Have you ever met someone with whom you just can't communicate?
I'm not talking about on an emotional, relationship level, I'm just talking about someone you might meet in passing, a friend of a friend or someone, with whom you initially assume you can chat, but, you come to find out they're on their own wavelength.
I have one social acquaintance with whom, I swear, I can come away from a conversation knowing less that when I started:
Me: "Hey, I heard you have a new job, tell me about it."
They: "Yeah, it's like what I was doing before, but, a little different."
Me: "I don't really know what your job was before. What did you do?"
They: "Oh, I learned it when I was manager at Bob's place, and, then I went to that class."
Me: "Hmm (new strategy needed), where are you working?"
They: "At the Main Street Division."
Or, a conversation can go something like this:
Me: "How about those (insert local sports team good for social niceties here)?"
They: "The TV is working great."
Me: "Yeah. that was a close one, huh?"
They: "Did you go?"
Me: "No, we watched at a friend's house."
They: "Housing prices are going down, it's a good time to sell."
Or, yesterday, in fact.
I sent someone someone a link to a Google map and directions to a location where a group of us will be going.
This person is in charge, and, I thought it might make a good link to send in an e-mail after he wrote that he always gets the way mixed up, but, he finds it eventually, yet, there were no actual directions sent.
I even wrote, "Hey, I thought this might come in handy to e-mail people."
Erroneously assuming that, if he so desired, he could either send the link to everyone, or, to people who asked for directions, I was baffled when he replied:
"Thanks, I know how to get there, and, if someone calls, I'll tell them how to get there."
I don't think it was an attempt to tell me he didn't want my help, I think he really didn't get why I sent the e-mail in the first place.
I have no idea where I'm going with this, but, I'm just bad about assuming people I meet are like me, and, then I'm confused when they aren't.
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I actually laughed out loud at this! Because unfortunately yes, I have these people in my life and they continually make me want to ram my head into a wall.
I totally had that top conversation with one of my cousins while waiting in line for Thanksgiving dinner. I asked her three times about her new job and never did figure out what she's doing.
I always love people like this - not. I think maybe they just don't listen. They are more concerned with what they are going to say next, that they don't even pay attention to your question!
Yes, yes, yes. Same thing happens to me often. I t can't be US right, has to be THEM!
This person is staying with me for 2 DAYS! I do not think our friendship can survive the 48 hours.
Prime Example ...
me: "It's in the file cabinet in the hallway"
Them: "Uhh, the wooden one?"
me:"Is there a metal one?"
Them: "uh ... no, just a minute. .. I just waked through the whole house, I don't see any metal file cabinets"
me: "Then that MUST BE THE file cabinet IN THE HALLWAY, huh?"
It is hard sometimes to remember that not all people are as educated as us fortunate ones. It's hard to imagine how some people can seem so unintelligent! I work with people who are managers of companies and make more than I do and can't figure out how to log into their computers! As my mother used to say, smile and nod, smile and nod!
OMGWTF - it's my husband! Or his evil twin! Communication with him is sometimes dicey. He's interviewing for an office position right now, I think he's going to turn into Stapler Man. In fact, I've already decided that if he gets the job I'm going to buy him a shiny red Swingline for Christmas! Oh, and it's my stepdad too. And, yes, it's them, not us, no way!
Hmm, are we talking about husbands? Angelo sometimes is so off the wall; probably so there's space to bang my head.
I have definitely been there.
This is comedy and SO TRUE. Thanks for making my reality also come alive in this post :)
It happens.
Me, constantly, "Can you answer my question yes or no, please?"
Yes, unfortunately I know just what you mean.
oh i totally know people like this. my neighbour is notoriously difficult to communicate with. she says the darndest things and the rest of us walk away going "wha???". it's bizarre. and i try to act like i am having a perfectly normal conversation while we're in the middle of it. it's not easy! must look positively absurd to onlookers.
Oh thank god it's not just me!
I emailed a Girl Scout mom with some questions and also explained that email is the BEST way for me to communicate and her response was "okay, here's my phone number, call me!"
WTF?
Oh dear Lord...this is my cousin. My brother, her brother and I will be sitting in a room, talking about football or surfing or the weather, and she'll bust out with, "Brad PItt and Angelina Jolie are having another baby. I don't think I could handle having that many kids." Huh???
He totally annoys me. However, he reminds me of my ex sister-in-law. I honestly had no idea what she was talking about. Geesh, I miss feeling so confused! Thanks for the reminder.
absolutely been there, done that.
I also love it when you ask one specific person to make a decision and they say "I'll do whatever the group wants" and then everyone else in the group says "me too"
great.
I have to seperate myself from those types of people. Take a step back and just realize that you don't have to be friends with everyone. Be nice and thats enough or else you'll end up like the other people banging their heads against the wall.
I had a neighbor who called the cops on me because we had a few other neighbors hanging out in our front porch one evening over the summer. She lied about calling at first and then broke down and said she made her husband call because she wasn't invited..........hmmm I wonder why??? PSYCHO!
Well, no wonder you wonder. I would too.
my brain wanted to explode just reading those conversations. :)
I (like) totally get the directions-by-email response. Allow me to translate: All the men know how to get there because they use browser 'A', women tend to use browser 'B', and if someone calls using the wrong browser and right-clicks instead of left-clicks then the dislectics of the group might collide and the email directions would be a liability issue..and if someone calls for directions, then they are probably already on their way with liability insurance so everyone gets there without all that confusing, clicking stuff...'know-what-im-sayin?