redbobblehat
Tue 29-Jan-13 11:42:05
family do coming up, will see realatives i havent seen in years.
i expect i will be asked all sorts of nisey questions i do not want to anwser, for various reasons
so what are good responses to questions you dont want ot answer?
i use
we'll see......
not sure......
not at the moment.......
i have various reasons.......
what do you say?
Depends on how rude forthright I am feeling - my favourite it " if you can tell me how it's any of your business, I'd be happy to discuss it with you"
badtemperedaldbitch
Tue 29-Jan-13 18:12:54
I always say 'ha ha ha, now what about.......'
And change the subject.
It works because they think you are a looney.......
BumpingFuglies
Tue 29-Jan-13 18:36:17
"Not sure really....how are your piles?"
redbobblehat
Tue 29-Jan-13 19:30:25
if you can tell me how it's any of your business, I'd be happy to discuss it with you
ohh thats good
ImperialBlether
Tue 29-Jan-13 19:56:38
What are they likely to ask you, OP?
redbobblehat
Tue 29-Jan-13 21:17:28
stuff like when are you goign ot have another child, when are you going back to work, what are your plans etc?
deste
Tue 29-Jan-13 21:21:47
I would just say, wait and see. There is no point in being rude.
toomuchbother
Tue 29-Jan-13 21:24:07
"Oh, I haven't decided/thought about it yet" works for me!
DoItToJulia
Tue 29-Jan-13 21:24:26
I say "I don't answer personal questions!" But in a cheeky way....
Throws 'em right off!
sixlostmonkeys
Tue 29-Jan-13 21:28:57
when are you going to have another child? - Not sure, we are thinking of breeding alligators instead.
when are you going back to work? - you mean I haven't actually been working all this time? darn I could have had lie-ins.
what are your plans? - World domination followed by a new carpet for the living room.
carabos
Tue 29-Jan-13 21:29:28
I find that the answer "well you always want more don't you" works surprisingly well as an all-purpose neutral answer. Try it...
Nosey q about money - answer "Well you always want more don't you?"
Nosey q about kids/ prospective pregnancies "Well you always want more don't you?"
Nosey q about moving house - "well you always want more don't you?".
It's a slightly odd response which could make sense and makes the inquisitor pause in a "is it me?" kind of way.
MerlotAndMe
Tue 29-Jan-13 21:31:07
"ah is this the charming English reserve?"
(but this works better as I'm foreign)
DontmindifIdo
Tue 29-Jan-13 21:40:13
When I was asked when I'd be having a next child at a wedding when DS was 18 months, I smiled and said, "not sure, but I know so many people who haven't been able to have any children, I feel so blessed to have him, he's such a love isn't he? MIL was saying how much he looks like DH did at that age, what do you think?"
Now, I thought Id dealt with that well, however the general concensus after that in DH's family was that I couldn't have any more DCs, so possibly not the way to go...
For work type questions, do you have an answer to it? Do you have a plan for being SAHM or going back after a set amount of time? Is it that you feel you are being judged by the question? Like there's a right and wrong answer?
redbobblehat
Tue 29-Jan-13 21:43:21
no i justdon't like being asked various questions, from people i'm not keen on
redbobblehat
Tue 29-Jan-13 21:43:59
when are you going back to work? - you mean I haven't actually been working all this time? darn I could have had lie-ins. lol at this
totallyfrazzled
Tue 29-Jan-13 22:36:10
I've been used to this as, when expecting twins, i was constantly asked by total strangers "is it IVF?'
When a dear friend asked the same question in a tentative and tearful way, I of course, gave an honest answer as I knew why she was asking. (Ie she had been trying for a while, it wasn't happening and she was desperate for help)
For the total strangers who I thought had the most unbelievable nerve - I mean, who the hell did they think they were asking such a question, and why did they think they deserved an answer?? I would just lie blatantly in answer, which i think is all they deserved and frankly as they were complete strangers who I would never see again, it did not matter a hoot to me that I was dishing out a load of total rubbish.
In a long winded way, I am trying to say, if you think they are out of order asking a particular question, they deserve a ridiculous answer....let your imagination run riot!!
LineRunner
Tue 29-Jan-13 22:38:59
My DSis says 'Who knows?' and laughs. She's very good at this kind of thing.
LittleChimneyDroppings
Tue 29-Jan-13 22:39:57
Just say "nosey aren't you?" with a big smile on your face. And if they carry on then tell them to mind their own beeswax, in the nicest possible way.
Idreamofafullnightssleep
Tue 29-Jan-13 22:45:41
I just go for the cringe factor!
We always got asked when we were going to have children and after years of going 'we are having too much fun' etc I just turned round to people and told them I couldn't have children. The look on their faces always amused me especially as they tried to apologise and backtrack. I would like to hope that they would think again before asking the same question and maybe/probably upsetting someone.
I now have stock answers for questions I get about my DS who we adopted last year. It is great that people take an interest but it is his story to tell not mine and I have some vague answers so I am not rude as I can understand people wanting to know how the system works etc.
ArtVandelay
Tue 29-Jan-13 22:46:44
Personally, I like ahhaha- goodness, you are funny Haha.. subject change.
If its about money or property I will say oh dear, you can't ask an English person questions like that - we simply can't discuss that! Subject change. Not sure this will work with another English person.
Both imply the asker is a bit daft and provincial. I find this approach works well. Overall, confidence is the key.