People talking about their work

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I am sham and getting bored listening working peoples stories about work. I noticed that I have impetigo in my nose again and mentioned that to my friend. She was ok and then started to explain about some woman at work.

this has happened with other friends too and also when I was working. We are having a catch up and another starts to explain about organisational changes at their work. Who cares

Mostly listening about other people's work is boring.

Maybe she didn't want to hear about your impetigo ...

It’s really contagious too. Why were you even socialising OP??

I’d be terrified I spread it to someone.

Some of my friends have really cool jobs and I love hearing about them. I’m not as excited about listening to people’s ailments though!!

I think you've met my sister in law. DH and I used to get chapter and verse about her job, despite neither of us working in an industry anything like hers, so no interest. I was relieved when she retired, but she took up a volunteer role and now we get all the stories from that.

It can definitely be a bit boring hearing about other people's jobs but I'd much rather listen to any job story than about your infected nose.

It's only easily spread in people you have close physical contacts with. Refusing to socialise because of it is very odd.

If you don't care about things impacting your ifriends then I'd argue that you aren't really friends, regardless of what the subject is. Most adults spend more than a third of their time at work, it's understandable they talk about it a lot.

Why? It’s really contagious and NHS advice is to stay away from work, school etc.

If rather hear the most boring details of anyone’s job than listen to someone tell me all about the severely infectious, weeping rash on their face.

No body else in my family had gotten impetigo so I am not really worried spreading it.

i just find it really boring to listen about their work. Especially now when I am sham. I can’t really relate. When I was working I didn’t really talk about work because it was my off time.

Do you mean SAHM?! You keep saying sham. Funnier but probably not what you mean.

Well, work chat can definitely be boring but your impetigo isn't exactly a thrilling topic of conversation either.

People tend to talk about things in their life and work, family, health etc can be a big part of that. When you break it down, lots of topics that matter to us could be boring conversation for others.

You say you can't relate to her work chat as you're a SAHM, that's like saying I can't relate to my friend's mum having dementia because I haven't had experience of that but I still let her offload a bit. That's just part of being a friend isn't it?

I guess because it makes up a large part of your day and so many things happening you tend to vent a bit? Also encountering new situations to discuss but it shouldn't be all you talk about as yes this is boring.

It's the same when you meet up with sahms as well, when their main focus is their DC and showing too many cute photos. When I'm with SILs, none of whom have ever worked, and especially before own DC, they had nothing else to converse apart from family stuff.

In one group of friends we have a rule... no work or kid chat after half an hour!

There needs to be give and take. I say this as a childfree person who has been edged out of hundreds of conversations that turned to people going on and on about their children. You should let your friends have their time to talk about work but they in turn should be mindful that you aren't joining in, and not keep on about it to the exclusion of all else.

Other peoples work stories can be fascinating but only for about 10 minutes at a time.

Given the choice of listening to a friend talk about work or talk about their minor health issues, I’d rather hear about work!

Er, what? Did you start talking about your nose impetigo passive aggressively because you were bored of hearing of her work? Or would that just be normal conversation for you?

The former would be kind of admirable in its batshittery, the latter would be way TMI/not a convo I would want to have! Is that really an interesting point of conversation for you, more interesting than your friends’ jobs??

I started to talk about my nose impetigo because I have had several eye, nose and toe infections lately. Her comment was “oh your nostril” and next sentence was about her work

People spend 160 hours a month at work. Thats a major part of their lives. They are discussing things in their lives that are affecting them, just like your nose impetigo looms large in your world.

Bit weird talking about your nose infection

I care about my friends so yes I want to hear how their jobs are going. We support each other alot through work dilemmas

They likely care as much about your nose

It’s sooooo boring. You ask ‘How are you?’ and get chapter and verse on work tedium. Yawwwwwn

Do you think a friend wants to hear about your infections though?

Well, you’re clearly not someone who was that interested in your job, by the sound of things. Other people love what they do.

At least I know now not to discuss about my ailments. Should I change subject if she starts to talk about her job? She is payroll specialist so nothing interesting.