Comments on: Weird People Radar: I Can Haz It?

By: kaet

kaet — Sun, 04 May 2008 10:01:52 +0000

That used to happen to me in my first job, in an old-fashioned cafe where we were supposed to chat to the customers. But not at the expense of actually doing our work, of course. Normally there’d be a brief exchange while you cleared their table, and more if it was a slow time of day.

There was this one lady, though, that literally did not pause for breath. She must have been able to do circular breathing, because I couldn’t even fit in a “Sorry” so I could walk away. In the end my manager came up, took in what was happening and pulled me away by the arm!

By: Chelsea

Chelsea — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 20:33:07 +0000

OMG, that’s sooo sad, yet kinda funny. At my grandparent’s 50th wedding anniversary party, I wanted to talk to my uncle. I walked up just as two older ladies were walking up to him. I asked him my question, he dumped me…and I was stuck talking to these old ladies that asked me the stupidest questions in the whole wide world (most of which I promptly forgot). After being hung-up with them for…oh…say…20 minutes, I detached myself, saying that I needed to cut more cake (I made their cake, 4 tiers!), although there were a good 10 more pieces on the table. Soo, where was I going with this…oh yeah! I walked back over to my uncle, and he THANKED me for getting those ladies off of him! He actually THANKED me. I was appaled that he would do something like that (actually, I’m not surpirsed).
So, you’re not the only one.

Have fun!
Chelsea
p.s. how did it all turn out??

By: Susan

Susan — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 17:12:32 +0000

That happens to me, too. It’s a gift, or a curse, maybe. My husband says I have a sign on me somewhere but we can’t see it. And the older I get, the more weird people I meet.

By: Magatha

Magatha — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:42:57 +0000

So you provide free psychotherapy too? (That’s what I call the time I spend listening to everyone I meet, free therapy.)
Considering that therapy costs an average of $175. per hour nowdays, you are providing a valuable public service. Just think of the havoc that they could create in the lives of all around them without the pressure valve release of people like you and me.

The alternative is worse. You’d have to be a cold ass jerk and give out “touch me not” vibes to avoid these situations.
Or perhaps beam out evil vibes every living minute. Who can live like that? Not me.

By: jinniver

jinniver — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:27:12 +0000

I’m trying desperately to come up with a catch-all way to get out of those situations in case your weird people magnet activates again today, but to no avail. I’ve found that the most effective means is to tailor my comment to each person. For example, when we lived out in California, I was once trapped by two Jehovah Witnesses. They’d come to the door, and before I realized what a mistake it would be, I’d stepped outside and shut the door behind me (I have 2 cats, so I can’t stand inside and leave the door open). Every time I made a move toward the door they’d start talking more frantically, and I didn’t want to interrupt.

I’d tried to politely make it clear that I was perfectly comfortable in my personal relationship with my deity, and that said relationship (and deity) was none of their business. Finally, I’d had enough, and I snapped. “I’m really sorry,” I told them, “but I have to get going. My Wiccan support group is going to be here in less than an hour, and I haven’t finished preparing the chicken for the animal sacrifice.”

They didn’t run, but their stiff legged power walk made it clear that they wanted to.

(Disclaimer: I’m not a Wiccan, but I do know enough about them that I know they wouldn’t ever consider animal sacrifice. But it was clear to me that the prejudices held by these two individuals would make the lie believable and horrific enough to chase them away. No disrespect intended to Wiccans. )

By: Dava

Dava — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:20:32 +0000

It’s unfortunate, but if you want to be a writer, you need these people. Free material.

Or, you could just say, “excuse me, I have to go home and neuter my cat.” With a gleam in your eye.

Just a suggestion.

By: rainin9

rainin9 — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 07:55:15 +0000

Haha, I don’t get that because I look too fierce and intimidating ^^
Maybe you can get a scary mask. ;p

By: knitasaur

knitasaur — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 04:17:15 +0000

I totally started commenting, then it got too big. Found here. Needless to say, I’m with ya on that.

By: Luciana

Luciana — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 03:20:03 +0000

Dude, I’m right there with you!