Sound of Silence...

Was checking out Wonko's Corner today and chuckled quite a bit. I listed a few other times when I do not care to be talked to, but decided to reprint my response here as well...

Times not to talk to me:

* While in the restroom.

Not to be crass by listing this, but nothing ticks me off (or frightens me) more than conversations that begin during the most private of situations. Do your business and leave. If at home, whatever important discussion that someone would like to have with me CAN indeed wait just a few minutes until my business is completed.

* While I'm heavily involved in cooking or a project.

I cannot emphasize enough how much "multi-tasking" has been a detriment to many avenues in my life. It's bad enough that I'm having to devote 20% of my attention to the pasta, 25% to the chicken, 15% to the sauce, 20% to the baking of bread, 15% to cleaning utensils and preparing the table for dinner & 5% to keeping the ravenous golden retriever at bay (she doesn't eat until after I do, hoping for a few crumbs to fall her way), without having to listen to mindless chatter that would be better left being shared during the meal when I can devote a higher percentage of attention.

Also, unless the conversation is in reference to the project that I am working on, bother me not. I have enough concentration issues as it is without having to stop what I'm doing, listen to blathering, respond to said blathering, and then try to figure out where I was in the first place.

* When I'm talking to someone else.

Wait your gorram turn, Chatty. Unless I'm on fire, you're having a heart attack, or a giant meteorite is about to pulverize me (so that I have time to run about screaming, naturally I do appreciate that kind of interruption), it can wait.

If it is a matter of national importance, please use the proper protocol to interrupt. For example, "Excuse me, I'm sorry to interrupt..." works wonders, especially when utilized during an appropriate pause in conversation.

* If you require something done, yet are too lazy to either do it yourself or are seemingly unable to use polite words like, "please" and "thank you."

I am not your personal porter. I can understand if you have had a tough day and just need a favor or two. Within reason.

By using "please" and "thank you," I am more likely to assist you with a more cheerful disposition than I otherwise would. I'm bossed around all day as it is by people who don't have to say "please" or "thank you" merely because they sign my paychecks.

That means that when I'm not at work, I am a human being, worthy of being treated as an equal, not as your personal butler/maid/cook. Using polite language is appreciated by myself, especially since I live in a society that has replaced such words with more unkind ones like "NOW!" and "Get me."

My mom had a knack for having sudden catastrophic hearing loss whenever we'd forget to say 'please' and 'thank you.' Must be genetic because I seem to suffer from the same affliction.