To think that this cab driver should stop asking questions?

[Snowflakesonmynose]

If I happen to go out not often these days or it's pouring down with rain I rely on taking a cab home from town but I feel uncomfortable with most of these drivers as they usually ask a lot of questions and I am not there to chat or to share my personal details .

Last night I finished a shift and took a cab home at around 10pm. The driver started asking me all sorts of personal questions such as "are you visiting a friend", "do you live around here", "do you work there", where are you from etc. I managed to dodge these questions and find it weird and overly personal and curious. It's not professional is it? Aibu?

Yabu, if you don't want to chat you can politely tell him so.

Personally I think yanbu. This kind of thing really annoys me too. I have a neighbour who asks really loudly every time she sees me "are you not in work then?" "Where are you going?" "What did you buy?" Etc.

Stop asking bloody questions. I don't want the whole street alerted to me comings and goings thank you very much.

I once stopped using a window cleaner for asking similar questions.

Paranoid? Maybe.

*my not me

YANBU

Ask him why he wants to know or be on your phone the whole journey.

Actually you could have just answered yes or no to any of those questions. They soon pick up if you don't want to chat or listen to a Daily Mail style tirade about something.

I think it's called small talk.

Kind of like what normal people do.

YABU.

(and I am the most antisocial person I know, but would feel very uncomfortable in a cab if the driver didn't attempt to at least make a bit of "awful weather isn't it?" conversation)

I imagine they are told to have a bit of a chat to put their customers at ease. Like the checkout staff in Asda do.

it's just chat.

I would find a cab ride in total silence a little uncomfortable actually.

Or do you feel that he is being creepy and not just chatting?

I find it more uncomfortable when they don't make a bit of small talk to be honest.

But I don't tend to take taxi's alone anymore after an incident a few years back.

If you don't want to give an honest answer just make up a story. I've never had really personal questions from a taxi driver usually just chat.

Woah pensioner i might try that. What sport are you into? Oh my god ME TOO!

I have a regular cab driver who takes me to Heathrow (about 50 miles). He talks through the whole journey and I don't mind. It's in a friendly way and I've come to know him and bits about his family (they also run the local Post Office).

Many years ago, the company I worked for had a client who ran a cab company among other things. I booked a cab home through him and the driver talked about himself. It turned out that he'd been in prison for years for armed robbery. I lead an interesting life.

Chat about weather/football/bad politics is fine. Asking you where you were, where you work and where you live is not fine. I wouldnt have answered those questions either.

If they give personal details about themselves too then it feels a bit more 'shared', which is fine. If I felt that I was being grilled about my family and usual habits then I'd feel a bit wary too, tbh.

General chat about the weather/state of the nation/football is fine :)

In most cases they are just trying to find something to talk about, so if you guide them onto a topic you feel comfortable chatting about at random they'll go with it. I often ask questions right back like "wow I bet you get more customers in this weather don't you - what's your day been like?" or "these traffic road works must make your life difficult - are these the worst ones in the city or is it worse somewhere else?"

If they then insist on turning the convo back to you then they are being creepy and it's ok to say something like "sorry I can't chat just now I just need to send my husband this text" and then busy yourself with your mobile for the rest of the journey.

He was taking you home and asked "Do you live around here?"

I don't mind drivers talking to me, I enjoy most chats that I've had with them. It's always been general conversation though. Not sure I'd want to be asked personal questions.

Thank you. I agree that a totally silent cabbie would be creepier. Maybe it was his clumsy attempt at a small talk. fishwithabike I like your approach I.e. To ask questions back rather than answering the ones I don't want to answer. Thanks.

I used to like a chat with the cab/taxi driver. They are quite interesting...sometimes... Apart from the one who kept on and on about his fecking car engine.

I'm happy to chat but there is a line, obviously. Weather, current affairs, fine. What does your DH do for a living...? no. I usually talk BS if the line gets crossed to keep things light.

Always ask questions back. In my experience most people enjoy talking about themselves and their views on life, especially if you appear interested. It always works for me, if I want to deflect questions.