We have a friend who is larger than life and has a propensity to dominate a conversation, but he is so entertaining that listening to him is a pleasure and not a chore. I don’t think a boring word has ever come out of his mouth. I think as some people get older, though, they lose their empathy. DH is very ill and a very good friend of ours phones often to find out how he is; laments the fact that she can do nothing to help (that’s fine) and then, every time, gives me a very detailed account of how her brother in law is on his last legs, can do nothing for himself and is deteriorating daily (that’s not fine!). I make sympathetic noises while my heart is sinking. Ill judged to say the least, but she is such a lovely person I think she would be horrified to realise what is going on in my head, but she just doesn’t think these days. Good job I love her to bits or I would be tempted not to answer the phone.