To hate when people repeatedly tell the same stories?

I have a friend who talks about the same problem with an in law and has done for 6 years as if it's new to me whereas I'm having quite a distressing time with my not very well stbxh and she talks over me after I've uttered two words about something new that's cropped up that week. It's very off-putting to be honest.

People don't necessarily want to hear it more than once, though. If you're trapped at work with someone who feels compelled to tell the same stories over and over it must feel like the water torture. Maybe you don't have to "carry the conversation" if there's nothing new to say? Shutting up and enjoying a companionable silence is also an option. I really struggle with people who need to fill every moment with speech for the sake of it.

Oh god, I fear that I do this! I have terrible memory (no Alzheimer’s I hope, I’m only 43). But yes, I do get told by people that I’ve told them something before (it’s not always the same stories) and I simply have no recollection 😭.
So, as annoying as it is for you, it’s as stressful for us. We risk either not saying much at all and being boooring, or repeating stories

So your female manager told your colleague that she, the manager, had sex with multiple married men when the manager was in her 20s?

Perhaps your colleague is shocked and wants to know if you are equally shocked.
In any case your manager is being highly inappropriate. You can go to HRif you have a department or ask the manager to stop talking about her sex life as it's unprofessional.

And you can tell your colleague that it was an inappropriate conversation and you don't want to discuss iI and if it bothers her so much, she should discuss it with HR, the manager or.the manager's boss.

My dh sometimes does this but it's because he's forgotten he's already told me. But the thing that really Annoys me when he's telling a story/event, he gives every minute details that isn't necessary!! I'll even then hear him telling the same story to his brother with all the minute boring details! Like get to the point already.
I have told him about this. Sometimes what seems interesting to one person isn't interesting to others.

It is not twice though. It is lots mote than that.
The person I know would repeat her stories every time I saw her.

My DH does this, but then MiL is always doing it to him so at least he realises how annoying it is! We have a code word for when one of us starts telling a story that the other person has heard before; it's a way to politely cut the other person off before they get too into their story 😂.

Conversely, my pet peeve is if you’re telling someone something and they say “I know, you’ve told me this before”. It’s so rude and dismissive. Maybe I wanted to tell you twice!!! Or maybe you could contribute something interesting to the conversation so I wouldn’t feel the need to carry it.

I have a friend who I love dearly but any time she gets drunk, she repeats the same stories over and over. With me, it’s always about the time she saw my ex at a party after we separated and she wanted to punch him in the face. I just smile and nod. Another friend mentioned she does this with her too (a similar ‘I wanted to defend you’ story). I think it’s her way of trying to express affection as she struggles to do that when sober.

They're seeking validation and/or bonding.

They feel like it's a shared experience. So do something else shared or let them knew you're busy.

A lot of the time, repeating stories is a way of affirming important memories. Telling it over is the point. I think this was better understood in the past and people were more patient and tolerant. My other half gets really irritated if I repeat anything. The end result is I keep a lot of memories to my self. He of course repeats stories too but I usually don't say anything as he's enjoying his memory.

@XenoBitch In my head, I nicknamed her "Sky News", as all her stories are just rolling on an on.

🤣🤣 I might have to borrow that tactic!

I think if people see a few different people regularly they forget which ones they've told which story.

Oh god, I hear you, my dads staying this weekend and I’ve had the usual retelling of a variety of stories I’ve heard many many times before, and once he gets going you just can’t stop him or say anything really he just carries on regardless.

The trick is to discuss only things that have happened since you last saw the person.

Had this yesterday. Finally told my lovely sister who I don't see that often, that she tells me about this certain book, every time we watch a TV show it's related to. How can she not remember, she definitely does not have any memory impairment.

I felt bad for saying it as she was really crestfallen and worried that she was boring people with the same stories so I won't mention anything like it again.

My mum does this and always has done (as in its not dementia). She tells me the same story twice/three times in the same visit, even though I've heard it before. It's as if she wants to tell it in the 'perfect' way as each time it's a bit different. Telling her I know/she's told me/interrupting her doesn't work and just prolongs the agony so I just let her get on with it and let my mind drift ...

I've recently become aware that I'm doing this and, when i realise i have repeated one of my memorable experiences, yet again, to the same person, i feel so embarrassed. I'm quite deaf, don't go out much so don't really have much to say, and at 58, I guess my brain cells are depleting. I often find myself wishing I'd not said anything at all.

As they begin the story that you've heard I often say 'oh yes , you've told me this, isn't this when....' so they dont have to continue, if they do its an interesting view on their social skills /interactions.
My DM did this all the time, no dementia/ alzheimers, but I just took it. She was on her own and I do think she forgot which of her 4 kids she had told!

My ex does this. And loves the sound of his own voice.

I hear you. My dad has Alzheimer's and lives with us, so I'm used to hearing stories on repeat, answering the same questions over and over etc. I love him to bits but there are times when I need a break. I think I would probably find it intolerable if it was someone I worked with (who didn't have Alzheimer's!) or someone I didn't particularly like. Could you try headphones, would listening to music be considered rude in your workplace?

My MIL tells the same boring anecdote in slightly different ways 3 times within the same 5 mins. Sympathies.