How do you shake off an overly friendly person?

show them that you’re not very friendly. that’s what i do, and trust me pal, it works.

If someone does not appreciate physical boundaries and body language (like you moving away when she grabbed you), it is going to be hard to remain courteous.

You just have to be blunt.

Yeah, i have boundary issues myself, and I no longer hesitate to tell people to get out of my bubble. I used to shut up and deal with it, then I just snapped out of it one day and decided, what the hell? They apparently don’t care that I’m offended, why should I care about their feelings?
I don’t use an ugly voice, I just say “Would you mind backing up about two feet? You’re in my bubble.”
I met a person like your person one time. She insisted on calling me “boo”. I asked her why and she said “Oh you know, you best friend is called ‘boo’.” I had just met this girl and she thought I was her best friend! I put up with it for as long as I could, and fortunately, she got mad at me before I became really desperate to ditch her. Polite firmness, I think, is really the only way with people like this. They are oblivious to social cues, and refuse to take a hint. This, in my opinion, excuses one from the normal social niceties. Hopefully, she doesn’t have a rifle and a high powered scope.
Forget courtesy. It’s wasted and ineffective. Try blunt honesty. It’s scary the first time, but gratifying to see the look of surprise and the mouth gaping like a fish out of water. And it becomes easier.

you say look, piss off would you?

@Marina I didn’t think about that. Your right, if she wasn’t picking up normal body cues than chances are that being blunt is the only way. I finally made a quick look at the time and told her I had to go because I hadn’t finished my shopping and I had to pick up my daughter at the bus station. Of course not true but I did get dinner out of it. I made my husband take me out to dinner because I said it was his fault for always being friendly to strangers. Pick up strays you get fleas. LOL

Bathroom. Always bathroom. Tell them you really have to go and it’ll be quite a while because of all the Mexican you ate for lunch. :P

@avvooooooo That is an excellent get away excuse. Awesome. :)

@Pandora What are they gonna do? Follow you? If they try, tell them that they might want to run by the air freshener section (if you’re in a store) and meet you in 10.

I also have boundary issues. I found that taking out my cell phone and pretending I got a phone call has been 100% successful.

“Ah, one second, I have to make this phone call – hey, it was so nice talking with you. You have a great day, I’ll see you around.” Then I make my fake phone call and begin to walk away – “Hello? Hey, what’s up? Yeah, I’ll be home in a few minutes. How did the presentation go?”

Like most of the others, I excuse myself. “Gotta go I’m late for an appointment. It was lovely to meet you!!!!”