by Ginger Philbrick
Not very long ago, a friend received a gift pack of cocktail napkins on which was written “Help, I’m talking and I can’t shut up!” My friend, being extremely good natured and realizing there might be some truth in it for her, has shared the humorous saying with many of us.
However, unlike her, mingling among our everyday comrades are those who have no idea of their propensity not only to talk on and on, but to interrupt in order to do so. I see it happen over and over again, and taking a toll. Let me give an example.
A lady, having lunch with friends says “I took my grandchildren to Jamestown when they were visiting last week, and….” One of her companions interrupts and says, “I took mine there, too, just last week. There was a special exhibit on glass blowing and since Jamie had never seen it done, we thought he would enjoy it. We bought one of the pieces we saw blown. Jamie wants to take it to show and tell. It was an amazing process that still intrigues me every time we go!”
The first lady’s story has been thrown to the curb and, often, she feels as though she doesn’t want to share it now.
There is no mincing of words; this is rude behavior. When we are in conversation with another, we should be as sensitive to what they are saying as we are to what we want to say. Kidnapping the conversation that another has begun to share leaves at least one person feeling disrespected and is often uncomfortable for others witnessing it. Before we speak, it is polite, kind, thoughtful and a sign of good manners—have I stressed this enough?—to be certain the previous speaker has completed what he wanted to say.
Should we find ourselves being victim to such a kidnapping, I suggest we be brave and when the perpetrator has finished say, “As I was saying…” or “I will finish what I was saying now.” Or “Let me tell you what I was going to say now…”. Perhaps, just perhaps, the kidnapper will think twice before repeating her social gaffe.
We need to be bold in the face of such rudeness as Sir Winston Churchill exhibited when he purportedly said, “Will you stop interrupting me while I am interrupting you!”
Ginger Philbrick is the owner of Because You Are Polite LLC. You are invited to email your manners questions to her and she will respond as time and space allow. You may contact her at [email protected].
