The manager of one of the stores I support (she’s in Guam, I’m in Seattle) has a crush on me, or something. Maybe she’s just very friendly. Anyway, she’ll rope me into long-winded phone conversations after I fix whatever problem they’re having. Now I just say “I have a call coming in… Damn, it’s from the Hawaii restaurant, must be an emergency”–Click.
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Absolutely. But It’s gotta be hilarious. Like an endless squeaker, or one that sounds like a duck.
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Well, obviously. It is in an elevator, after all.
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I thought it was to get another person involved in the conversation and then make your escape, leaving the sucker behind for the wolves.
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No, that’s just the technique for air dogfights. If you’ve got a bogey on your six and you can’t shake them, your best option is to fly directly toward an ally who can go heads up with the bogey.
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You’re right - but the point was that it was supposed to be a “simple suggestion for extricating yourself” - my point being that for many people (see @Seki’s post), even finding the correct time to use this “simple” technique is fraught with difficulty.
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Anne Emond is my life coach.
The only way to truly win is not to play the game at all (where you will usually find me at a party)
(i.e. with the critters or the rugrats)
gemma also does some consulting work on my mad social skillz:
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My problem is how to start a conversation at a party. So-called “small talk” confuses the hell out of me. I do much better with people who are busy and somewhat opinionated. Such as some academics, professionals, and bohemians. I can discuss ideas tirelessly, but avoid emotional/status games. Once we get talking, circumstances usually finish the conversation as the event ends, schedules re-assert themselves, transportation requirements, etc.
It’s been a long time since an “interested” person has insisted upon following me around. IIRC I have tried faking seizures, talking to inanimate objects, alternating sudden manic gestures with slack passivity, gargling the wine, and others which presently elude me.
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I am far and away a terrible small talker if it doesn’t involve something in my wheelhouse. So I have learned to just embrace Weird and see where the chips fall.
Goes up to stranger, “its SO GOOD to see you! Hasn’t it been ages?”
upon seeing a good friend at a party, “oh Jesus Tapdancing CHRIST”
Being introduced to someone’s mother, “ya wanna get outa here?”
and the one that always seems to break the ice, “One word: Plastics”
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It’s been so nice talking with you!
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Thank G-d it’s not animated!
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Savvy experienced phone hotline volunteers taught me this line when I was seeking a way to get out of some calls with repeat callers who tended to hog up the line:
“Well, I’ll let you go now…”
Surprisingly effective and low key.
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Oh yeah, and this is what we use at work on conference calls:
“Well, someone else wants the room now. Gotta let you go…”
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