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AIBU?

to want to know, how you deal with nosey questions you don't want to answer?

44 replies

redbobblehat · 29/01/2013 11:42

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?

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weeblueberry · 29/01/2013 11:45

Depends on the question and how personal it is...

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hellocatty · 29/01/2013 11:46

If it was friends or mums at school I would say "why do you want to know?" but if it is elderly rellies asking awkward questions but essentially nice people I would say any of your stock phrases quickly followed by changing the subject.

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redbobblehat · 29/01/2013 11:46

oh yeah why do you want to know is a good one

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AnyFucker · 29/01/2013 11:47

A direct stare and "why would you need to know that?"

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MissyMooandherBeaverofSteel · 29/01/2013 11:49

I personally always opt for sarcasm followed by an OTT laugh and a swift change of subject.

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Fakebook · 29/01/2013 11:53

Any questions about babies I'd respond with: "I don't think my sex life is any of your business".

Any questions about how much you earn or incomings: "Enough".

Can't think of any other nosey questions that would piss me off.

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SomethingProfound · 29/01/2013 11:53

My sister was once asked by our Uncle if she was going to have her tubes tide seeing as she didn't plan on having children Hmm

We have both now developed the strategy of saying "oh I don't know" or "I haven't thought about it" when asked intrusive questions followed by an equally nosey question of our own soon shuts them up.

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emsyj · 29/01/2013 11:56

I'm a "I haven't thought about it" person too - unless of course it's a factual question, in which case you can just pretend you didn't hear and ignore the question altogether. Just smile. If they repeat the question, you can smile and say, "Sorry..?" and then say, "Oh I can't hear properly sorry" and then smile and walk away, or change the subject, or strike up a conversation with someone else nearby or whatever.

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YellowDinosaur · 29/01/2013 11:56

Depends on whether you want them to back the fuck off from asking personal questions or you're prepared to have the same conversation whenever you meet up.

If the former I'd say something like 'that's a bit personal and I don't really want to discuss it' (accepting of course that if they're nosy they'll gossip between themselves about you!). If it's the later any of your suggestions are fine.

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redbobblehat · 29/01/2013 12:02

how about, wow thats a really nosey question isnt it?

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redexpat · 29/01/2013 12:11

I don't wish to discuss that with you mother. An accompanying steely glare helps.

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MummytoMog · 29/01/2013 12:20

When people asked if we knew what we were having (when I was up the duff of course) I used to say that we had hoped for a kitten, but it had turned out to be a baby.

Otherwise, I tend to go for the, oh well, not really sure, haven't considered it yet approach. Unless you've had some really major body modifications done about which they're madly curious, in which case you should tell them that the ALIENS did it.

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JesusInTheCabbageVan · 29/01/2013 13:00

Death Stare. I have a slightly lazy eye, which helps with that.

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DixieD · 29/01/2013 13:04

Mind your own business, followed by a laugh.

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Andro · 29/01/2013 13:06

MummytoMog

That made me laugh!


How I deal with personal questions depends on the person and the question, my body language or expression usually communicates my thoughts effectively.

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GilmoursPillow · 29/01/2013 13:10

My lovely but rather paranoid friend responded to a question I asked (which was actually totally innocent and non-intrusive) with "You ask a lot of questions, don't you?"

It shut me up Grin although I bitched to DH about it later

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pluCaChange · 29/01/2013 13:10

"You'll find out along with everyone else. Through Facebook." Wink

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HecateWhoopass · 29/01/2013 13:14

I turn it round on them

why are you asking
why do you need to know that
how much do you earn?
Grin

or just ignore the question and talk about cats or something.

or laugh and say crikey, what's with the third degree

or fling my arms wide and say NOBODY expects the spanish inquisition..

ok. I'm lying with that last one Grin but it would be funny as hell.

I did once ask a bloke who was asking me really personal questions how big his dick was.

he walked away. Grin

I was drunk at the time. wouldn't have the guts to do something like that sober Grin

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Waitingforastartofall · 29/01/2013 13:27

a short swift what the Fecks it got to do with you Grin but then I can be quite rude when pushed

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theodorakisses · 29/01/2013 16:26

When we first lived abroad, women on buses used to ask me how many children I had (aged 20 something) and I said none and they used to say "why, what wrong, you cancer, your husband broken, God will hate you" I used to smile and plug my earphone back into, later on and extremely and satisfyingly, the Russell Brand radio show podcast.

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CailinDana · 29/01/2013 16:34

I just say "I don't know," or "I haven't thought about it," or I just ignore the question. If it's a leading question, beloved of my mother, like "You don't really mind if anything goes wrong in labour do you?" (in response to me shock horror wanting a homebirth) I just give a one word response (in this case, "No") and don't react. Goading questions are the worst, it's so hard not to rise to them.

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amicissimma · 29/01/2013 17:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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kitbit · 29/01/2013 18:00

'Oh that's an interesting question!'
Followed by a big smile and a change of subject. Drives MIL nuts HAHAHA

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elizaregina · 29/01/2013 18:07

i dont know if its been said but i always like the technique of answering a question you dont want by asking another questin and putting them in the hot seat.

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Jamdoughnutfiend · 29/01/2013 18:08

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"

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