What Do You Do When Someone Won't Stop Talking 😱🙉?

Question

caring__1 · Accepted Answer

Young kids will jabber, as they are exploring the power of talk. Once they learn what it's all about and gain control over themselves, we become less tolerant of it.

Non-stop talking is more common with women than men. This pattern generally stems from one of three possibilities. Either they are afraid they aren't clear enough so don't stop after they've already said what they want to say, or they're uncomfortable with silence and feel a need to fill the void, or they're afraid if they give up the podium they'll be giving up control to the other side, and their wishes will be overlooked (think of a filibuster).

For the first option, feed back what you are hearing in your own words. That way, they know what you are hearing and won't feel a need to continue. Seeking clarification can also help in this situation. Ask for examples or how it can be applied in this situation or clarification of terminology.

For the second option, teach them the value of silence. Take them hiking in the forest with the goal of locating and identifying as much wildlife as possible. That teaches them the value of listening. After all, by having two ears and one mouth, isn't it appropriate for us to spend twice as much time listening as talking?

For the third option, address the other person's concerns rather than treat it as a debate where one has to win and the other lose. Show an interest and willingness to consider what is important to the other and share non-critical and supportive comments. It's not a competition to see who can talk over the other the most, but showing you care about the other person's thoughts and feelings.

Another tool I use when people start talking louder is to start whispering. When they can't hear me due to their volume, they tend to lower their volume.

Jjpayne · Accepted Answer

My mom does this. I just tune out. I know it's bad but I let her vent, then I check in every once in a while to see where she is at and address any questions. I don't have the heart to tell her to stop and I can't process or take in every thing she saids either. So I just found a way to balance it out...

Cynicaldreamer · Accepted Answer

Ugh, I have two people at work that are exactly like that: one of which I call "Karen" (yes, like the meme; trust me, she really is one).

Typically when I come across people like that, I ignore them or use selective listening- tune them out and only listen to what's relevant, assuming that's anything. Otherwise? I just nod and do my own thing. You can't talk over them because they'll try to outtalk you, or keep going.

In my case, when people like that are around me, I find ways to excuse myself, or to avoid coming off as rude, I put on my headphones. Even if I'm not listening to anything, I pretend like I cannot hear them. That's like the universal signal for, "I do not want to be bothered."

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

NOTHING I've done has ever worked on someone intent on talking your ear off. I was on a plane and the rando assigned next to me who was late for the flight who then proceeded to have a conversation with me even after I did the "I can't hear you, headphones" thing. I made no eye contact, headphones on, he still talked at me the entire flight. A cousin who was staying with me whom I met for the first time ever turned out to be a non-top talker to the point where I don't think she took an actual breath in 3 hours. I literally fell asleep after 3am when she was still talking, woke up, and she was STILL talking! Tell me how you shut these people up?!?

Citizenkirk · Answer

Telemarketers, collection agencies, and those scumbags who call themselves Friends of the Court who try and drop a summary legal document on you without your permission pertaining to be someone else. Accidentally broke one of them once guy was like rallying about how he was going to spare me a lot of pain by not taking me into custody for some nonsense or something rather while trying to hand me a piece of paper I didn't take the paper but I did take his hand and wrench it into an unnatural position behind his back his face becoming merged with a brick wall that was behind him me nothing only too late that the guy was probably not intelligent enough to be held responsible for the words coming out of his mouth like maybe his man child or something something instead of the social soap law enforcement officer he was claiming to be. I suppose we've been helpful for him to know that I don't have any tolerance for law enforcement officers who say stupid things and maybe shouldn't have been pretending to be one or maybe should have said all the other stuff that came out of his mouth like to tell marketers and collection agencies that don't care that I'm not the sound you're so so who owes money for her student loan which isn't me or I'm not disclosed so who owes money for solar panels and for house Isaiah doesn't exist because he lives in an apartment. they got to get their words in and they don't want to hear anything about you not being the person to trying to contact is if they're getting paid by the word and it doesn't matter who's hearing the words as long as they get those words in and the more you try and explain to them that you're not this person is louder they yell as if they got to make sure everyone in the building there and hear those words so that they know that they're doing their job. If they have to do that then I guess the more power to them but they're still not getting that student loan or that insurance or the money for the solar panels or all the other stuff they have nothing to do with me or anything I've ever done in my life so I guess they're up ask creek without a popsicle stick.
this world we live in I guess you don't have to be the person they refer to you as being you don't even have to be the same sex or gender you just have to be on the receiving end of whatever nonsense phone call they're trying to make as long as they made that call and can verify they made that call and said the words and did the dance and I suppose it's all they need to do. Next guy that comes to my door with with attitude and threats might get some buckshot and rock salt from both barrels of n the rear end, it's the way my grandpa used to deal with guys like that, came to his door. Rock salt really hurts coming from both barrels.

Everglow5 · Answer

Say something super weird out of nowhere.

They always send me strange stuff with no context

Works in real life, too. My friend will be telling me the same story she always tells me and when I get tired of it, say something weird like "IT'S ALL GUSHY" then leave. They won't mind coz they'll either be confused or start laughing.

Zealashton · Answer

i already licked peoples faces, at playdium, ran around and licked my brothers face, his two other friends, nick and thoms
and when i was in the back seat with nick beside me, i gave him a huge lick. he's a germa phob. so it was just priceless, my bros dad was not happy lols but i laghed all away home like a lunitic, and no one said a word lols

AlienParasite · Answer

Options change according to contex. I could:

1. Stop actively listening and focus on my thoughts while pretending to listen by saying cliché stuff I feel the other person wants to hear.

2. Make a excuse to stop the conversation and leave the room ASAP.

3. Just stand up and leave rudely without saying anything.

4. Tell the other person I'm not in the mood to talk.

5. Plug my headphones with some music or put some earplugs and enjoy perfect silence.

The_Other · Answer

I just walk away and lock myself in the room, or put on an ANC headphone in front of them to let them know that I don't want to listen to them anymore.

If they are smaller than me, I'll carry them and lock them in the bathroom and barricade it until they agree to stfu.

andreasderjuengere · Answer

I tend to respond in stages:
#1 - I become quiet; no response or reaction
#2 - I intensely fix my eyes on their eyes; but without expression
#3 - I interrupt with a question in between that's totally unrelated to the topic.
#4 - I get me a coffee - this may take a little longer

DizzyDesii · Answer

Lol i am that someone 😂 but i’ve met 3 guys in life who out talked me. I think i just muted em and started dancing to music in the background. Dudes Haaaaave To interrupt me otherwise i won't realize im talking too much

Espresso-Grande · Answer

Start tapping my watch, sigh loudly then start looking around. 😂 They Immediately shut up, because they think I'm too ignorant to talk to 😂

Lliam · Answer

Normally, you could stuff something in their mouth. Food. I was thinking of food. Get your mind out of the gutter.
These days, you could tell them to put on their muzzle (mask of compliance) because they're spreading coronavirus. LOL

Inexpensivefurniture · Answer

In person I try to make it look like I have somewhere I need to be. Checking the time, looking at the door, slowly shuffling away, etc. On the phone it's tougher. I try to wait for a break in their ranting to say I gotta go, or make up something about my food being almost done cooking. Unless they are ranting about something upsetting. Then I will, as politely as I can, interrupt them to say I don't want to talk about that

lanadelrey25 · Answer

I've been in this situation wayy to many times :( If it's on the phone I say "My mom's calling me for dinner, I have to go" but if it's in person I say "I really have to go to the bathroom, I have a stomach ache" lmao

Butterflyy88 · Answer

I can usually zone out and nod along, I have to watch out though because sometimes I can agree to things without realising 😂

CakesNCream · Answer

I ignore them. Literally, just pretend they're not there anymore.

TonyMetal___86 · Answer

Here we go again with miss brains daughter who always have tmi to say! 🤣

Your daughter needs a man like to discipline her, see what happens when there too much rights? 😏

Here in the stone ages miss brains muffin, if a your daughter keeps talking and doesn't OBEY her mother, at this point the mother will tell her daughter: "you will see when i sue you to your father"...

When the man comes back home from work and his wife tells him about what happened, he will shout at his daughter and tell her: "get on your knees now and rise your arms up, right now"... the daughter will reply "SIR, YES SIR!" 😊

CrzzyQueen88 · Answer

Well since I don't have much of a filter anyway I will sometimes burst out and just flat out say "Shut Up". Sometimes I'll be thinking something and not actually mean to say it out loud, but I usually just say what everyone else is thinking. Or I'm just as shocked as everyone else by what comes outta my mouth lol.

douride2 · Answer

More often then not that person is me. Most of my family & friends just give me a prod when I get that way. I'm not offended when someone lets me know it's time to tone things back.

VertigoJ · Answer

Depends on who and where they are. If they are strangers, I will move away from them. If they are family or friends, I will ask them to stop. If they are colleagues I will tell them to shut up.

triff · Answer

Ak if they ar nervous It maybe they hate awkward silence so they chat about anything and everything to avoid this

Static_In_The_Attic · Answer

Problem Solved!

collie22 · Answer

I have an aunt like that and i don't know why ... some people just can't stand any moments of silence. its like its there duty to fill any quite with there non stop talking.

rachel776 · Answer

i just hold up my hand and say, "i'm gonna stop you right there" and walk away, it stops them in their tracks

MotherEarth2020 · Answer

What I really want to do is slap the living shit out them. But I end up saying. Will you just shut the fuck up you annoying pain in the ass

pigoat · Answer

I don't know you tell me Because i just walk away and they get mad at me and won't talk to me ever again, ruins whatever friendship or acquaintances we had, this is a true story by the way

SunnySri · Answer

I fake sleep mam, either they will wake me breaking their momentum or they will get up and leave.😂😂

Avicenna · Answer

I tell them it’s time for my run or I just ignore them. Tell your daughter she should get a boyfriend or talk about this stuff with friends,

ChiTown33 · Answer

I have Oscar acceptance speech music on my phone just for that reason. I start it off quiet and turn it up gradually till they get the point " WRAP IT UP"! Lol

AndrewMG · Answer

Pour myself a glass of lager and milk and retreat to my happy place (disclaimer:- this is going to me my answer on more than one occasion) lol.

idk937 · Answer

Pretend like I’m hearing them and nod my head. Sometimes ask a couple of questions so they don’t think I’m ignoring them but I actually am😂.

LEADFOOTboi · Answer

i'll ignore them... the other day, at work, a guy was talking about his truck, and i wanted to listen... but I'M AT WORK, I GOTTA GO DO THINGS, CARS ARE HERE

GoodGuyBreakingBad · Answer

This, when I tell them well, got go for now talk to you later.

Riot_king · Answer

I have this ability to tune out their voice or mute 🔇 them like a TV. I can just stop listening to what they are saying and focus on other sounds around.

broken_heart_at_48 · Answer

Depends on who if it's a chick I'm with I'll be patient for a minute then I'll put her to work

bannacookies · Answer

I'll interrupt and say, "My word! Can you stop for one minute please? You've interrupted me 5 times already." It shuts them up.

Niya2006 · Answer

If I'm related to them in anyway then I smack them  If it's a stranger I tel them to shut the fuck up  If it's a friend ummmm can you talk a little less ur giving me a head ache

RingOfFire · Answer

Unfortunately I am related to someone who can't stop talking. There is no escape. I'm doomed!

Anonymous · Answer

Whenever possible, I go somewhere else. If leaving the premise isn't something I can do, then I tell them to shut the fuck up. I might be a bit more polite depending on who I'm talking to.

the_sinner · Answer

I stop making eye contact but I keep nodding my head occasionally.  If it gets really out of hands then I barge in and change the topic.

Deepsilence · Answer

Hey someone's talking about me. isn't it boring to sit without talking? but I can listen people for hours**

Alexalex92 · Answer

Well it's your daughter so you can act differently, you can say straight to her to stop talking maybe 😋 but with other people i guess like you can tell oh i have to go now so we'll talk later

Wise4myage · Answer

Ya gotta think fast and come up with a reason to cut them off, lol.

joncombs · Answer

sometimes you need to just be quiet and listen to the other person. cause it sounds like you are getting mad cause they won't let you talk. dont take it personal just tell them mite help to. like "you talk to much can i say something"

LemiaOfTheCodes · Answer

Nothing because its nice to be around people who will take the lead.

mrgspoter · Answer

Well I generate clouds of clam breeze that just sends people into chill mode, 🤐💨

Fromdusktilldawn · Answer

When it annoying me I say: "Ok ok I understand and (depending on the sitch) I leave or give the hint that its enough.

FishyNinja · Answer

Depends. If i am in a good mood, i will just nod to them until they pause for a bit, then i will walk away. If i am in a bad mood, then i will ask them to shut up

Zhisad · Answer

Stare off into space.

Sakura-san · Answer

Tell them to stop politely or just walk away or give them a hint about it

Ally247 · Answer

I tell them I have a headache, which isn't lying

Shevach · Answer

Get out of the convo, or tune out and answerin with yes and no

tae_ie · Answer

Tell them to shut up.

unknowncutie · Answer

Well maybe try listening to music, have closed body language and give short replies.

JosyJosy · Answer

Earphones, an awesome invention

dwiller943 · Answer

Put a pillow or rag of chloroform over their face.

Andres77 · Answer

Go to the bathroom and don't come back...

WowwGirl · Answer

If not in a professional environment start playing with my boob's

cjgsu · Answer

Ear buds

Babygirl_S · Answer

I make an excuse to leave.

monkeynutts · Answer

Lick their nose it’s more effective

Snickermarstwix · Answer

If it's someone I like, my brain just turn off.

Monil · Answer

Just don't give reply and ignore him

What Do You Do When Someone Won't Stop Talking 😱🙉?

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