Are you THAT person?

Have you ever had a class or a meeting where one person feels need to interject their opinion when none were asked for? They go off on rants that venture so far off topic you can’t even remember what the original discussion was.

Of course you have. We all have. Maybe YOU’RE that person, and you don’t even know it.

Here’s how to identify if you are THAT person:

-You say you want to ask a question, but nothing you say has a question mark at the end.

-You tell the professor/speaker/judge things they already know.

-You bring your own soapbox to public discussions.

-You raise your hand in the middle of presentations to “add something” and talk exclusively about your own experiences, which nobody else can relate to.

-You’re unaware of the anguish of everyone else in the room and the strangle-you motions they make with their hands.

If this is you, you should take a step back and really consider: does everybody else really need to hear this right now? Would it be better for me to wait and have a 1-on-1 conversation with someone instead of addressing the group?

Unfortunately a symptom of being THAT person is being oblivious, so it may take some prodding from friends. Profs and speakers: control the discussion and if someone is gearing up for an all-out rant, cut them off and offer to continue the discussion later so you can get back on track. Otherwise THAT person may never stop talking and your audience has left.

That’s my opinion. I have a blog, what about you?