Nosey people

[zigs]

Say the invisibility cloak one really loud, as if you really think people can't see you

At school I used to keep a mouthfull of crushed Polo mints, if someone let the door go on me i'd kick the bottom whilst pretending it had hit me in the face, then clutch my jaw whilst spitting out what looked like broken teeth

It was funny up to the time when a bully really did break my teeth for not giving him a fag

 

[ChanellG]

He didn't need to be smoking anyway... though he had absolutely no business hitting you in the mouth.

I'm not that loud so I may have to come up with a different strategy, but I still like the invisibility cloak idea.

 

[ACSAPA]

Apart from outright lying, the distraction approach often works

I do the outright lying. When confronted with nosy people, I just start making crap up.
If I'm going to be stuck talking to someone I don't want to talk to, and they're going to ask me a bunch of awkward questions, then I at least want to entertain myself by making up the most outrageous lies I can come up with.

Plus, if I hear the same stories come back to me later from someone else then I know my "victim" is a blabbermouth.

 

[Jed]

When i'm driving with the window down & I've given way to someone, if they don't wave to thank me I shout "That's Ok" as they pass me

I guess I am not too fussed about other people's questions. Maybe it's because I rarely get out and socialise. I often answer peoples surveys that come around via the phone. I sound like a lonely sad sack.
Where I live there's two one way bridges immediately after one another so it always comes about someone is required to stop and give way.
If anywhere on a rural road people wave it's in this situation. Now if a stranger refuses to wave I get a bit annoyed and even more so if they don't give way.

 

[ChanellG]

I do the outright lying. When confronted with nosy people, I just start making crap up...

Plus, if I hear the same stories come back to me later from someone else then I know my "victim" is a blabbermouth.

You know, I've been thinking about doing just that. I'd like to be able to always have something clever, but outrageous handy as a comeback at moments when people ask me something that I consider to be none of their business. As you said, it would be nice to at least be amused in the process.

 

[zigs]

That backfired on me a few years back.

I'd just taken a huge stone wall down with a JCB (Back Hoe in usa?) When a bloke stopped and asked me what I was doing.

Without thinking it through, I said

"I'm Nicking it."

"Are you?"

"Yep, got a bloke up the road who wants it to make a rockery."

"Really?"

"Yep, don't tell anyone will you."

I didn't know at the time but the chap had mental health issues and believed every word

 

[ChanellG]

Zigs, that's hilarious! However, if I held my tongue on the chance someone had mental issues and might believe me, I'd never speak to anyone as there are so many people who do! Unfortunately, you never find out just how unhealthy some people are until you get a little up close and personal with them.

I don't mean people who are born with a little something missing - I mean folk that maybe haven't handled life's challenges so well, but for all outward appearance seem "normal" until you get to know them. There are so many people like that roaming around...

Still, nosey is nosey and it's still rude to ask intrusive questions of someone you don't know.

 

[happyflowerlady]

I am so terrible about thinking of a comeback, too, and hate being caught by surprise with obtrusive, and usually rude, questions. Sometimes, I can come back with something that works, and sometimes not.
My tried and true usual response is to say " Why do you ask?", and then they have to come up with the reason that they are asking me in the first place, and it also give me time (and maybe ammunition) to change the subject, without answering anything I don't want to. Of course, if they do have a valid reason for asking, then I at least know what it is, before responding.

 

[ChanellG]

My tried and true usual response is to say " Why do you ask?"

That's a good response; if the person asks something that is intended to be yes or no, I'll say no without elaborating. Of course they will follow with more questions... Sometimes I can respond with "It's complicated," though in the past I have been clever enough to say "It's classified," or "I'd tell you, but then I'd have to kill you."

 

[christa]

Zigs...sounds like YOU are the one with the answers! I sure don't have them. People get WAY too much information out of me, even when I don't want to give it!!

I agree with you Babble it realy looks as if Zigs got all the answers!!! Sometimes i also speak to much about things that i'm suppose to kept for myself!!

 

[ChanellG]

Wouldn't it be nice to have a pre-rehearsed speech at the ready that was some elaborate story of your life that was completely made up, but would make people sorry they'd ever asked? One where you could ramble on and on and on?

One of my least favorite questions is "what do you do for a living?" Having a job is not making a living and it certainly has nothing to do with who you are as a person. What really annoys me though is when someone else answers for me.

 

[zigs]

My mate got asked what he did for a living, conversation went something like this :

Tony : "I'm a writer."

Jamie : "Oh really, what type of stuff do you write?"

Tony : "I'm currently writing a book about a Cypriot Sponge Fisherman."

Jamie : "That sounds interesting."

Tony : "Yes, its called Absorber the Greek."

 

[ChanellG]

Pfffffffffffffft! If only those of us plagued by these sorts of things could be as clever as your friend when it really counted.

 

[ACSAPA]

My mate got asked what he did for a living, conversation went something like this :

Tony : "I'm a writer."

Jamie : "Oh really, what type of stuff do you write?"

Tony : "I'm currently writing a book about a Cypriot Sponge Fisherman."

Jamie : "That sounds interesting."

Tony : "Yes, its called Absorber the Greek."

That was pretty clever. I don't know how you guys come up with these sharp comebacks and witty remarks on the fly. I always come up with something smart I should have said, about an hour later when the conversation is over and I'm in my kitchen staring into the fridge, trying to decide what to cook for dinner.

When confronted with a nosy person, I'm better at making up outrageous lies than a funny joke or witty comment.

 

[zigs]

Comes from having Ginger hair when you were little, you either learned how to make people laugh very quickly or get beaten up for being "different"