Do you hate being interrupted?
By breepeace
@breepeace (3014)
Canada
February 21, 2008 3:07pm CST
My roommate is absolutely horrible about interrupting. I can't even name the times or things I never got to finish saying to or around her that got cut off so she could tell her own longwinded story over mine. It's very annoying.
My coworker is bad about it, too. I almost never get to tell her how I'm really feeling or what I really did last night, because she just asks because it's polite, and what she really wants to hear is you listening to every minute detail about her.
*sigh*
Sometimes I like hanging out with people who listen just so that I can talk for once, because people who always interrupt also get angry and offended when you point out that they've interrupted, so generally I just listen with half an ear. Don't get me wrong, I usually listen wholeheartedly when I first meet them, but after a few days it becomes apparent that they want to monopolize ALL the conversations and it's just best to shut up and pretend you're listening rather than to deal with the awkwardness of them being mad at you when you have to be around them all the time.
Sorry for the rant. :)
How about you, does it really bother you to be interrupted?
Do you tell people who interrupt you that they're rude?
1 person likes this
11 responses
@moonstone22 (219)
• United States
22 Feb 08
OMG - I am definitely in your camp. The ones I really want to go ballistic on are those that interrupt me after asking me a question! One of my friends does this to me ALL the time and I want to just slap her, but of course I never do. Sigh.
And if I try to get a word in edgewise, she tells me I am "correcting" her... because I usually will say "but" out of habit to try to slide in to conversation again. Argh.
And no, I don't tell them they are being rude to interrupt... I just stop trying to talk at all, and eventually, I stop hanging out with them. At work, I just turn off, and nod politely. It is rare that I will feel comfortable pointing out to someone that they have just "cut me off" in the conversation.
Thanks for making this post, I feel better knowing that I'm not alone.
@JoyfulOne (6232)
• United States
21 Feb 08
My ex used to do that all the time. Yes, I do hate it lol. What's really funny is that his friends and family always noticed it. I noticed it but didn't really say anything until later after we were alone. If I continued the story after being interrupted, I'd start out with...'as I was saying'... I'd never call anybody on it and tell them they're rude. Yes they ARE being rude, but I think it's also rude to point out somebody elses bad manners...two rudes don't make a right.
1 person likes this
@kalav56 (11464)
• India
22 Feb 08
I have also come across people who always start their own story[rarely real and many times it seems fabricated-these people have a fertile imagination too].I used to get irritated earlier on, but now I am a bit used to this[especially when it is one of a close relative who has to be put up with].I avoid sharing stories and incidents of mine with these people becuse I know for sure I am going to get a colourful version of mine for return.
Otherwise I am a bit wary of my own interruptions-because I am a chatterbox by nature, I participate far too much I feel -this makes me very conscious and I make myself listen patiently when someone says something.
I have never told these people that they are rude and they are fabricating-
I prefer to avoid such situations because I know the nature of these people.
1 person likes this
@kbourgerie (8780)
• United States
21 Feb 08
Yes, it bothers me to no end. My boyfriend has ADHD and is notorious for it. I understand and try to be patient in his case, but overall I hate people that don't take the time to listen or think they know what you are going to finish your sentence with in and will chime in with something that has nothing to do with what you were going to say in the first place. Or if you are right at the crux of your tv program and someone starts talking about something that could have waited. It drives me nuts. A small pet peeve of mine you might say. LOL.
1 person likes this
@anniem72 (50)
• United States
21 Feb 08
I can totally relate to you! My whole family are interrupters! I could never finish what I started out telling them. I feel as though they can care less about what I'm trying to say. If I am telling one of them about a difficult situation I'm going through then they have to interrupt me and tell me about theirs! How annoying! I think by them interrupting shows selfishness. I definitely think its very rude to interrupt. I will say though, that always being faced with interrupters have made me learn to always be considerate enough to let someone finish express themselves to me.
1 person likes this
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
21 Feb 08
It annoys me when others interrupt me. It means they are not paying attention to what I am saying and that peeves me off. I use to date someone who constantly interrupted me and it got to the point where I just had enough and finished it. YOu know maybe I should of told him because he probably never realised he was doing it LOL
I have also walked away on occasion with work colleagues that have done that to me. They think I'm rude by doing that even though I think they are being rude by interrupting me LOL
@grecychunny26 (9483)
• Philippines
22 Feb 08
All of us are bothered if we are interrupted, me i get angry inside when people interrupted in what i have sharing, for me talking and listening is very important and also the respect for other person. They can interrupt me once but above that is a no no. I can't talk with that kind of person anymore, i don't like those person who are so rude and yes i tell them straight that they are rude. Thank God I don't have a friend like that.
@technosaavy (1)
• United States
24 Nov 10
Yes, i am surrounded by family friends and church members who do this and it is driving me to nutville. I just decided after looking at this page that i must change the dynamic of this by 1) saying "So..bla bla bla". To complete my comment. I am so sick of unfinished sentences. Or 2) by saying "So anyway...bla bla bla. Or by saying to those rude ppl who cut you off and change the subject I will say 3) but getting back to the last subject that i brought up- bla bla bla. Hope this helps! These ppl make me insanely angry!
@technosaavy1 (1)
• United States
24 Nov 10
Yes, i am surrounded by family friends and church members who do this and it is driving me to nutville. I just decided after looking at this page that i must change the dynamic of this by 1) saying "So..bla bla bla". To complete my comment. I am so sick of unfinished sentences. Or 2) by saying "So anyway...bla bla bla. Or by saying to those rude ppl who cut you off and change the subject I will say 3) but getting back to the last subject that i brought up- bla bla bla. Hope this helps! These ppl make me insanely angry!
@punlonnjack (1308)
• United States
21 Feb 08
my mother in law and my husband both do this to me.exspecially if im on the phone with someone.they tell me what i should be saying to that person........i dont think they realize what they are doing but it is annoying as hell. sometimes i just hand over the phone since they interrupt and i cant hear the person on the other end. thsn they get of the phone and say why did you give me the phone? i think it is very rude.thanks for letting me share.
@breepeace (3014)
• Canada
21 Feb 08
Oh my, I'm so with you there.
My mom actually gets very annoyed when she calls and my roommate is trying to talk to me in the background. I was always taught NEVER to interrupt someone while they're on the phone, and to boot I'm hearing impaired in my right ear so if she starts talking and my phone is to that ear I can't hear anything.
1 person likes this
@shymurl (2765)
• United States
21 Feb 08
OMG! That is my biggest pet peeve. I absolutely can't stand it when people interrupt me. When someone interrupts me you bet I tell them that its rude. My husband does it to me, and the kids try to do it and i'm quick to tell them not to interrupt. I have to teach them now while they are growing up.
@tinkerick (1257)
• United States
21 Feb 08
It's absolutely maddening! I'm a pretty patient person but I do get very frustrated with constant interruptions. But with 3 kids and a husband one has to deal with it. I hate when I'm on the phone and my husband asks what they are saying. Like 'hello! I'm talking to them! Let me hear what they're saying first!'
My kids, especially my 6 y/o son, have the bad habit of coming up and asking you for something or to do something while you're in the middle of a conversation with someone else.
I should note however, that one of my ways of dealing with the constant interruptions is the frequent use of "mommy ears". This frustrates my husband because while in the middle of a conversation or TV show, one of the kids might start talking or saying "mommy", and keep saying it until my husband finally says "answer them will ya". Guess I learned to sometimes focus on the one thing and tune out background noises. -Tink
