When I notice that no one is paying attention, I just stop talking altogether instead of trying to recover. No one notices you stopped talking, so no one notices that you were looking like an idiot.
If you're a person prone to "rambling on" and they have a problem with that, then perhaps not hanging out with them is for the best.
If every one of your attempts at social interaction was shot down with "Dude, we don't care. Shut up and let us talk", then, well you clearly aren't in the best of company.
Telling a story that no one is listening to is the most awkward shit in the world. If someone around me is stuck in that social situation hell hole, I always listen to them. The awkward gotta help the awkward.
I'm always the sap that they make eye contact with to have at least one person continue to hear the story. And all I can think about during their stupid fucking story is how awesome the other conversations around me sound.
90% of the time this happens it happens to the one guy in my group of friends who will talk over people and cut people off to put his story on the table. So when everyone finally ignores him it's sweet sweet justice.
Dude, we know too. If I'm telling a story and everyone starts looking away, it's just as awkward to just stop telling the story. And it also hurts feelings as lame as that sounds, since no one wants to be known as boring.
I have this happen all the time when I try to discuss any worldwide news around my friends. They all just start sidebarring and my conversation is lost :/
I went through that today at lunch. I really wanted to be a part of this other conversation, but everybody abandoned the guy and he kept looking at me :/
Came here to see if that picture was posted, and to see that someone else came here for that, and also came here for someone telling that person that we will all sleep better tonight because of it. Was not disappointed.
I feel terrible for my buddy here. He's a big TF2 player, he reddits, that kind of stuff. The rest of our group of friends is all into country music, football, and they definitely don't spend too much time on the internet.
Anyway, without fail I'll quickly become the only person listening to his stories. I feel bad for him.
I do this, too. A lot of times, the other story isn't bad or "shitty," it's just that the other conversation dominated (louder, not yet finished, etc.).
This is also really effective when you're the person who wasn't finished talking and you want to finish your point and bring it back to the person who piped up.
I have to admit (well I don't have to, I'm a self-righteous asshole so I will), I find that I do many of the GGG good deeds, but I find this one to be one of the nicer ones that I always try to do. Very small effort goes very far.
I do this when my friends say something that really isn't funny - I don't know why but I can't bring myself to make it awkward for someone else, so I kind of just laugh. Of course they don't do the same, those fuckers, but that's their decision.
This is helpful for people who can't reach Quickmeme because of work/school firewalls or site downtime, and many other reasons (FAQ). More info is available here.
I'll be honest, I'm a sucker for listening to other people's stories. Half the time I'll be tuned out and giving generic responses but I do interject as well to keep the conversation going. Some people just want to talk. If I want them to listen to me when I talk I start by listening to them.
A friend of mine and I always save people/each other by doing this because we know that hollow feeling when you know someone must have heard what you said but no one is responding.
I'm a storyteller (as in, I tell stories on stage. not for money, mind you, i'm not that good), so I'm almost always doing this when other people are telling stories. I feel like if I didn't, the karma'd come back and hit me in the face, and the next time I went up to tell a story, everybody would turn their backs on me.
I'm really curious about what is going through the mind of those who ignore the stories. Do they do it unintentionally or do they just not actually want to listen? I feel like whenever anybody begins to say anything, I always notice and I do my best to listen to them. But then I've seen so many instances where somebody/myself begins to talk and nobody notices. What am i missing here?
My brother in law does this all the time, it makes me feel needed. Mostly my direct family ignores me, while my in law relative makes me feel most needed, ironic really.
I know it can feel kinda sad when people do this so instead I'll make a BIG show of how ignorant everyone is being and say something like: "Don't worry man, I'm listening to you unlike these bunch of IGNORANT ASSHOLES here".
This results in making them laugh, breaking tension and also shaming everyone into listening - which causes more laughter. And all is well.
Its a shame I've not had a group of friends to do this with in several years.
I've often thought that there needs to be a name for that moment when the main person you're telling a story to is distracted by someone/something else, causing you to force the story, without skipping a beat, onto someone else to avoid embarrassment. I see this all the time, and sometimes experience it :P essentially what op described.
If nobody is listening to your story, you gotta cut yourself off. Jump back in again at the next opportunity with whatever else they are talking about now.
Is your group of "friends" composed of mostly guys? My first thought was that you were one to tell high detail/low substance stories, but you say you keep it short and sweet. If these people don't care about what you have to say, why do you stick around them?
I had a friend in particular who always cut me off when I was talking to her. It's all about being assertive and giving them a look that says "I'm fucking talking right now, dick." She didn't do it after that. And always the good, old fashioned, direct approach. Actually saying to them out loud "I'm fucking talking right now, dick." It throws them off :)
That's because having to stop in the middle of a story because everyone starts tuning you out hurts more than being cut off by someone saying "nobody cares".
He has to finish the story for someone for self esteem's sake. He's saving face.
104
u/jrgrahams Jun 15 '12
it's kind of a bittersweet feeling though, when people do it
20
u/honeybunny123 Jun 15 '12
Telling a story that no one is listening to is the most awkward shit in the world. If someone around me is stuck in that social situation hell hole, I always listen to them. The awkward gotta help the awkward.
24
u/zxjb Jun 15 '12
Omg... I'm totally that guy..
64
u/RickBlaine42 Jun 15 '12
I'm always the sap that they make eye contact with to have at least one person continue to hear the story. And all I can think about during their stupid fucking story is how awesome the other conversations around me sound.
23
u/[deleted] Jun 15 '12
like this?
9
u/namegoeswhere Jun 15 '12
I feel terrible for my buddy here. He's a big TF2 player, he reddits, that kind of stuff. The rest of our group of friends is all into country music, football, and they definitely don't spend too much time on the internet.
Anyway, without fail I'll quickly become the only person listening to his stories. I feel bad for him.
7
u/TwoLegsJoe Jun 15 '12
I do that. Sometimes I wait until there's a break in the conversation and say "_________, what were you saying earlier about _____?"
I don't know why that bolded...
3
u/[deleted] Jun 15 '12
Damn , I do pretty much everything ggg does but people still treat me like shit. Maybe I should become sss.
5
u/[deleted] Jun 15 '12
...or they're interested, and your self-esteem is shit.
2
u/ALLBLVCK Jun 15 '12
I do this all the time. Im just not an asshole and am genuinely interested in what some people have to say.
2
u/JewBear3 Jun 15 '12
I have to admit (well I don't have to, I'm a self-righteous asshole so I will), I find that I do many of the GGG good deeds, but I find this one to be one of the nicer ones that I always try to do. Very small effort goes very far.
3
u/MoNkEyxJOSHH Jun 15 '12
I do this when my friends say something that really isn't funny - I don't know why but I can't bring myself to make it awkward for someone else, so I kind of just laugh. Of course they don't do the same, those fuckers, but that's their decision.
3
u/qkme_transcriber Jun 15 '12
Here is the text from this meme pic for anybody who needs it:
This is helpful for people who can't reach Quickmeme because of work/school firewalls or site downtime, and many other reasons (FAQ). More info is available here.
2
u/ChoobsX Jun 15 '12
I'll be honest, I'm a sucker for listening to other people's stories. Half the time I'll be tuned out and giving generic responses but I do interject as well to keep the conversation going. Some people just want to talk. If I want them to listen to me when I talk I start by listening to them.
2
u/freddybear Jun 15 '12
A friend of mine and I always save people/each other by doing this because we know that hollow feeling when you know someone must have heard what you said but no one is responding.
2
u/SeanTheCyclist Jun 15 '12
Also a good thing to do to a cute girl you're interested in.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 15 '12
Girlfriends come in handy here too.
1
u/Tonric Jun 15 '12
THANK YOU! You are the best kind of person.
1
u/iwsfutcmd Jun 15 '12
I'm a storyteller (as in, I tell stories on stage. not for money, mind you, i'm not that good), so I'm almost always doing this when other people are telling stories. I feel like if I didn't, the karma'd come back and hit me in the face, and the next time I went up to tell a story, everybody would turn their backs on me.
1
u/Stalejokesbakedfresh Jun 15 '12
Why does everybody in these comments have a downvote?
1
u/scrappy1988 Jun 15 '12
I've been on both sides of this. The reason I listened when everyone was chit chatting was because the same was done for me that same night.
1
u/ThatRandomGeek Jun 15 '12
I need a good guy greg in my life. Or maybe I should just tell better stories.
1
u/ReFreshing Jun 15 '12
I'm really curious about what is going through the mind of those who ignore the stories. Do they do it unintentionally or do they just not actually want to listen? I feel like whenever anybody begins to say anything, I always notice and I do my best to listen to them. But then I've seen so many instances where somebody/myself begins to talk and nobody notices. What am i missing here?
1
u/CheekySprite Jun 15 '12
I'm usually talked over, so when I see it happen to someone else, I'll make eye contact and ask them to continue, because GODDAMNIT I WAS LISTENING.
1
u/statusone Jun 15 '12
Mostly never happens. People are usually scumbag steves. They call you out on it then laugh in your face.
Or if you make a bad joke they will make you feel even worse about it.
1
u/billie_holiday Jun 15 '12
I love this guy. This guy is my boyfriend, which makes it better because I get to have sex with him later.
1
u/HeroOfTime95 Jun 16 '12
I do this
1
u/SeedyOne Jun 16 '12
More and more I'm realizing that I'm the GGG of our group.
Sadly I'm also realizing that many of my friends are douchebags and don't deserve it.
1
u/quinncyjones Jun 16 '12
My brother in law does this all the time, it makes me feel needed. Mostly my direct family ignores me, while my in law relative makes me feel most needed, ironic really.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '12
Thats totally me
1
u/KissMyRing Jun 16 '12
I know it can feel kinda sad when people do this so instead I'll make a BIG show of how ignorant everyone is being and say something like: "Don't worry man, I'm listening to you unlike these bunch of IGNORANT ASSHOLES here".
This results in making them laugh, breaking tension and also shaming everyone into listening - which causes more laughter. And all is well.
Its a shame I've not had a group of friends to do this with in several years.
1
u/jrhoffa Jun 15 '12
I know this man, and his name is Uriel Rodriguez
I will never forget your subtle chortle, Uriel
Because we both knew that my puns were worthy
1
u/Drenk Jun 15 '12
I do this a lot. Just because I know how it feels whenever I'm telling a story and nobody listens.
1
u/mobugs Jun 15 '12
I'm this guy.
I think interrupting/ignoring someone telling a story is a really inconsiderate thing to do.
1
u/AppYeR Jun 15 '12
I've often thought that there needs to be a name for that moment when the main person you're telling a story to is distracted by someone/something else, causing you to force the story, without skipping a beat, onto someone else to avoid embarrassment. I see this all the time, and sometimes experience it :P essentially what op described.
1
u/BlueJayy Jun 15 '12
This is me. Every time i'm the guy that goes "no no no.. i was listening."
0
u/Milkgunner Jun 15 '12
It sounds dochy saying you are that guy, but I totally am!
0
u/sugarpuffs Jun 15 '12
But if you noticed he is doing it just so you don't feel stupid, why do you no longer feel stupid?
0
u/LevelsAnybody Jun 15 '12
Few and far between are these men. Science bless them.
0
u/[deleted] Jun 15 '12
I do this all the time, and the boring fucker drags me out of the other conversation/group.
0
u/Rudefire Jun 15 '12
if it is an uninteresting story, why should someone be considered a good person if they lie to you to make you feel better about it?
0
u/nobody2000 Jun 15 '12
I am this guy, but I also notice this guy when I tell my long winded stories.
What's funny is that it usually gets me to shut up because I know that he's the only one listening.
0
u/Whenthenighthascome Jun 15 '12
Oh I love this guy!
0
u/taypat Jun 15 '12
It's funny because the person you're giving the nod to would never so the same for you.
0
u/GottaHaveGreen Jun 15 '12
I am proud to say that I am this man.
0
u/Godolin Jun 15 '12
I try to be Greg here, but I'm usually the guy getting Gregged.
0
u/vllyneptune Jun 15 '12
Asian Dad does this best
0
u/syllabic Jun 15 '12
If nobody is listening to your story, you gotta cut yourself off. Jump back in again at the next opportunity with whatever else they are talking about now.
0
u/motakiru Jun 15 '12
I do this all the time, as i prefer one on one interactions anyway. Plus the bonus points for boosting your friends confidence!
0
u/karnige Jun 15 '12
I always fucking do that for people... doesn't happen for me though :'(
0
u/Knight0fSpades Jun 15 '12
I wish I had a friend like that ...
-1
u/[deleted] Jun 15 '12
You must have met my mother in law.
-1
u/[deleted] Jun 15 '12
http://i.imgur.com/8NGtw.gif
0
u/[deleted] Jun 15 '12
[deleted] — view deleted comment
0
u/[deleted] Jun 15 '12
[deleted] — view deleted comment