Strangers in the Waiting Room

What a lovely anecdote Rufus! Good for you!

People would know my late DM's life history within 5 minutes of meeting her.....

I think that @RosieLeah did have a point. Rufus described the other patients as Morons. That was a totally unnecessary slur on people he did not know. Probably at least half the people there were worried about the doctors visit. They could be feeling very unwell or staring at tv or their phones to distract themselves and relieve any tension they were feeling.

It was asked in one reply, “do we have have to stop and think about every word and phrase we use, in case we offend someone”. Of course we should, morons is a very unkind word.

Although on a plane or train traveling on my own I tend to bury my head in a book/magazine along with earphones, enjoying some "me time".

In shops, waiting rooms or having a coffee I am mindful if people start up a conversation I always acknowledge them and chat a while as it might be the only human interaction the other person has that day.

littleflo whilst in principle I totally agree with you and RosieLeah the Language used in Oz is often more colourful and straightforward, same words, different meanings and usually blunter.

(Apologise to any Aussie GN's, but that has been my experience)

Language used in Oz is often more colourful and straightforward, same words, different meanings and usually blunter
Granny Gravy; Sorry about that everyone! It was careless and thoughtless of me! It's already been deleted from my memory bank.

There are a lot of lonely men around
Fennel; Nothing to be sorry about! I now live on my own and being schizophrenic we have got used to our own company! No longer lonely!
But you seem to be saying you have to be careful as lonely men can suspect your motives. I always understood it to be the other way round and I'm quite sure you don't have any motives about me to make me suspicious! Do you!? OoRoo

Rufus .
I'm a natural chatterbox, and enjoy the company of both men and women.
But I get the feeling when chatting to apparently single men I don't know that they have in mind, 'Ah someone to look after me!'
And TG I already have plenty to do looking after my own man !

True, Fennel...when you get to a certain age, men ARE looking for someone to take care of them ! Thanks for your support, littleflo, it just takes a little fore-thought and consideration before condemning someone who doesn't feel like chatting, especially in a medical setting.

when you get to a certain age
Rosie; mention of "a certain age" crops up regularly on GN, usually in the context of MEN! How do we recognise when it's arrived.? Hot flushes, needing a woman's touch to make a cup of tea; do tell!
Btw; please do me the courtesy of reading my apology below. Even though it's Valentines's Day I can't grovel on bended knee any longer, let alone get up again.
Incidentally, would it help you to know I was referring to Aussie morons.? I don't suppose Pommie ones exist any more. Also, I had some dental work to-day, setting me back $2,000, so not best pleased OoRoo

Well, its rather unkind to people without any teeth to mention dental work, rufus..
JOKE!! BEFORE ANYONE IS OFFENDED!

Rufus..it's just about a different way of thinking. You like to chat to strangers and you seem to assume that others feel the same. You need to understand that maybe they don't. I was once travelling on the Trans-pennine express, going from Yorkshire into Lancashire. I bought myself a packet of sweets, found myself a window seat and was looking forward to enjoying the view from the window and thinking my own thoughts. However, a man got on, saw me sitting alone and assumed I wanted company. He said he had decided to have a day out in Blackpool, and proceeded to tell me his life story. When we got to Preston, I stood up. 'Oh, are you getting off?' he said....as though he thought we'd be spending the day together! This is the kind of thing, I mean...the assumptions that people make.
As for age, younger men see women as sex objects..older men as potential nurses..either way, they regard women as invented purely for their convenience!

I wish someone would see me as a sex object!

JOKE!!
What's that mean? No harm in having a few "toothless tigers" around. They won't get $2,000 dental bills to worry about!

It meant what it said.
So many people here jump in, all affronted, a bit like you just did.

Rufus..it's just about a different way of thinking. You like to chat to strangers
Rosie you could be right and strangers may like to chat to me; it's their choice!
Here's another little anecdote; in the supermarket queue again (I should buy some of their shares!) a lady joins with one of the trolleys fitted with an occupied toddler's seat. So I had to enquire whether toddlers were on today's special. "Oh No !" she replied, "she's on special every day" Good reply! Of course a conversation soon started up, but which became a bit one-sided because she'd obviously committed her bragging notes to memory and was answering questions before I"d even asked them.! Name, age etc. etc. You remember from your bragging days! Once past the till she said "thank you, it was nice talking to you!" I must have a non-threatening demeanour!

She'll have you roped in for a Grandad soon .

MissAdventure; Come off it please! You said it was a joke and I thought you meant it and I treated it as such. Now you suddenly turn on me for "jumping in feeling all affronted". No way!
Is your "sex object" meant to be a joke too!? Not a very funny one!

Yes, it was, but has been pointed out many times of late, a joke that has to be explained loses its appeal somehow.

She'll have you roped in for a Grandad soon smile.
Fennel; do you really think so? Thanks for the warning, although I can't imagine anyone being that desperate Mind you, if the lady invites me over to the cafe to continue our conversation over a cup of coffee I'd jump at the chance, but if she insisted on paying then my warning system would kick in. I'd hate being "bought," although it's not happened yet!