I work for a small friendly company of around 50-55 employees, but its full of whacky people. The strangest thing I’ve noticed, that bugs me, is the end-of-conversation techiniques.
I like to end a conversation with a salutation of some sort, like “okay, I’ll talk to you later,” “bye,” or “later.” or some other significant this-is-the-end-of-the-conversation statement.
However, at this place, people end a conversation with, “what are you going to do?” or “So…anyway.” or even more annoying, the silent walk away.
Does anyone else notice this? What are other non-salutation ends of conversations have you noticed?
I’m I being too picky?
Thanks in advance for your comments,
Later
p.s. special thanks to the first doper to post “(reads post, turns and walks away).”
Personally, I prefer to end my conversations with an extended pause and then a long, heavy sigh before I just wander off. Either that, or I shout “This conversation is over!” and storm off.
I usually like to make sure that they know the end (of the conversation) is near by shouting “RUN LIKE HELL CHICKEN LITTLE, THE SKY IS FALLING!” all the while running like hell. It does the job.
“So, is this all you got to do today is talk? Cause I have tons of stuff that needs doing I can assign you.” Ok, so I don’t actually say this but I do think it a lot at work.
Most of the time it’s stuff like “Sounds good to me” or “Yeah that’ll work” or “Let me know how it comes out.” Sorta typical boss type stuff.
Perhaps the best way to end a conversation is with a silent, but extremely deadly, fart. Be sure to make eye contact with them for a few seconds after the smell hits, and then walk away.
Note: this method works best when you’re having a conversation in someone else’s office.
You know, you can mess with your co-workers all you want on this issue. People who work together tend to pick up each other’s speech patterns and idiosyncrasies; start saying weird stuff to end conversations, and soon everyone will be doing it! Okay, maybe you could turn it down a notch and just end conversations with a definitive ending but fairly normal phrase. Not as much fun though, if you ask me.
A couple of my collage buddies used to say “Copper Pants” as their preffered way of ending conversations. (Sometimes it started them, as people tried to figure out why they said that).
The explanation is simple:
See you later–>CU Later–>Copper Later–> Copper leder–> Copper Pants
I’d like to say that I drop Eddie Izzard-isms at the end of conversations (“Sorry, I have to go, my grandmother’s on fire” or “Gotta run, left my cat in the fridge…” )but I don’t do that.
Mostly I say, “Um. OK, well then. Um. I have to go. To do a thing.”
“Excuse me, I have a grindstone I have to apply my nose to.” (I know - poor grammar)
On a slight hijack my later father shared with me the perfect excuse for being late for something you really have no excuse to be late for. He used it for a key client meeting - I used it for a funeral . But he reckoned you could only use it once so one has to save it up for a crisis…
“Sorry, I’m late - but I was overcome by a fit of weeping…” (embarassed silence, conversation resumes)
This is amongst Englishmen remember when any show of emotion is a poor show.
. But he reckoned you could only use it once so one has to save it up for a crisis…