"Why do you ask?" Or if it's an attempt to gossip, "you should really ask xyz" (person in question)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm British and I often wonder if how I deal with this is cultural but I normally look at the person asking and say in a surprised/bemused tone: 'how rude'

It's funny because it does make people back off a bit without being too aggressive of a response.

love the Brits!!!!!!

+1...will copy that statement!

Also...what did Aunt Gertrude leave me....only the secret recipe to Coke. The patented and trademarked kind.

"You know Mary, I don't want to jinks anything - don't you know it's bad luck to talk about money?! Now, you know what I hear IS good luck? [insert latest advice you read about]"

Sometimes you just have to deal with the awkward. Every conversation does not always end with a mutual understanding and good favor-- sometimes people don't get the info they want an they *aren't* gracious about it. At that point you have to come to terms with being ok with that. And really, the less you say the better.

I've had lots of experience with this because my mom is a huge gossip and I am super private. She always gets annoyed when I won't tell her stuff and responds with eye rolls and "my friends daughters tell them this stuff" blah blah blah. I just shrug and change the subject. Not my problem.

Anonymous wrote:I'm British and I often wonder if how I deal with this is cultural but I normally look at the person asking and say in a surprised/bemused tone: 'how rude'

It's funny because it does make people back off a bit without being too aggressive of a response.

love the Brits!!!!!!

Anonymous wrote:When it comes to addressing rude questions/setting boundaries:

First time I'm polite.

Second time I'm civil.

Third time I'm a bitch.

Works pretty well.

I like this, but I'd probably switch out one for "make a joke, don't answer the question and change the subject".

^^^^
"was right..."

"Uncle John did what he thought is right and everyone seems happy with it...Have you lost weight?"

You say, "Well, I may be secretive but you are ugly. In the morning, I may choose to tell but you will still be ugly."