People who tell you personal things when you didn't ask

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We were taught not to ask about something personal. If the person wanted to tell us, they would.

I once had a friend say this. I think it's a bit odd, to a certain degree. I was taught that it was polite to ask people questions about their lives because it means you care about and are interested in them.

I don't think it's odd to tell people the story you said the old lady said. Plus maybe she was indirectly letting you know she was going out of town because, ya know, you're neighbors?

[Anonymous]

Agree it’s a personality thing. I’ve known one mom for 15 years, since our kids were in K, and every single encounter I have with her includes her telling me where she is in her cycle, what side effects she has, what symptoms of perimenopause she has, how heavy her flow is/was, what hurts, and a lot more. I have never, ever, even once, asked about any of this. It just happens.

[Anonymous]

I had this happen recently. I just let them talk for a while and then had to cut them off- like I don’t have room to hold your baggage along with mine, too, come on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this an older-lady thing? I've noticed it with my MIL and two 65+ neighbors. They just randomly start going on about their recent malady, work or home issue or some recent news that you have no interest in whatsoever but they feel the need to share.
ex: neighbors are standing around talking about whatever, Larla comes over and just starts going on about her home in Florida and how she has to go there this weekend to continue hurricane damage clean up. No one asked. It's as if she wants us to congratulate her on having a home in Florida and feel bad about the hurricane damage - which we all did last year when it happened. It's very awkward and annoying.

Do we all become like this? Or do they just have not enough outlets for sharing?

Do the "over my head" sign and go "Whoa, too much information for me!" then walk off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this an older-lady thing? I've noticed it with my MIL and two 65+ neighbors. They just randomly start going on about their recent malady, work or home issue or some recent news that you have no interest in whatsoever but they feel the need to share.
ex: neighbors are standing around talking about whatever, Larla comes over and just starts going on about her home in Florida and how she has to go there this weekend to continue hurricane damage clean up. No one asked. It's as if she wants us to congratulate her on having a home in Florida and feel bad about the hurricane damage - which we all did last year when it happened. It's very awkward and annoying.

Do we all become like this? Or do they just have not enough outlets for sharing?

Is this really over sharing OP? These are your neighbors and family. I was expecting that someone told you they had diarrhea or sex last night or something more pearl clutching. This is a way to connect. I really wish people were the way they use to be.

+1
None of that was inappropriate!

+2

Where did I say it was inappropriate? Or even over sharing? I’m talking about people who start telling you things that you never asked about.

[Anonymous]

Make them stop talking, look them right in the face, and say "I didn't ask" and leave it at that.

[Anonymous]

No offense OP but I don’t see what was wrong w/your neighbor discussing her home issue w/you.

It doesn’t seem like she was bragging about having a home in Florida to me….she likely was simply venting.
It doesn’t even seem like she was getting too personal either.

I wouldn’t have been annoyed OR offended by any of what was discussed and am surprised that anyone would be….

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this an older-lady thing? I've noticed it with my MIL and two 65+ neighbors. They just randomly start going on about their recent malady, work or home issue or some recent news that you have no interest in whatsoever but they feel the need to share.
ex: neighbors are standing around talking about whatever, Larla comes over and just starts going on about her home in Florida and how she has to go there this weekend to continue hurricane damage clean up. No one asked. It's as if she wants us to congratulate her on having a home in Florida and feel bad about the hurricane damage - which we all did last year when it happened. It's very awkward and annoying.

Do we all become like this? Or do they just have not enough outlets for sharing?

Is this really over sharing OP? These are your neighbors and family. I was expecting that someone told you they had diarrhea or sex last night or something more pearl clutching. This is a way to connect. I really wish people were the way they use to be.

+1
None of that was inappropriate!

+2

Where did I say it was inappropriate? Or even over sharing? I’m talking about people who start telling you things that you never asked about.

So you are telling me that you never initiate conversation? You only answer or speak to a particular topic when someone else broaches a topic?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Really Op? You said “ It's as if she wants us to congratulate her on having a home in Florida and feel bad about the hurricane damage “….i can’t figure out how you gathered that from what you shared. Weird!

Agree!! OP is the weird one!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this an older-lady thing? I've noticed it with my MIL and two 65+ neighbors. They just randomly start going on about their recent malady, work or home issue or some recent news that you have no interest in whatsoever but they feel the need to share.
ex: neighbors are standing around talking about whatever, Larla comes over and just starts going on about her home in Florida and how she has to go there this weekend to continue hurricane damage clean up. No one asked. It's as if she wants us to congratulate her on having a home in Florida and feel bad about the hurricane damage - which we all did last year when it happened. It's very awkward and annoying.

Do we all become like this? Or do they just have not enough outlets for sharing?

Is this really over sharing OP? These are your neighbors and family. I was expecting that someone told you they had diarrhea or sex last night or something more pearl clutching. This is a way to connect. I really wish people were the way they use to be.

+1
None of that was inappropriate!

+2

Where did I say it was inappropriate? Or even over sharing? I’m talking about people who start telling you things that you never asked about.

You sound socially stunted.

[Anonymous]

God, you ageist goons. People of every age over share. It’s a personality trait.

[Anonymous]

I am so confused, maybe I am one of the old people.

What is wrong with this woman sharing her major travel plans and impact on her life?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am so confused, maybe I am one of the old people.

What is wrong with this woman sharing her major travel plans and impact on her life?

Nothing, some people like OP feel it's an imposition to listen to humans.

[Anonymous]

I do what this woman did when there is awkward silence. If you didn't volunteer something or ask her ANYTHING then she maybe felt pressured to say SOMETHING and this is what she settled on because it was specific and maybe a little personal but not too personal and not a loaded topic (politics, religion, menstrual flow.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this an older-lady thing? I've noticed it with my MIL and two 65+ neighbors. They just randomly start going on about their recent malady, work or home issue or some recent news that you have no interest in whatsoever but they feel the need to share.
ex: neighbors are standing around talking about whatever, Larla comes over and just starts going on about her home in Florida and how she has to go there this weekend to continue hurricane damage clean up. No one asked. It's as if she wants us to congratulate her on having a home in Florida and feel bad about the hurricane damage - which we all did last year when it happened. It's very awkward and annoying.

Do we all become like this? Or do they just have not enough outlets for sharing?

Is this really over sharing OP? These are your neighbors and family. I was expecting that someone told you they had diarrhea or sex last night or something more pearl clutching. This is a way to connect. I really wish people were the way they use to be.

+1
None of that was inappropriate!

+2

Where did I say it was inappropriate? Or even over sharing? I’m talking about people who start telling you things that you never asked about.

You sound socially stunted.

They're called socially functional human beings. OP better never complain about having an issue making friends.