to ask if you'd feel embarrassed by this?

[TastyCheese]

If you were in a public place - and asked a person - eg work colleague /person in social group going out etc a personal question then they told you it was none of your business, would you feel a tad embarrassed/uncomfortable?

It's obvious someone slept with said painter.

Good thought, Lweji. Perhaps the butterfly was modelled on someone's labia!

I would LOVE it if you had come back with that, without a pause.

'Oh what is the backstory?'

'That's personal and absolutely none of your business"

'Hmm yes, now you mention it the butterfly does look exactly like a labia'

PMSL

It could be a self portrait...

Many years ago, I asked someone if they had kids. They were Swiss ( I think) and they told me that in their country it was a very rude question to ask because I was basically asking how old she was, which was a complete no-no.

It's not for me to criticise another culture, but what does that even mean? You ask if they have children, if yes you invariably find out the child(ren)'s age(s). Then you add the age of the eldest to 16 and note the answer, then you add the age to 46 and note that answer. Voila, that gives the game away that she's aged anywhere within that 30-year window! I think most people's ages are easily guessable to within 30 years!

I can only assume that she was extremely young (very early teens maybe) when she gave birth. Either that or Swiss law dictates that you can only legally have children at a certain age....

It's very easy to deflect an unwanted question tactfully. You simply smile, tap your nose, do a tinkly little laugh and say "Well, that's for me to know.... and for you to SHUT YOUR PIEHOLE!!!!"

Isn't that the risk you run when you ask a personal question and you're out in public?

Maybe you should ask personal questions in private?

I'd happily tell you it's none of your business if it was something I didn't want to talk about it public

Depends on the question. What do you do for a hobby? I'd think they were a rude cunt. Do you shave your downstairs? I'd feel like a rude cunt.

@LizB62A

Isn't that the risk you run when you ask a personal question and you're out in public?

Maybe you should ask personal questions in private?

I'd happily tell you it's none of your business if it was something I didn't want to talk about it public

But this depends on the question. A "personal" question can be anything from the benign to the downright rude. And some people can be very touchy on the benign.

If it's to do with money yes it's none of your business.

It very much depends on what I'd asked them! If it was something fairly innocuous such as 'How long have you worked here?' or 'Do you have any children?' then yes,I would think them rude if they told me it was none of my business.
On the other hand,if I'd asked them what their salary was,or when was the last time they had sex then I would totally expect to told to mind my own business!

Depends on the question really...

YABU - Do you take it up the arse?

YANBU - Do you like Champagne?

I think they could be more sensitive in the way they say it if they don't want to tell you. Like I'm not sure and sitting on the fence at the moment.

glennamy- your answer just made me guffaw!

Why would you be embarrassed, if you are the one who asked a personal question? A complete stranger who just knows a mutual person contacted me to ask personal stuff a few weeks ago and I said it was none of her business. I am now the bad guy when she is basically a nosey bitch.

I’d never usually tell someone to mind their own business but a year or so ago someone at a family BBQ, parents friend I casually knew, asked outright why me and my partner didn’t have children she then laughed and said, was it because I was barren and I told her to mind her business.

By the way not saying this is what you said OP just giving my experience of why I once told someone to mind their business.

Someone on here said anything goes with age, that age gives you a free pass to ‘say it as it is’ but it doesn’t, it doesn’t give you the right to make someone feel how I felt.

I agree that it depends on what question was asked but it also depends on the intention behind asking. Once when I was doing some classes (as an adult) the teacher turned around and asked me "how old are you?" It had nothing to do with the discussion and I knew he was just being nosey/ having a bit of a power trip/ trying to embarrass me because he was like that so I just said "why?" very pointedly which is usually what I say instead of noyb. Normally if someone asked me that I would just tell them.

I’d say so, yeah. Could depend on the circumstances though, for example it could be said in a joking way.

I was once at a small get together with neighbours when someone asked one lady why she had got divorced. She replied very swiftly ‘that’s none of your business’
I felt so awkward! Why did that woman ask such a personal question!

Yes I’d feel like I’d been put down. There are nice ways of saying stuff

@OkMaybeNot my response to that would have been “Well why bring it up you stupid cunt”.

I’m amazed by questions some people ask You mention someone is unwell or in hospital and they want to know why. I lost count of the number of people who asked why my DS was getting divorced. None of their business, so yes, I would be embarrassed because it means that I’ve overstepped the mark.

VK456 - I've experienced similar intrusive questions and I completely agree with what you say

parents friend I casually knew, asked outright why me and my partner didn’t have children she then laughed and said, was it because I was barren and I told her to mind her business.

She shouldn't have had to hear you saying that to her in response. The loud tweeting of little birds in her head, after you showed her your beautiful new cast-iron frying pan at very close quarters, would have been far more appropriate....