shutupshutupshutupshutup

Suppose you know someone who absolutely drives you crazy. You think every word that comes out of this individual’s mouth (Ha! I typed “moth…”) is utter garbage, and you honestly find it hard to refrain from punching this person, or at least screaming “shut up!” whenever they’re in the room.

Suppose this person isn’t someone you ever really have to work with; it’s more someone you see occasionally at social functions. Do you just ignore the person and mentally yell “Serenity now!” whenever they’re around, do you try to get to know them better in the hope that you’ll come to be friends, or do you give in to the urge to commit physical violence and find peace in the ensuing 15 to 20 years away from society? Please note that I’m not asking what you should do, but rather what you actually do.

Comments

ATH79 said…
I' the kind of person that would just stay as far away from this person as I could. For example if I see them walking my way I suddenly have something important to do elsewhere. If that fails and I have to hear them blah blahing along I would just daydream about the many ways I could silence them. If you want to be really bold and upfront you could always yell "BLAH" everytime they try to start a sentence unitl they give up and go away. I do this to my husband sometimes because I think I'm funny but he never thinks I'm nearly as funny as I think I am.
Is this some one you know? I'm starting to get peranoid now that I've blah blah blah commented on your blog.
October 1, 2008 at 2:51 PM
Joel said…
For the record, it's nobody who ever reads this blog (or would read it, for that matter). It's also not a co-worker.
October 1, 2008 at 2:53 PM
)en said…
Well, I usually just laugh and try to find the humor in such a situation. And yeah, stay away.

However, well, let's pretend there's someone at church, for instance, and most things that come out of their moth are totally weird, and not at ALL church doctrine and are extremely cringe-worthy. In this instance, I tune them out and think happy thoughts. And all is well. If I don't expose myself to such things, then it won't upset me. This goes for blogs that aggravate me as well. Of which there are many.
October 1, 2008 at 3:56 PM
Joel said…
Hey, what are you implying?
October 1, 2008 at 4:02 PM
Erin Stones said…
I know that I am annoying and talk too much, but I didn't know that it was this bad! I'll try to straighten up in the future!
I try to avoid people that drive me nuts, but if I can't I just smile and nod while they are talking and think of other things I need to do in the mean time.
October 1, 2008 at 4:36 PM
Todd said…
I think that I subconsciously avoid the person. I generally don't say "shut up" over and over. I say "I don't care" as fast as I can. That tends to block out whatever they are saying...
October 1, 2008 at 5:27 PM
)en said…
Joel, your blog is a shining star that glows above the abyss that is the blogosphere.
October 1, 2008 at 8:24 PM
Joel said…
Maybe I'll make that my new welcome message: "a shining star that glows above the abyss that is the blogosphere." It has a nice ring to it.
October 2, 2008 at 8:02 AM
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