How would you have responded in this situation?

[ZenJen444]

In my apartment complex there is an elderly man fully competent who I know named David who has a pup. The pup everytime he sees me drags the owner in my direction which is fine. Yesterday I was on a very important call with family discussing personal matter. Upon being on the phone I had my uncle on speaker and was taking notes on my cellphone note pad. While I was doing that David could clearly see I was on the phone and typing. He still came over with his dog standing there while my family was discussing something personal. I figured David would take a hint but still kept saying my dog wants to see you. I told him, " I'm on the phone. A personal and important call." He said," okay , I'll go the other direction and left." I just thought it was rude and lack of common sense.

He does this when I'm parked in my car on the phone aswell. He will stand in front of my car saying his pup wants to see me. I've gotten to the point I just ignore and continue on my phone conversation

He's rude, I would've just did the samething as you or cursed him out

He doesn't know any better. I would've dropped the call just to talk to him

Other

Updates

+1 y

He's not lonely he has a wife and a daughter who visits. Majority of us pet owners in the community talk to him often. Us pleasant ones. As mentioned in the comments he is definitely socially unaware and I appreciate that he finds me as a pleasant person but it's not okay to do what he's doing especially while handling personal manners on the phone. It's very rude

Updates

+1 y

*personal matters.

[JordynJayne]

Sounds like a classic case of someone who has difficulty finding “hints” in others, and is socially unaware. As annoying as it is, he seems like a man who is happy to see how excited his dog gets when he sees you. Instead, you could let him know that you can come see him and the pup at more convenient time for you. With people who are socially unaware, just talking to them directly and letting them know that it’s not the right time is more than enough.

[TroyDT2]

So people might seem perfectly and fully competent, yet be socially unaware. Sound like he might fall into this. Or maybe as @20yearsoldier said, you might be his only pleasant social contact.

[20yearsolder]

Just taking a guess, he's very lonely and you've been very kind to him. You may be the only positive interaction he has all day.

[Guardian45]

He sounds like he's old and lonely, despite his family.

[Anonymous]

He's socially unaware but left when you explained that he was bothering you. He wasn't intentionally being rude.