people visited and were deep in conversation or listening to a story, she would interrupt in mid-sentence and ask if they wanted her to refresh their drink or some other inane question. By the time the guests had replied, the conversation would be disrupted or the storytelling truncated. I really don't think she was being rude on purpose, it was just a bad habit. She was a social person and truly liked people.
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I think there are a lot of people who are socially awkward who might offend others obliviously with no malice intended
 
I've got a sister in law who does this all of the time. When I have to be around her and she asks a question and walks away while I'm answering, I go talk to someone else. I try to avoid talking to her as much as possible. Another thing she does is pull out her phone & start texting someone when I'm talking. I just walk away. I think she's trying to gain power over others by letting them know that she thinks she's more important than they are. Rude people like her are disliked by almost everyone around them. I avoid spending time with her whenever possible.
 
Happened to me once. I have never forgotten it. It was at some gathering where this woman keep waving to people who she didn't seem to have seen for for time. She was rude, there is no 2 ways about it. Some people are just plain thoughless. Now, what about all those people who answer their "wonderful" phones while you are talking to them. Another BIG sign of socially bad behaviour.
 
Packerjohn said:
Happened to me once. I have never forgotten it. It was at some gathering where this woman keep waving to people who she didn't seem to have seen for for time. She was rude, there is no 2 ways about it. Some people are just plain thoughless. Now, what about all those people who answer their "wonderful" phones while you are talking to them. Another BIG sign of socially bad behaviour.
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It annoys me when someone calls me and then puts me on hold to take another call, I usually hang up.
 
Duster said:
I've got a sister in law who does this all of the time. When I have to be around her and she asks a question and walks away while I'm answering, I go talk to someone else. I try to avoid talking to her as much as possible. Another thing she does is pull out her phone & start texting someone when I'm talking. I just walk away. I think she's trying to gain power over others by letting them know that she thinks she's more important than they are. Rude people like her are disliked by almost everyone around them. I avoid spending time with her whenever possible.
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I agree with you she knows exactly what she’s doing it’s a power-play that is just so wrong on so many levels
 
Chris Matthews of MSNBC's "Hardball" talks over everyone everyday. People butting in during a conversations is common unfortunately. My reply is "Excuse me, did you not see us talking here?"
 
fmdog44 said:
Chris Matthews of MSNBC's "Hardball" talks over everyone everyday. People butting in during a conversations is common unfortunately. My reply is "Excuse me, did you not see us talking here?"
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Chris was asked about that, and he said "It's MY show and I want certain questions to be asked." That's a paraphrase, of course.
 
Pepper said:
Chris was asked about that, and he said "It's MY show and I want certain questions to be asked." That's a paraphrase, of course.
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This was interesting to me.
It IS his show. So that would be a different type of artificial situation,
that none of us regularly encounter! :LOL:

On a TV show, there are likely times it is good for a host to talk over someone, (due to time and topic constraints)

and other times when they shouldn't, and should instead then, both model good listening, and actually listen longer, to the guest's point of view.

I will add that once when I briefly saw his show and his wife was on the show, he did listen to her and did not talk over her,
however he did talk more than her, and she definitely did NOT come close to talking over him!:ROFLMAO:
 
debodun said:
Maybe it makes a difference on who started the conversation.
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Yes, and that is an interesting idea, too.

But even if I am the one listening to them talk, I wouldn't feel respected or good, if they suddenly walked off to talk instead, with someone else, as if my good attentive listening was of no value.
 
debodun said:
if you were talking to someone and right in mid-sentence they turned away and started talking to someone else or just walked away from you?
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I have a friend who does that. It’s a behavioral abnormality connected to the mood meds he takes. I wouldn’t be offended. He probably puts up with worse from me.
 
debodun said:
Someone once mentioned to me that if you have to tell someone something, do it in 10 words or less because they stop listening after that. Sounds like the limit of the human attention span.
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And as we age, that attention span continues to decrease. Early dementia and Alzheimer's decreases it further. Instead of anger, respond with sympathy.
 
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