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How upset would you be if someone said you were boring!

(207 Posts)
Peasblossom Sun 09-May-21 11:31:27

Would you take it on the chin and try to change? I’m not thinking about the shy person who doesn’t have much to say but the “broken record scenario’.
No matter how the conversation starts.

My MIL just couldn’t stop talking about her big operation. Even thirty years after it happened it would come into every conversation.

A teacher friend will always end up reminiscing about her time in the classroom.

And I posted a little while ago about the friend who can’t talk about anything except her grandchild. It doesn’t matter what the starting sentence is, it seems to connect back to GC.

You notice it on Gransnet posts too.

Do people know they’re doing it!
Would you say anything or just grit your teeth?
And what would you do if you found out that was you?

Dottydots Sun 09-May-21 16:36:40

My boyfriend, although very nice and easy-going, can be very boring. He either talks about football or how many varieties of
potatoes he has grown. I change the subject as soon as I can.

NotAGran55 Sun 09-May-21 16:39:48

I don’t think people are boring, it is the subject matter in many cases that they talk about endlessly .
Old stories from the past , health problems which we know about and don’t need reminding of daily ....etc etc

Oopsadaisy1 Sun 09-May-21 16:46:27

I become boring if I’m with people I dont like or don’t know, but get me next to someone who has the same interests as me and all is well.

Chestnut Sun 09-May-21 16:55:10

NotAGran55 I do tell my grandchildren stories from the past but they always seem quite interested! In fact they have been known to quote the story back to me or ask me to tell it again later on, so it can't be that boring. I always make the story 'child friendly' so it's something they can relate to.

Gingster Sun 09-May-21 17:01:48

We have a few friends who can be boring. If out for a meal with them we try not to sit near them. One in particular turns every conversation into something similar he has experienced. Being hard of hearing, he speaks over everyone else. . Sometimes we just have to carry on talking and hope he takes the hint

NotAGran55 Sun 09-May-21 17:15:38

Chestnut I mean adults repeatedly telling other adults the same stories from their past.
Children love to hear things over and over, that is different.

Lucca Sun 09-May-21 17:52:31

Someone gave me a fridge magnet years ago which said Boring women have immaculate homes.........I was comforted as I am naturally untidy

CafeAuLait Sun 09-May-21 23:16:21

I think we'll all be boring to some other people. It depends what our interests are. I don't think I would worry about it someone found me boring. I'll go hang out with those who don't find me to be so.

nanna8 Mon 10-May-21 00:17:46

The most boring topic for me is those who talk incessantly about their health though I can understand why, particularly if they live alone. One lady I know is avoided because she launches into her health issues as soon as you meet her. Sadly no one wants to sit near her at functions and it is sad because she is not a nasty person. I am in a Red Hat group where we have a rule that no more than 5 minutes can be spent talking about aches and pains and health which is a bit extreme but it does work.

Hithere Mon 10-May-21 01:14:00

No, it would not bother me.

Incompatible personalities is not a big deal, not everybody is going to like you

Abuelana Tue 11-May-21 10:34:36

Nope my friend who continually went on about her husband being unfaithful - like a broken record!
Eventually I said to her it’s yesterday’s news. Either leave / do something about it or get over it and move on.

Buffy Tue 11-May-21 10:36:10

Everyone is boring at times but some always find themselves incredibly interesting. They are the ones who would be most hurt if they knew how others felt. There’s no tactful solution.

JaneJudge Tue 11-May-21 10:36:57

I would wrap them tightly in cling film and roll them out onto the bridleway to be found by passing ramblers

aggie Tue 11-May-21 10:37:46

I do hear myself droning on and wish I could stop ! Nothing worse than the other persons eyes glazing over !
I do try not to bore but it hasn’t happened as much now that I socialise less ?

Mirren Tue 11-May-21 10:38:17

I am afraid I tend to think that whatever I say I am probably boring someone. Better to listen, I think , than natter on endlessly !

Mamma7 Tue 11-May-21 10:40:27

One I still cringe about...... I was in a very boring conversation, thought to myself “this is sooooo boring” and before I could stop myself I actually said “Boring” loudly and ironically in a very bored voice! Despite being mortified I dug myself out of it quickly saying I was only joking haha.... and we both had a laugh. Hopefully never again .......

jaylucy Tue 11-May-21 10:40:39

I think that all of us can be boring to others at some point in our lives - I have no doubt that I currently am!
It often happens when someone has (to them) experienced a major event in their lives that somehow makes everything else fade into insignificance, before or since.
I find that letting them have their say to start off then changing the subject or sometimes, pointing out to them that something more positive that has happened since helps make some people realise that that "Big event" isn't as big as they think it is.
For others, there is no help!

Brownowl564 Tue 11-May-21 10:41:00

I think sometimes people feel out of their depth or not up to date with some things so steer the conversation back to familiar, comfortable territory, maybe harking back to bygone times as they feel they haven’t done anything to top that achievement since , you could say that they have mentioned it before or just humour them.

tiredoldwoman Tue 11-May-21 10:41:59

I've just seen a poster -

I was kidnapped

but they returned me after 2 hours

because I wouldn't stop talking .

So if you're ever kidnapped play your boring card - we've all got one !

razzmatazz Tue 11-May-21 10:42:06

As I get older I forget I have told people stuff before. I always counter it by saying " Have I told you this before ? " after I have started on the subject . That gives them the chance to say "yes" . My children just say " You've told us that before,Mum" . That's ok. I'd rather they said that than bore them rigid with the same stories.

JdotJ Tue 11-May-21 10:45:44

Not so much what I say is boring (at least I hope not!) but I do think my voice is boring. Some people have very engaging voices, despite the topic, mine isn't. I wonder if that 'annoys' people.

Hannahmac14 Tue 11-May-21 10:46:17

Yes, I seem to accumulate these type of friends! I get the same story repeatedly. They never ask after me or what I have been doing - so they miss out on my exciting life ?. I just live with it now and listen to their ‘dramas’. Over and over. ?

Hellsbelles Tue 11-May-21 10:48:21

I thought this post would be about someone had slighted you in the crime about being boring.
How about you tell us about your exciting life and why those you look down upon as being boring differ so much to you ?

Lucca Tue 11-May-21 10:52:50

At a club committee meeting on zoom someone I know got a phone call and answered it forgetting to mute himself in zoom. He said “ oh hi I’m in a zoom meeting and it’s sooo boring “. ?

Taylor2016 Tue 11-May-21 10:53:53

As my siblings & I are getting older & when we get together (distant memory now) we have a rule that each person can talk about their medical issues for 15 minutes. Once we've completed then the conversion turn to other subjects. It work's a treat for us and we change the time each day!!