Have you ever known someone who interrupts every conversation to turn the focus back on themselves?

When I talk to someone that does that, after a few sentences of it happening I pretty much stop talking. If I do continue, it will be small talk.

I read to second grade kids today!

I think Nell is trying to rat you out.

LOL @Brian1946! I feel your pain! I came across something I wrote a while back. I wrote, “OK, class. What is 2 + 2? Now…no! Don’t shout out. Raise your hand and wait until I call on you.” Waits until class settles down. “Ok, remember to raise your hand. Don’t shout out. Now, what is 2+2?...... Ok, Brian?”
“Marcus is sticking his toungue out at Emily when she’s not looking!!”

@talljasperman She can’t rat me out because I never got a chance to tell her!

@Dutchess_III I interrupted in class from grade 1 – second year university, I had no control over myself. I answered rhetorical questions out loud That’s why I prefer educational video games and videos over classroom participation. My grandpa put $10,000 (each grandchild got $10,000 inheritance) into PBS when he saw that I was learning science and physics from NOVA, and enjoying it.

Like @jca, I just stop talking. Were I you, I probably would have wandered off and joined the menfolk.

I think it is a symptom of our electronic age. The art of conversation and listening has been lost, not taught. When adults do it, I agree, it’s a personal agenda and narcissistic behavior.I usually will just slowly bow out of the conversation.

It does however make me more aware of my listening skills vs talking. As my mother was fond of saying ” you have two ears and one mouth for a reason. So you can listen twice as much as you talk. ”

Yes, my mother. Just one of her many wonderful traits I’m glad to have out of my life.

me
“I have a headache today.”

mom
“Please, I’ve had a migraine since Sunday.”

me
“I had a nice day at work today.”

mom
“I’d love to have a good day at work. Those bastards are all out to get me.”

@talljasperman Ah, the joys of privilege.

@ibstubro Oh, I did! As soon as politely possible! What I hate is when we go there and the men folk wander off outside to the barn. It’s really difficult to find a polite way of leaving someone’s comfortable living room to go out to the barn to hang out with the guys!

@cookieman My Mom always tried to one-up me too. I’ll never forget one particular moment. I had a day care. Six kids between the ages of 6 months and 5 years old. Mom was down from Seattle for a visit. Only saw her once every couple of years. At one point she started to tell me how much harder she worked having (3) kids than I did. She said, “Well, when I was raising you kids I had to….” then she stopped and looked around and finished with “Well, I don’t know what I did….” SCORE!!

I don’t personally know anyone like that, but there is Bill O’Reilly.

If you’re to continue the friendship, @Dutchess_III, you need to develop a fascination with something in the barn. Whether the guys are in there or not. Then you have a reason to leave one door and return in another.

Or pocket dial yourself and pretend you have a Rick-message.

If you need another angle, I’m sure I can find one.

I had a hairdresser that did this the last time I went to get my hair done. She did a great job on my hair, but I’ll never go back to her because of the conversations. It’s so hard to find a good hairdresser that you can actually talk to in this area.

New houses are exciting. Congrats to your son!

I’m the oldest living thing in my house!

my mom used to do that….ugggg.

My BIL is horrible about that & thinks we don’t like him but it’s like ADD. Wears you out. He has a lot to say I guess

Never mind “why”. Try to get in the habit of allowing them to go on. They must need it badly, and what’s wrong with letting them do all the work while you stand there nodding your head and guzzling her booze. Seriously, you’ll find that people with a need to talk endlessly about themselves are almost always doing so out of need. It’s a form of therapy. They always seem to feel better, and will go on to regard you as someone spectacular for merely standing there, nodding your head and guzzling their booze.

Yes, if you can’t escape and wish to remain polite and sociable, the best thing to do is ask questions about themselves and then just listen.

My 8 year old.