Quote:
Originally Posted by john70t
I've had a 15 minute phone conversation with a relative where I only repeated the word "okay".
(stopped counting after about twenty. geesh.)
Some people are desperate for connecting with someone, anyone, or just need to vent.
I'll give them a free pass for a while when possible.
Hey, I might need to learn something new.
But the next round I say "Sorry, only have a few minutes. What's up?""
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This sums up to the letter an experience I had with a recent coworker. At A job I just left, I spent a month getting my replacement up to speed.
In short, he was simultaneously the most interesting and annoying individual I have ever had the pleasure to meet. On the plus side, he was a walking encyclopedia of history. This guy would pull up wikipedia articles on historical figures and write in to correct the wiki entries. He could strike up a credible conversation about just about anything.
Liking history myself, I tried to soak in as much as I could, but two things became evident- 1. he was lonely and wanted to talk, and 2. his memory was beginning to wane, so repetition was constant. After the 5th or so repeat of the same story, I went from "okay' (my variation was "Alright")- to completing his story for him. In a sense, it was rude, but on the other hand, after hearing the same story 4-5 times, things get into a grey area.
Also, if you attempt to leave a conversation by going to the bathroom, and he follows you in and continues his story while you are p@###ing at a urinal- well- for me- all bets are off.
Still appreciate his knowledge though!
