Permission to rant?
Discussion
Because I'm wondering if any PHers share my pain when I say:
'Just because I like cars doesn't mean I want to talk about yours!'
It's something that's been getting to me for a while - you're getting to know people or just chatting casually, you mention that you like cars, and the other person initiates the most boring exchange of words since the last meeting of the EU Parliament.
I like [i]interesting[/i] cars. If a Ferrari or a Lotus drives by, I'll look round and go 'oooh'. If I'm in a bar and a restaurant and a Rolls-Royce pulls up outside, I'll think 'very cool'. If I'm out walking with someone and I see a classic American muscle car, I might point it out and say 'what do you think of that'? On my way back from town of a night, I sometimes stop next to the motorbike showroom for an oggle.
However :ranting:, I do not find the spigot bearings on your MG Midget interesting. I do not want to hear the ins and outs of how you dismantled your gearbox this morning. Sorry, but if it's technical, sometimes going to a garage really will produce a more enlightning conversation.
But, even worse, :ranting::ranting: I do not find your shopping trolley in the least bit interesting! I will not agree that a Vauxhall Corsa is a 'nice little car'. No, I don't think that 1.6 litre engine in your Focus is 'big' or 'fast' or 'a beast'. I don't want to know what sound system or bodykit you have. I don't find anything amazing in the fact that your Volkswagen Polo has electric windows, or central locking, or a CD player, or what it cost you, or how economical it is.
Because these people are always amazed that I'm just not interested, and end up backing away, saying 'I thought you said you liked cars'. And no, I'm not a 'snob' either - how would you like it if we started a conversation about kitchen appliances? Yes, that's how boring I find you when you say 'you like cars? Well what do you think of my Citroen Xsara then? It's got nice alloys'. So what, we've got a cooker with red handles. You see, it's not interesting to talk about white goods.
It's prompted me to rant, really, because as a result of this, 'normal' people assume that, if you're interested in cars, you're going to talk about white goods, or greasy track rod ends. Why doesn't anyone get it?
Aaaaargh!
'Just because I like cars doesn't mean I want to talk about yours!'
It's something that's been getting to me for a while - you're getting to know people or just chatting casually, you mention that you like cars, and the other person initiates the most boring exchange of words since the last meeting of the EU Parliament.
I like [i]interesting[/i] cars. If a Ferrari or a Lotus drives by, I'll look round and go 'oooh'. If I'm in a bar and a restaurant and a Rolls-Royce pulls up outside, I'll think 'very cool'. If I'm out walking with someone and I see a classic American muscle car, I might point it out and say 'what do you think of that'? On my way back from town of a night, I sometimes stop next to the motorbike showroom for an oggle.
However :ranting:, I do not find the spigot bearings on your MG Midget interesting. I do not want to hear the ins and outs of how you dismantled your gearbox this morning. Sorry, but if it's technical, sometimes going to a garage really will produce a more enlightning conversation.
But, even worse, :ranting::ranting: I do not find your shopping trolley in the least bit interesting! I will not agree that a Vauxhall Corsa is a 'nice little car'. No, I don't think that 1.6 litre engine in your Focus is 'big' or 'fast' or 'a beast'. I don't want to know what sound system or bodykit you have. I don't find anything amazing in the fact that your Volkswagen Polo has electric windows, or central locking, or a CD player, or what it cost you, or how economical it is.
Because these people are always amazed that I'm just not interested, and end up backing away, saying 'I thought you said you liked cars'. And no, I'm not a 'snob' either - how would you like it if we started a conversation about kitchen appliances? Yes, that's how boring I find you when you say 'you like cars? Well what do you think of my Citroen Xsara then? It's got nice alloys'. So what, we've got a cooker with red handles. You see, it's not interesting to talk about white goods.
It's prompted me to rant, really, because as a result of this, 'normal' people assume that, if you're interested in cars, you're going to talk about white goods, or greasy track rod ends. Why doesn't anyone get it?
Aaaaargh!
In that case, your not interested in cars are you?
You should say ' I'm interested in nice cars'. That way they should know full well not to bore you with talk of mundane vehicles. If they attempt to do this, simply repeat 'I'm interested in nice cars' and so on until they either change subjest or move along.
I hope this helps.
You should say ' I'm interested in nice cars'. That way they should know full well not to bore you with talk of mundane vehicles. If they attempt to do this, simply repeat 'I'm interested in nice cars' and so on until they either change subjest or move along.
I hope this helps.
i know what you mean. however, even worse than that are those people who think that we want to know about the extensive details of their inability to get a job/ girlfriend/ that hang of the yardbird suite on their sax. they drive me mad.
this is a case of goose/ gander equal rights issues, methinks. im glad you brought it to my attention. my people will be in touch.
this is a case of goose/ gander equal rights issues, methinks. im glad you brought it to my attention. my people will be in touch.
Few pints of Stella at lunchtime?
You have a point though. If people learn that you have an interest, they will exploit in it conversation. My profession is in IT and therefore have to endure conversations about a potential new PC or wireless LAN.......
Try turning the topic around by finding their 'conversational' Achilles heal
You have a point though. If people learn that you have an interest, they will exploit in it conversation. My profession is in IT and therefore have to endure conversations about a potential new PC or wireless LAN.......
Try turning the topic around by finding their 'conversational' Achilles heal
nervous said:
i know what you mean. however, even worse than that are those people who think that we want to know about the extensive details of their inability to get a job/ girlfriend/ that hang of the yardbird suite on their sax. they drive me mad.
this is a case of goose/ gander equal rights issues, methinks. im glad you brought it to my attention. my people will be in touch.
welcome back buddy, welcome back...
Tuna said:
Permission to rant denied.
Try letting people know you "work with computers"...
some numpty said:
Ohhh.. last week I couldn't open my email, do you know what's gone wrong
too true.
Every week, without fail, I get a call from my mother in law, the usual one is "I've got a problem with Microsoft" and it goes downhill from there
chim_knee said:
i know what you mean. however, even worse than that are those people who think that we want to know about the extensive details of their inability to get a job/ girlfriend/ that hang of the yardbird suite on their sax. they drive me mad.
this is a case of goose/ gander equal rights issues, methinks. im glad you brought it to my attention. my people will be in touch.
welcome back buddy, welcome back...
thanks chim, nice to see you brother
It is very true... I realise that I am also sometimes responsible for boring people intensely and keep it brief now unless they ask something indicating they want to know more. One poor sod asked me if my car was an alfasud, I explained to him that whilst it was indeed registered as an alfasud sprint and shared many of the same style features it actually had a lot more to do with the alfa 33 as it was one of the later models of sprint and had the 1.7 engine, outboard discs etc. In retrospect they probably would have accepted 'yes'
>> Edited by lanciachris on Thursday 23 June 14:51
>> Edited by lanciachris on Thursday 23 June 14:51
Tuna said:
Permission to rant denied.
Try letting people know you "work with computers"...
some numpty said:
Ohhh.. last week I couldn't open my email, do you know what's gone wrong
You get that too eh?
Even bigger mistake is to provide your very un-technical family members with PCs for home.
Every family visit is now determined by whether their printer/scanner/internet working. If not, you can bet I'll be getting a phone call along the lines of;
"Oh it's been ages since you've been round......and er, my computer isn't working again...."
The other one for me is;
"I've got this idea for a game....."
MKGriff said:
Try turning the topic around by finding their 'conversational' Achilles heal
I do sometimes. Obviously I don't want to be insulting, but I tell them subtley that actually, they're boring me rigid, only thing is, they'll say 'well I thought you said you liked cars'
I see lanciachris has encountered the 'richer than yow' car bore, the sort of person who thinks a car's worth can be measured entirely in price (new, of course) and age. I've come across people who try and tell me that their Micra is better than the MR2 I want to buy because it's newer and more expensive
I enjoy picking over the fine details of car components, what I don’t like though are people who start a conversation and by the time you have reached terms like “valve timing” they have run out of knowledge. If you are going to start a conversation with me at least make it a decent conversation rather than an affront.
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