re: interr-- int-- .. being interrupted! by piggy

January 21, 2010 09:04 AM

voting has closed for this question

dear internet,

what do you do when you're talking to someone who keeps interrupting you, so you can never make your point or finish your sentence? I find myself talking faster and faster justtogetthepointacrossbeforethenextinterruption but it's stressing me out. and I don't want to have to actually say, "quit interrupting me" as I don't think the person is trying to be annoying.

results 6 votes

just stop talking when interrupted, wait for the next chance, and calmly resume your previous point, even if it does drive you nuts (4 votes)
 67%
keeptalkingfast (0 votes)
 0%
just talk - calmly - over the other person (and risk your point being lost in the noise) (1 vote)
 17%
suggestion? (1 vote)
 17%
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comments

  • elapheg says:

    Personally, I stop talking and make annoyed faces at the other people in the group, but that's rather passive-aggressive and doesn't help so I wouldn't recommend it ;)

    Jan 21, 2010 09:39 AM
  • inafish says:

    I think I'm usually more on the interrupting side of things (I know, character flaw), so I'd recommend that at some point you take the person aside and calmly and discreetly tell them that you feel they're interrupting you. If they're not trying to be annoying, maybe they will change their behaviour.

    Jan 21, 2010 01:18 PM
  • rfaria says:

    My siblings interrupt me all the time, and after years of trial and error, I go with the first one. This occasionally ends up with us having two completely different conversations at the same time.

    It might depend on the context of the interruption. Is it when you're telling a story, and they spin off on a tangent before you're done? Or you're making a point in an argument, and they try to drown you out?

    If they're interrupting out of excitement and clumsiness, you might want to throw in a "Wait, where was I? Oh, right -" when you resume talking, which should clue them in. If they continue, or if they're doing it deliberately, you may have to actually ask them to stop.

    Jan 21, 2010 01:48 PM
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