# How much talking to yourself is TOO much? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 15, 2020, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-talking-to-yourself-is-too-much/853838 "2020-05-15T04:49:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2020, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-talking-to-yourself-is-too-much/853838/1 "2020-05-15T04:49:59Z")
I mean, we all have to consult with an expert from time to time. (I stole that from someone here, I think, and use it whenever I get caught by someone else and can’t play it off like I was talking to them instead.) But are full-blown conversations still considered crazypants, or has quarantine softened those standards like the ones for “acceptable pants” recently? What if I’m just carrying on one side of the convo - is that crazierpants than keeping up both halves? (Note: this thread is meant to be taken with tongue planted very firmly in cheek.) ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2020, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-talking-to-yourself-is-too-much/853838/2 "2020-05-15T05:12:45Z")
ive been told asking your self something is normal answering yourself out loud is crazypants ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2020, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-talking-to-yourself-is-too-much/853838/3 "2020-05-15T06:05:00Z")
If you have to ask you’re doing it too much 😃 ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2020, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-talking-to-yourself-is-too-much/853838/4 "2020-05-15T11:15:02Z")
I’ve frequently asked myself that question. ---
**Author:** ![kk\_fusion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kk_fusion/32/15276_2.png) [@kk\_fusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kk_fusion)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2020, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-talking-to-yourself-is-too-much/853838/5 "2020-05-15T11:31:23Z")
For a lower bound, see how much time certain people spend talking to their invisible sky friend(s). ---
**Author:** ![BeagleJesus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5daacb/32.png) [@BeagleJesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeagleJesus)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2020, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-talking-to-yourself-is-too-much/853838/6 "2020-05-15T11:50:24Z")
What about talking to your dog(s)? That’s not crazy, right? RIGHT? ---
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2020, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-talking-to-yourself-is-too-much/853838/7 "2020-05-15T12:05:13Z")
I often get into arguments with myself. As long as I’m winning those arguments, life is good. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Passing\_Through](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Just\_Passing\_Through](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Passing_Through)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2020, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-talking-to-yourself-is-too-much/853838/8 "2020-05-15T12:10:46Z")
Several years ago at work one of the department managers walked by and told me if I wasn’t talking to myself(about what I was doing) she knew something was wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2020, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-talking-to-yourself-is-too-much/853838/9 "2020-05-15T12:35:33Z")
I talk to myself, to nearby animals, and the TV. I’m fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2020, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-talking-to-yourself-is-too-much/853838/10 "2020-05-15T13:06:15Z")
Asking the question at all is what’s crazy. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2020, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-talking-to-yourself-is-too-much/853838/11 "2020-05-15T13:38:20Z")
My coworker mumbles to himself… I bought a headset just before I bashed his head in. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2020, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-talking-to-yourself-is-too-much/853838/12 "2020-05-15T14:03:59Z")
I think it is only too much if you’re doing it in front of other people and disturbing them/annoying them/freaking them out. Otherwise, talk away. I talk to my cat all the time, especially now. I’m pretty sure that he doesn’t understand 99.99% of what I say, so I’m essentially talking to myself. But talking helps me organize my thoughts and feelings. Probably also helps me not feel lonely. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2020, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-talking-to-yourself-is-too-much/853838/13 "2020-05-15T14:56:29Z")
I think I need to start wearing ear buds when I’m out in public. People may then think I’m talking to someone else via phone. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2020, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-talking-to-yourself-is-too-much/853838/14 "2020-05-15T14:59:35Z")
If you and your self get in a pissing match over who did or didn’t leave a used macaroni and cheese bowl in the sink without even some water for soaking, it’s probably time to think about getting help. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2020, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-talking-to-yourself-is-too-much/853838/15 "2020-05-15T15:02:17Z")
I think I need to start wearing ear buds when I’m out in public. People may then think I’m talking to someone else via phone. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2020, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-talking-to-yourself-is-too-much/853838/16 "2020-05-15T15:08:16Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > If you and your self get in a pissing match over who did or didn’t leave a used macaroni and cheese bowl in the sink without even some water for soaking, it’s probably time to think about getting help. With all the locking down and isolating, I don’t think it’s a good idea to hire a housekeeper. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2020, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-talking-to-yourself-is-too-much/853838/17 "2020-05-15T15:44:34Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > But talking helps me organize my thoughts and feelings. Probably also helps me not feel lonely. There are two kinds of people: [del]those who divide the world into two kinds of people, and those who don’t[/del] those who talk in order to think, and those who think in order to talk. There are plenty of people who, like you, for whom talking (to themselves or to others) helps them work through and organize and become aware of their thoughts and feelings. I am not one of those people. I find it hard to talk unless I have something to say. For me, talking _first_ requires that I figure out what I’m thinking, then mentally organize my thoughts and feelings, and then actually utter them. I rarely talk to myself because it requires all that extra effort. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2020, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-talking-to-yourself-is-too-much/853838/18 "2020-05-15T15:57:35Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > I think I need to start wearing ear buds when I’m out in public. People may then think I’m talking to someone else via phone. ^^^ This. But you won’t even need the ear buds. It’s no longer an issue. If people see you talking to yourself they will automatically assume you’re using some kind of technology that’s letting you use your phone and they’re just not seeing the audio contraptions. ---
**Author:** ![Dark\_Sponge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dark_sponge/32/121_2.png) [@Dark\_Sponge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Sponge)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2020, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-talking-to-yourself-is-too-much/853838/19 "2020-05-15T16:06:53Z")
People commonly mock the idea of talking to yourself but it’s almost always a good thing. It can help to crystallize squishy thoughts or feelings you have bouncing around in your brain and generally leads to better decision making. On a side note, during a convoluted conversation I recently discovered my wife does not have a internal dialog. This blew my mind. My first thought after finally understanding was, “HOW do you THINK?” ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2020, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-talking-to-yourself-is-too-much/853838/20 "2020-05-15T16:17:32Z")
For people already too much, ‘in their own heads’, I think too much ‘talking to themselves’, CAN become problematic. If you already have an oversized internal world, which you frequent borderline too much, talking to yourself can get carried away. Persons at high risk for mental illness maybe should be a little concerned I think. Lest that already oversized internal life swells to overshadow reality. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-talking-to-yourself-is-too-much/853838.md?page=2)