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AIBU?

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Original poster

People who just talk about themselves….

103 replies

Floradon · 16/02/2026 20:31

Had a friend stay at the weekend. Someone I’ve known since school and don’t see regularly as we live hours apart. She sort of invited herself but I was happy to host.

I was pretty surprised at the conversation to be honest. She spends a lot of time talking in great detail about her day to day life - who did what at work, updates on her friends/family (who for the most part I don’t know or have maybe met once or twice). Things like her SIL moved to a new commuter town, it’s really nice, but it takes her 90 minutes to commute into London and the local school isn’t great.

After the weekend, I know SO MUCH about her life - that her kids have sausage and broccoli every Thursday and Mac n Cheese on Fridays, that the facilities manager at her work is useless and has just been fired. Etc etc. She’s not got any hobbies so it’s just really work and kids. I tried to generate conversation - she said she was going on holiday soon to somewhere I had been for example and I asked what she wanted to do and what her interests were there but it’s very hard to get anything out of her.

With most friends obv we do chat about life but mostly talk about ‘other things’ that interest us. Or we have shared interests. It’s not like we are debating international politics all the time but we don’t just talk about our day to day lives.

So what’s normal? Are people actually interested in this level of detail of their friends’ lives? Or is she just a bit self absorbed/boring?! The weekend felt so hard I honestly don’t think I could do it again!

YABU - this is normal and people do enjoy hearing about the ins and outs of friends lives

YANBU - she lacks conversational skills and awareness

OP posts:
namechangeabc123 · 16/02/2026 20:56

I’ve got a friend like this. She’s quite upbeat and positive, and can be quite interesting, so I carry on seeing her because she does have good qualities. But I do feel I’d like more of an exchange, conversationally.

Lottapianos · 16/02/2026 20:38

No, it's not normal to honk on about yourself for an entire weekend. I went out for dinner with a colleague I was friendly with a few years ago, and she talked about herself for the whole evening. That was not a lot of fun and I haven't repeated the experience. A whole WEEKEND of being talked at and bored to death sounds mind numbing

Some people are like this - don't seem to realise that a conversation is a two way thing, or at least it should be. You don't have to put up with it though

SemiSober · 16/02/2026 20:34

Floradon · 16/02/2026 20:31

Had a friend stay at the weekend. Someone I’ve known since school and don’t see regularly as we live hours apart. She sort of invited herself but I was happy to host.

I was pretty surprised at the conversation to be honest. She spends a lot of time talking in great detail about her day to day life - who did what at work, updates on her friends/family (who for the most part I don’t know or have maybe met once or twice). Things like her SIL moved to a new commuter town, it’s really nice, but it takes her 90 minutes to commute into London and the local school isn’t great.

After the weekend, I know SO MUCH about her life - that her kids have sausage and broccoli every Thursday and Mac n Cheese on Fridays, that the facilities manager at her work is useless and has just been fired. Etc etc. She’s not got any hobbies so it’s just really work and kids. I tried to generate conversation - she said she was going on holiday soon to somewhere I had been for example and I asked what she wanted to do and what her interests were there but it’s very hard to get anything out of her.

With most friends obv we do chat about life but mostly talk about ‘other things’ that interest us. Or we have shared interests. It’s not like we are debating international politics all the time but we don’t just talk about our day to day lives.

So what’s normal? Are people actually interested in this level of detail of their friends’ lives? Or is she just a bit self absorbed/boring?! The weekend felt so hard I honestly don’t think I could do it again!

YABU - this is normal and people do enjoy hearing about the ins and outs of friends lives

YANBU - she lacks conversational skills and awareness

Lots of people do this and it’s painful. And it’s always the boring ones.