# Quiz: Someone is sitting off by themselves staring at a book. What should you do? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 8, 2005, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quiz-someone-is-sitting-off-by-themselves-staring-at-a-book-what-should-you-do/283779 "2005-01-08T20:00:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![AngelicGemma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@AngelicGemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelicGemma)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2005, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quiz-someone-is-sitting-off-by-themselves-staring-at-a-book-what-should-you-do/283779/41 "2005-01-09T13:11:18Z")
I don’t mind people talking to me when I’m reading. I guess this is because coming from a family of readers, they will only ask a question or two. The same goes for my boyfriend. But I can see how people who insist on talking to you for ages while you’re trying to read would be very annoying. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2005, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quiz-someone-is-sitting-off-by-themselves-staring-at-a-book-what-should-you-do/283779/42 "2005-01-09T14:36:01Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Anyway, they seemed to think “Oh, the poor temp girl! We don’t want to leave her alone! Let’s go interrupt her, she can’t possibly be enjoying reading!” I think this is the problem when it comes to non-readers. They can’t wrap their tiny little minds around the fact that you’d rather _read_ than talk with them. I had this same problem at a place I used to work. There were about 150 employees, and there were a bunch of us Reader-types. When we encountered one another in the lunchroom, we’d smile and nod, then go back to our books and lunches. Then of course there were always the non-readers who’d come in, and just have to loudly comment on how QUIET IS WAS IN THE LUNCHROOM! You’d get a couple of them in there, cackling like hens about how we were all anti-social for sitting alone and reading. They also had no concept of “indoor voices.” ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2005, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quiz-someone-is-sitting-off-by-themselves-staring-at-a-book-what-should-you-do/283779/43 "2005-01-09T14:50:51Z")
Ah, the slack-jawed non-reading mouth breathers. They’re like cats. If you pay attention to them, they’ll likely blow you off. If they find you intently concentrating on something other than them, they can’t stand it! ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2005, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quiz-someone-is-sitting-off-by-themselves-staring-at-a-book-what-should-you-do/283779/44 "2005-01-09T15:07:38Z")
I am so glad someone pitted this! I am tortured by these people! At work, I only get about a ten minute break in the day (12 hour shift-yes, we are supposed to get more, but it really doesn’t work that way-'nother thread)-and I close the lounge door, sit and READ. It is required for my sanity. And the aides wander in and out, and the other ancillary staff and even some other nurses and they’re all like: “watcha reading?” “Is that the same book as last week?” “No? You finished a whole book in a week?!” (hell, I finish many a book in a day). “Guess you sure like to read…” any and all inane, needless remarks to keep a level of distraction and noise going… If and when my Vision of the World comes into being, I will walk around with a weapon of destruction, yelling,“Culling!”–these people will top the list. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mermaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@The\_Mermaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mermaid)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2005, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quiz-someone-is-sitting-off-by-themselves-staring-at-a-book-what-should-you-do/283779/45 "2005-01-09T16:38:47Z")
Well if I see someone sitting there staring intently at a book I walk right up to them and say, brightly, “Whatcha doin?” What? Or I could resort to hubby’s tactics and ask them random questions every 10 minutes until they either give up in frustration, move to another place or gently place their hands around my throat and squeeze. ---
**Author:** ![Proudest\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/proudest_monkey/32/13257_2.png) [@Proudest\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Proudest_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2005, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quiz-someone-is-sitting-off-by-themselves-staring-at-a-book-what-should-you-do/283779/46 "2005-01-09T17:31:09Z")
As I read through this thread, my husband has been talking at me _nonfuckingstop_. It’s a rambling, blah-blah-blah/toner cartridges/guess who’s working at the new Lowes/did you read the paper/blah-di-blah. I nod occasionally and utter the odd “um hum” and his response is to talk EVEN LOUDER! He is still doing it as I type this. He just asked, “Whatcha doing, hon?” I’M READING, YOU TWIT! ---
**Author:** ![Ninja\_Pizza\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f04885/32.png) [@Ninja\_Pizza\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ninja_Pizza_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2005, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quiz-someone-is-sitting-off-by-themselves-staring-at-a-book-what-should-you-do/283779/47 "2005-01-09T17:35:22Z")
_ **I** _ am reading. _ **You** _ are not. I do not give a flying fuck that you don’t read. I give even less of a flying fuck that you’ve never read a book you weren’t forced to read in school. That you are **proud** of not reading is so low on my give a flying fuck meter that it doesn’t even register. That you insist on tracking me down to my remote, secluded corner of the warehouse and reminding me that you don’t read every few seconds, and that you don’t understand how **anyone** can enjoy reading makes me question the value of my paycheck vs. the temporary enjoyment I’d get for beating your ass into a bloody pulp. [violent bloody fantasy]Maybe I’ll just fucking kill you and push a pile of fiberboard onto the body. Claim it was an accident.[/vbf] ---
**Author:** ![supervenusfreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@supervenusfreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/supervenusfreak)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2005, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quiz-someone-is-sitting-off-by-themselves-staring-at-a-book-what-should-you-do/283779/48 "2005-01-09T17:41:43Z")
It has been my experience that the only people who like to be interrupted when they are reading, are characters in TV shows and movies PERIOD. So back off and leave me the heck alone! ---
**Author:** ![MisterThyristor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecccb3/32.png) [@MisterThyristor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MisterThyristor)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2005, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quiz-someone-is-sitting-off-by-themselves-staring-at-a-book-what-should-you-do/283779/49 "2005-01-09T17:48:06Z")
> [@Case Sensitive](#): > > {Brian Glover, from **Porridge** } “I read a book once. {long pause} Green, it were.” Or to quote the great Durante: > [@Jimmy Durante](#): > > But there’s one day that I recall, though it was years ago. > All my life I will remember it, I know… > > I’ll never forget the day I read a book. > It was contagious, seventy pages. > There were pictures here and there > So it wasn’t hard to bear > The day I read a book. > > It’s a shame I don’t recall the name of the book. > It wasn’t a history, I know because it had no plot. > It wasn’t a mystery, because nobody there got shot. > The day I read a book, I can’t remember when, > But one of these days I’m going to do it again! I read somewhere that the average person reads about one book a year. A lot of people I talk to never read anything but magazines or newspapers, and find it hard to believe that I try to read at least a book a week. ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2005, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quiz-someone-is-sitting-off-by-themselves-staring-at-a-book-what-should-you-do/283779/50 "2005-01-09T17:50:45Z")
Q: Someone is sitting off by themselves staring at a book. What should you do? A: Shine a small handheld laser at their eyes, blinding them. Serves them right. Smarties. (don’t blame me–blame sequential thread titles in the pit!) ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2005, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quiz-someone-is-sitting-off-by-themselves-staring-at-a-book-what-should-you-do/283779/51 "2005-01-09T19:37:34Z")
I’m absolutely convinced that the same people who bother me about my books are the same ones who think the only thing you can do with a Pocket PC or Palm Pilot is play games. I was reading my email while waiting for my meal in a restaurant, and the waitress kept laughing at me for playing a game at the table. ---
**Author:** ![ladybug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/46a35a/32.png) [@ladybug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladybug)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2005, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quiz-someone-is-sitting-off-by-themselves-staring-at-a-book-what-should-you-do/283779/52 "2005-01-09T19:47:24Z")
> [@Queen Tonya](#): > > Ooh, you win, **ladybug**! > > I was going to chime in with similar cow-orker stories, but you work in publishing!? :smack: Yeah, it’s pretty scary when your boss, an editor, brags about not wasting money on something as useless as books. > [@Guinastasia](#): > > > [@ladybug](#): > > > > Another used to preach that my choice of literature was luring Satan to our office. > > Oooh, what were you reading THEN? It actually happened twice. The first time I was reading the Wolverine _Origin_ trade paperback. The second time I was reading _Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban_. ---
**Author:** ![ladybug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/46a35a/32.png) [@ladybug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladybug)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2005, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quiz-someone-is-sitting-off-by-themselves-staring-at-a-book-what-should-you-do/283779/53 "2005-01-09T19:59:12Z")
> [@Ninja Pizza Guy](#): > > _ **I** _ am reading. _ **You** _ are not. I do not give a flying fuck that you don’t read. I give even less of a flying fuck that you’ve never read a book you weren’t forced to read in school. That you are **proud** of not reading is so low on my give a flying fuck meter that it doesn’t even register. That you insist on tracking me down to my remote, secluded corner of the warehouse and reminding me that you don’t read every few seconds, and that you don’t understand how **anyone** can enjoy reading makes me question the value of my paycheck vs. the temporary enjoyment I’d get for beating your ass into a bloody pulp. If only I could fit that on a T-shirt. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2005, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quiz-someone-is-sitting-off-by-themselves-staring-at-a-book-what-should-you-do/283779/54 "2005-01-09T20:07:34Z")
For the record, I’d be _sometimes_ willing to be interrupted. If I’m killing time, I might easily prefer reading a book to nothing, but talking to reading a book. A good trick is to watch for body language. If I look up and make eye contact, I’m more likely to be willing to talk. Or if I know you. Or if you ask a question and I close up the book while I answer. Or if I’ve deliberately chosen a public area to read in. Or if you’re hot. Or if I answer at length a question. Signs that I want you to fuck off include: saying “fuck off”, grunting in response, not raising my eyes if you speak, replying to “what are you reading” by shifting position so you can see the cover, or to “what’s it like” by shifting so you can see the back, the book being obviously new, a vein in my forehead throbbing. An admittedly awkward middle ground is when I’m just at an exciting bit, when I’d LIKE to talk, but CAN’T 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ninja\_Pizza\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f04885/32.png) [@Ninja\_Pizza\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ninja_Pizza_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quiz-someone-is-sitting-off-by-themselves-staring-at-a-book-what-should-you-do/283779/55 "2005-01-10T01:00:13Z")
> [@ladybug](#): > > If only I could fit that on a T-shirt. > > 😃 You could have it printed on business cards and hand them out as needed. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quiz-someone-is-sitting-off-by-themselves-staring-at-a-book-what-should-you-do/283779/56 "2005-01-10T02:12:49Z")
> [@StarvingButStrong](#): > > she chooses to read during her lunch hour as a relatively non-offensive way of avoiding your endless chatter about the latest trivial misadventures someone in your life brought upon themselves. Hey! Wake up to reality here, you! Don’t you know that anything anyone ever DID is more important and more interesting than anything anyone ever SAID? Isn’t it obvious? We already live in the best of all possible worlds. If you find real people less interesting than made-up ones, this is clealy a sign you have no life outside your pathetic and probably sick fantasy world. So get with the program! Work and play well with others! Be on the same page! (_Note:_ This is a metaphor, not to be construed as encouraging Nose-In-The-Book Syndrome.) 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quiz-someone-is-sitting-off-by-themselves-staring-at-a-book-what-should-you-do/283779/57 "2005-01-10T02:19:20Z")
(Please excuse the whoosh and subsequent double post. I’m just trying to communicate what _may_ be goig thru the mind of the type of aggressive nonreader described in this thread. I also thought it’d have more impact if I didn’t explain it in the same posting…) ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quiz-someone-is-sitting-off-by-themselves-staring-at-a-book-what-should-you-do/283779/58 "2005-01-10T02:36:25Z")
> [@Roland Orzabal](#): > > This, ladies and gentleman, is why I own the Necronomicon. I found that I was getting something of the same reaction when reading the _Crypto_nomicon on the bus last month… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Greywolf73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d9b06d/32.png) [@Greywolf73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greywolf73)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quiz-someone-is-sitting-off-by-themselves-staring-at-a-book-what-should-you-do/283779/59 "2005-01-10T04:06:44Z")
Ever heard this variation? _“You read too much” or “You have too many books!”_. Apparently, my mother-in-law feels it’s her personal duty to remind me of this obscure must-not-read-too-many-books law that I’ve somehow managed to not find out about. The really annoying thing is, she says one of the above comments each and every time she happens to spot me reading. Every single time. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quiz-someone-is-sitting-off-by-themselves-staring-at-a-book-what-should-you-do/283779/60 "2005-01-10T04:24:20Z")
Hey, **Greywolf** , it’s an automatic response to seeing you read, is all. You’re pegged in her mind as “The one who reads too much/has too many books” and the sight of you reading triggers the blurt without passing through any conscious thought process first. She probably has a lot of auto-responses to things in her life. Saves her the trouble of actually, you know, _thinking_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quiz-someone-is-sitting-off-by-themselves-staring-at-a-book-what-should-you-do/283779.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quiz-someone-is-sitting-off-by-themselves-staring-at-a-book-what-should-you-do/283779.md?page=4)