I like that one!

Joanne and Bill are their next door neighbor's grandkids' old high school friends who live in Saskatchewan. Don't you remember?

I'd respond, but Nobody's asking

@TheoryNumber3 I was just asking as a courtesy (Yes, I am trying to make a point)

@IamNobody I got it. And so was I. Should I start from high school or my first job?

@TheoryNumber3 No thank you. If you don't want to hear someone's else minutiae of their life then why should I? (I stand correct, still making a point)

@IamNobody Are you serious? You didn't hear her irony yet you espoused it yourself

when that happens to me, I can feel my face heat up, my stomach tighten, and sometimes I even start seeing spots with the borders of my vision blackening.. But I'm also getting better at my answer to the: how have you been, what have you been going, and how are you? I'm getting better at preparing and replying with: "don't ask, 'cause I won't lie". No one has pushed for more after that response. And I have gotten so hardened, that now (well, for the last 20 yrs.) I have no interest in hearing about them if I'm not going to get paid to f*ing listen. $

@Plant1010J I agree completely. I have zero interest in the minutiae of daily living. I don't need to hear a run down of the weekend or day. Sometimes I wonder is it so much to ask for people to say something that actually matters?

I deeply care about my friends' problems.. as long as it's not a 40 minute monologue.. But strangers can talk to someone they know better. I was at the place where I dance a few weeks ago and a woman came up to me to introduce herself and proceeded to tell me the morbid story of her unfortunate life... including death, destruction and financial ruin. Aarrrggghhhh. I don't even know her. I listened and sympathized but made my getaway at the first opportunity.

What I usually say is I'd love to stay and chat but I'm running late! Bye!!!

You mean there are people who don't? LOL