some questions on etiquette
how do you react when you're minding your own business and someone starts talking to you about their life story, bad day, work frustrations, etc. and you have absolutely no desire to listen?
how do you politely tell someone to QUIT IT when they are sitting/standing next to you continually sighing and exhaling heavily as if the problems of the world are his or her burdens to carry alone?
situation -- you run into a friend/acquaintance/neighbor/classmate who you see every few weeks. this time, however, she is noticeably pregnant and looking rather worse for wear. do you ignore the portruding bump and ask her out for happy hour? do you inquire how far along she is? do you stand far, far away, lest her pregnancy is contagious? do you fake joy at her unplanned and wholly impractical pregnancy and pretend that the beleagured baby daddy is overjoyed at this latest yoke around his shoulders?
how do you politely tell someone to QUIT IT when they are sitting/standing next to you continually sighing and exhaling heavily as if the problems of the world are his or her burdens to carry alone?
situation -- you run into a friend/acquaintance/neighbor/classmate who you see every few weeks. this time, however, she is noticeably pregnant and looking rather worse for wear. do you ignore the portruding bump and ask her out for happy hour? do you inquire how far along she is? do you stand far, far away, lest her pregnancy is contagious? do you fake joy at her unplanned and wholly impractical pregnancy and pretend that the beleagured baby daddy is overjoyed at this latest yoke around his shoulders?
posted by happy roy at 9:57 AM
3 Comments:
haha contagious pregnancy
this is a definite dilema. you could ignore it and just talk about yourself for a few minutes and then say you gotta go. this way you are actually going head to head with the complainer and maybe you can drown them out? but i don't think that ever works.
i think the whole "these things happen for a reason" "look on the bright side" route is always a good way to go. I am sure they hear it all the time but at least you aren't putting yourself into a weird conversation. and if they don't go away excuse yourself to go use the bathroom or answer a phone call and then HIDE!
unfortunately i was standing in line at the supermarket with this girl behind me. i had nowhere to go until i had a brilliant thought. i suddenly "remembered" that i forgot an important grocery item so i left george to chit chat with her. after i composed myself and found some obscure food product, i came back, congratulated her and then sheepishly admitted that i didn't know what to say b/c i was shocked to learn she was 6 months pregnant. i'm glad i owned up to my embarrassment b/c she seemed to appreciate it. i'm concerned b/c next time i see a pregnant friend, i might not have the opportunity to go in search of roasted red pepper hummus as a means of escape.
i use to live with a guy who was going through a tough phase. he was visually depressed and just being around him made me sad. I felt bad for him and tried my best to make him feel better, but oftentimes, I had no choice but to kinda ignore his plight, lest I be brought down myself.
Is that selfish? I don't know.
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