# why can't I just not talk to anyone **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 19, 2011, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-just-not-talk-to-anyone/596870 "2011-09-19T22:26:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mister\_mistro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a9adbd/32.png) [@mister\_mistro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mister_mistro)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-just-not-talk-to-anyone/596870/1 "2011-09-19T22:26:42Z")
Why is it, no manner how nice you are to someone, the lack of a conversation or the will to talk to them suggest that you don’t like them? Did they ever think, maybe you just don’t like talking. Maybe they are boring, because they love small talk. I could be that you are I lost my voice from screaming at a concert. Really, I am just tired because I stayed up all night beating the raccoons back into the forest. It seems like the lack of positive conversation and butt kissing puts a person in the way of being labeled non social person. it’s like those awkward moments in a elevator when it smells like a fart. The lack of a response makes everyone else but you guilty. Unless you did it, then it’s just downright funny. ---
**Author:** ![Disheavel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@Disheavel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disheavel)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-just-not-talk-to-anyone/596870/2 "2011-09-19T22:56:29Z")
I just look away and answer questions as bluntly/briefly as possible. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-just-not-talk-to-anyone/596870/3 "2011-09-19T22:58:18Z")
I didn’t do the poll, because :smack::rolleyes: However, I am not a very talkative person, and I’m very shy, and sometimes people who don’t know me well think that I am aloof and unapproachable. But if someone does talk to me, I will at least answer back a sentence or two. To avoid this is to be, not just seem, unsociable. Roddy p.s. Perhaps the OP will notice that complete sentences, with all the words in the right place and correctly spelled, is easier and more comfortable to read. On the other hand, if he is truly interested in cutting off communication with others, he has made a good start. ---
**Author:** ![Jaledin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jaledin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaledin)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-just-not-talk-to-anyone/596870/4 "2011-09-19T23:32:40Z")
WTF with the options? I can’t vote, cause those all seem nuts options. I guess act like I’m busy, not like I’m “always busy” like some Lewis Carroll character. I will say even though I’m very introverted, I talk to pretty much anyone at length – and a little bit of that does me good. It’s my own form of therapy. But it’s not hard for me to pretend I have something to do – you can at least be polite about it, right? That’s pretty easy to do. “Oh, I just forgot, my mother’s toenails need clipping and I have to be there in case I want to put the shavings in her corn pie. See you soon!” ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-just-not-talk-to-anyone/596870/5 "2011-09-19T23:46:18Z")
Not answering the poll 'cuz none of the answers apply to me. When I don’t want to talk to people, I close my office door. Idle chit-chatters don’t like closed doors. If you don’t have a door to close, earbuds work just as well. If none of these things are an option, I just tune them out and go “uh huh” and “Is that so?” every now and again as they talk. For people talking up a blue streak, they NEVER notice that I’m not listening. I could be typing 100 wpm on my keyboard, my back completely turned to them, and their gums will STILL flap. So I figure, why bother being polite? If they aren’t picking up my rather obvious clues of non-listening, then they don’t really want to be listened to. And if they do realize it and think I’m mean, well, tough titty. At least I don’t have to listen to them again. If I’m walking down the street and some guy tries to “holler” at me, I just smile and wave and keep on going. I’m communicating, “Hey there. I see you and realize that you would like to know me a little better. But I have other things on my mind. Thanks though!” The quiet introvert has to develop creative strategies and develop a tolerance for people who are the complete opposite of them. It is tough, but you shall overcome some day. ---
**Author:** ![mister\_mistro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a9adbd/32.png) [@mister\_mistro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mister_mistro)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-just-not-talk-to-anyone/596870/6 "2011-09-19T23:54:19Z")
> [@Jaledin](#): > > WTF with the options? I can’t vote, cause those all seem nuts options. I guess act like I’m busy, not like I’m “always busy” like some Lewis Carroll character. I will say even though I’m very introverted, I talk to pretty much anyone at length – and a little bit of that does me good. It’s my own form of therapy. But it’s not hard for me to pretend I have something to do – you can at least be polite about it, right? That’s pretty easy to do. “Oh, I just forgot, my mother’s toenails need clipping and I have to be there in case I want to put the shavings in her corn pie. See you soon!” hey don’t be late. toe nail pie…mmmmmmmmmmmmmm. its really more of a joke, and its one sided. ---
**Author:** ![mister\_mistro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a9adbd/32.png) [@mister\_mistro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mister_mistro)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-just-not-talk-to-anyone/596870/7 "2011-09-19T23:59:13Z")
Where is the fun in that? Witty ways of politely telling people to get lost and to chew someone else’s ear off. The awkward one is the one a person will remember forever. ---
**Author:** ![Jaledin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jaledin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaledin)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-just-not-talk-to-anyone/596870/8 "2011-09-20T00:08:53Z")
> [@mister\_mistro](#): > > hey don’t be late. toe nail pie…mmmmmmmmmmmmmm. > its really more of a joke, and its one sided. That’s my _mom_ you’re talking about, mister man! I’m the only one gets some toenail pie around here! ETA now I feel sick to my stomach. I’m sure it has nothing to do with the 3L of Franzia Crisp White I just had to drink, but still. Ewww!!! ---
**Author:** ![Jaledin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jaledin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaledin)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2011, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-just-not-talk-to-anyone/596870/9 "2011-09-20T06:11:13Z")
JK. You can have some of mother’s toenail pie if you want – we’re all good buds, right? Aw, it’s OK, dig in.