I’m
willing to bet that everyone knows at least one person who talks endlessly
about herself or himself. When this person phones, she never asks, “How are
you,” but starts in on a report on her day’s activities or accident or conflict
in every detail. “She said,” and “I said” on and on.
Or, the
friend who calls to invite you to meet him for lunch, but when you meet he
launches into an hour’s account of his recent activities, injuries and plans
without ever asking what you’ve been up to.
At a
dinner party this person turns every topic of conversation to herself through
whatever circuitous means she can devise. Strange silences ensue.
I could
give dozens of examples, but you know at least one such person. My question is
this: what is one to do with these folks? Maybe most of us tolerate them, but
at my age I’m losing patience with this behavior. How much of the remainder of
my life am I willing to devote to these monologues?
I have a
fantasy of inviting all such people in my circle of acquaintances to a dinner
party, serving the food and sitting back to see who prevails.
Copyright
2013 by Shirley Domer
2 comments:
Yessiree....I'm thinking it is an academic disease which comes from holding forth for 50 minutes at a time while students sit passively in the classroom.
Are the people you are talking about teachers or ex-teachers? Bachelors who have no one to talk to?
A couple of educators, but not restricted to that profession. Some are women, some are men. They come from all walks of life.
It seems you know one or two of these folks, too.
Post a Comment