Conversation Bulldozers

I have a 'bulldozer' in my neighborhood, who will trap M. in conversation if I let it happen. What's worse is that it's not that she's talking to M., it's that she's talking to *anybody at all*. (non-discriminatory bulldozing?:))

At this point, I will stop and talk if it seems like there's some back-and-forth happening, but if it isn't, I always have something else which needs doing and politely give her my regards and go on with my business. I'm really not missing out on the non-stop oration!

There is a girl at my work who is the worst at this kind of thing. She is J. sleezy and thinks her opinion is so important. I can't stand to be around her!! When I do manage to get in a word she never even acknowledges anything I say. I do my best to avoid her and when I come face to face with her I am always on the run to get something done. I don't like to stay around and listen to her excessive lying. Oh yes, she has different details to the same story every time I talk to her. I don't like lying at all!!

It could be your being an introvert that cuases some of the bulldozing. I find myself talking a lot more when I am around someone who doesn't talk a lot. I hate that I do it but I can't stand there to be silence in a conversation so I fill it with chatter.

My best friend is like that. My husband always knows when I am talking to her on the phone because I will have the phone up to my ear and all I say is uh huh, ooooh, mmmmhmmmm. I love her to death and have gotten used to it but the one thing that still bothers M. a bit is when she calls and I say hello she goes right into her monologue. No hello, how are you, can you talk. One time she called and my son answered my phone and she didn't even notice it wasn't M.. He kept trying to tell her but she J. kept on talking. Hahahahahaha.

I'm like you. I glaze over because I J. can't be bothered fighting for my say. The thing is, if they're such a bulldozer, they won't care about your opinion anyway, so there's no point.

Neither, J. say got to run, my husband....(friend, dog, who ever) is waiting for M.....nice to see you, bye now.

Avoid these people LIKE THE PLAGUE!

I have dropped friendships due to this trait....It's J. not worth the torture!

It depends on the situation - if someone is sharing information that I might find handy in the future I simply let them speak. However, I too can be a "bulldozer" depending on the situation.

My MIL! My husband puts the phone down and walks away or holds the phone in the air.

Often she calls the house while we are at work and does this over our answering machine. Here again, my husband deletes the message without listening.

The other day my 6 YO called her to tell her she graduated kindergarten and she carried on and on, so my 6 YO said mommy wants to ask you something and handed the phone off.

I could go on, but you get the idea.

Along the same lines.... a person that is only interested in talking about themselves and never pauses to ask about you or your interests. Very egocentric in their conversation.

I look at my phone to see if I've missed an important call. Most of the time I have and need to return it (wink wink).

Or you could J. stare at them like they are speaking alien. That's always fun.

How about a student in one of my classes that does this? He always J. bursts out with his answers in class, not giving anyone else a chance to participate. THEN he will go very into depth with his answers, so that even our teacher has to cut him off in order to finish her lecture. lol. I J. *happen* to have gotten stuck sitting next to him, so we are always paired up whenever we are doing in-class study groups. :/

I have J. learned to wait for him to take a breath, and immediately start bulldozing my way in.

a little of both...depending on my mood. i am an introvert also. luckily i work at a job where i get a lot of respect and i am very knowledgeable - so when i speak i am listened to. but those kinds of people can be frustrating to M. too. if i have something important to say, i will interrupt and assert myself. but sometimes if it's J. casual conversation or whatever, i will J. nod and smile.

Well, with my MIL, my ultimate goal is escape. She only discusses 3 topics:
1. Minutiae
2. Events from 20+ years ago
3. Food
EVER!
I usually have no problem getting away, but I have had to rescue my mother a time or two--as well as a few unsuspecting friends, when I see their eyes glazing over.
And the bonus? She positions herself INSIDE when everyone is OUTSIDE so, God forbid, you have to pee, or get a drink...BAM! She's got ya!

Depends on my mood and the person. If it is a person I J. met, I usually let them talk, unless I J. have something really important to say. If it's someone I'm around all the time, like this one girl at work, I'll bulldoze right back in, even if what I have to say has nothing to do with the conversation. I'm more of a listener than a talker, so the bulldozers don't bother M. too much.

I don't usually talk a lot. If you saw M. in a large group you would think I am an introvert. But when I am talking to one person and I can concentrate, I tend to overdo it because I've saved up so much stuff to say. I am trying to get better at asking more questions, not talking too long if the other person is in a hurry, and not changing the topic suddenly.
My husband is worse at recognizing when people are tired of a topic or are trying to end a conversation, so I try to intervene and make an excuse why we need to leave. However, his willingness to start up a conversation with someone he doesn't know is something that I admire.

yes, I agree with the person who said that extroverts tend to carry the conversation with introverts...it's natural since you aren't talking much.

I think we all know one. I really think it stems from either a) loneliness, or b) being self absorbed.

I tend to be like you - I am not a huge group talker, but am better in small groups, or one on one & have no problem holding my own in those situations. I am pretty private, so I am not one to tell my life story to anyone who will listen.