Are you a private person?

The point is that she never brought it up. I have known her over 30 years and someone else told me about her sister. I never mentioned her or asked her name just thought it strange.

I'd have thought it was strange too

A friend I have known for many years lives many miles away but each time we communicate by phone all I hear are her aches and pains and it is not only once, it is week after week. I find it wearing.

maybe you are friends with my Mother

Kircubbin, I’d be disappointed. But I too am very open and because I share I always expect it to be reciprocated. We are in my opinion just much more open and friendly. She may have things lurking 8n her family that she’d rather others didn’t know about.

An interesting question on a forum where personal opinions, even brief personal information is shared
I like people, get along with most people but I’m cautious till i know people well about sharing personal info n

While I’m friendly and outgoing. There are loads of things that I keep to myself. I’m not an open book and I’ve got nothing to hide at all lol. I live in an area where people love to gossip about others and some in quite a mean way. Which I find hard to get my head round. I like to be kind to all guess we are all different.

While I’m friendly and outgoing. There are loads of things that I keep to myself.

Me too. There's one very good friend who I am very careful what I tell.
I know from what she tells me about her own family that she has no filter 😬

I can keep a secret, especially within the family. It’s funny sometimes one person will tell be something and then another one will about the same issue but with totally different views. I smile inwardly and keep shtum. I find it pays to be a listener more than it does to be a sharer.

Nanna8 couldn’t agree more, I’m like a sponge and people seem to tell me their life histories goodness knows why. I’m never rude but I do find a lot of people overshare luckily I keep it all to myself. I’m certainly not one to gossip. I do hear some sad stories from people lots of people are so vunerable and taken advantage of which makes my blood boil. There are some lovely folk in the world I’ve spoken to but also so many that are wolves in sheep’s clothing!

V3ra exactly you have hit the mail on the head right there. I know one in particular that you would think butter wouldn’t melt she flits from one person to another gathering imfo oh no I won’t say anything! Really! Then ends up trying to tell me and I say I thought you were keeping that to yourself, well I’m telling you cos I know you won’t tell a soul! Where’s the logic in that! Do I trust her . Noooo.

That's her business.

By nature very open with people, have had to change I am a alcoholic in recovery for over 20 years plus ex military Moved area for a new start very selective what people know about me.

I can talk to the wall if I’d thought I’d get a reply lol got me a few jobs over the years my gift of gab. Yet im a private person i keep myself to myself. Think it’s because when I was working i had to talk to ppl all day so when I went home it was nice for the peace. I can talk to anyone about anything and ask them about themselves but when it comes to personal stuff about family etc I don’t talk about them. You don’t need to know about aunt Nelly and her 15 kids who live here and there. You supposed to be interested in me lol

Professionally, I was very guarded with colleagues to begin with. Once I'd been there for about 5 years and felt entirely respected, never mind my background, I could open up. As a volunteer, my focus child and her mother don't know my surname or address, and the mobile number she has for me is on a second SIM. So that is very private. They know I'm a widow with GSS.
Only my late DH really knew me.

i used to get asked about my job, but i didn't want to talk or even think about it when i was not at work.
not because it was horrible, but by giving my attention to it, it seeped into my non-working life.
i had to think about it when i was at work; i didn't want to when i was in my free time.
it diluted my free time.
became less free, dragged back to the subject of work.
i would tell people this but some didn't understand.

I'm a private person who values their privacy. But on rare occasions I've surprised myself by opening up to complete strangers - the kind you meet once in random situations.

I'm quite a private person and don't share much about myself with friends or family. Occasionally I may tell them a few things about my childhood but mostly I keep it to myself.
My BF is lovely but she often tells me confidential things about her other friends so I'm careful what I share with her.

I'm happy to talk about my family in general terms; relationship to me, where they live, etc. I'd only talk in more detail with people I know well. As regards myself, then it depends on the context; who, where, when, & why! One thing I've never been shy about is my age; I'll tell anyone just how old I am. I'd rather be thought of as looking pretty much OK (as a person in my 70s) than as looking less so, if I implied that I'm somewhat younger!

I'm surprised sometimes by how little interest people have in each other.I feel I know someone better if I know what job, family pets etc they have. I don't mean that I ask them these questions but most people will drop clues eg daughter walks the dog etc.
I played tennis for several years with one lady and knew all about her but discovered she didn't even know my surname or anything about me.Very self centred.

I was very shy as a teenager but quickly learned to socialise in the City of London. Went on to running businesses and that involves chatting to the clients. Have worked as a film extra and you get to meet interesting strangers. Some famous. Some not.
I never mind listening to other people’s aches and pains. Makes me feel lucky that I’m reasonably healthy. Says me with an eye guard on. Had second cataract removed three days ago. LOL.

Always puzzled when someone on a thread says "I got a text from my neighbour to complain about xxx." My neighbours dont know my name, my phone number or email address and thats how I prefer it. I dont give this type of information to randoms.

I wish I was, but if you know me then you know everything about me and my strange family. It’s part of what makes me, me.

self-contained is what I would use for me. No need for outsiders to know my business. I have enough siblings and AC if I ever need to spill the beans

I have spent a lifetime being the one that people offload to, energy suckers in the main, it was what I was trained to do. All that empathy and gentle questioning from me and I put that bubble of protection around myself in order not to be drained. My bubble remains and I am happy with that.

biglouis

Always puzzled when someone on a thread says "I got a text from my neighbour to complain about xxx." My neighbours dont know my name, my phone number or email address and thats how I prefer it. I dont give this type of information to randoms.

I am with you on this biglouis. I am the only one in the close community not on the whatsapp list. People want to offload and they offload for someone else to take the burden, instead of finding their own solution. Offloading is the easy way out for many