Do you get irrationally annoyed when people repeat the same stories?

[SeptemberWeGotFire]

Just some examples. I became friends with a coworker (I’ve been there a year) and she regularly tells me the story how the person before me was so quiet and seeing him bloom “she’s like a proud big sister”. Word for word it’s almost the same. Three times at least.

My sister will tell me the same stories over and over. And I sit there thinking do you not think you told me this at the time it happened seeing as I’ve known you my entire life. Like why do you think this is new information?

My manager has repeated the same example/saying to me in every meeting we have twice a week for the last 2 months. He even starts it with I know I might have said this … no shit.

Sorry I’m not a rude person, but inside I’m screaming I KNOW!!!

Oh gosh. Ex MIL repeated stories.
I am not exaggerating when I say, she had repeated stories at least 10 times.
I smiled and nodded for years. Then eventually I finished the story off for her 😂

They have clearly forgotten that they have told you, it's easily done. Can you 100% say that you've never repeated the same story? Wonder what your family and friends would say.

Yes!
I have made a new friend who does this all the time. It is just the same 5 or 6 stories on repeat. Reminds me of a news channel!

Just say ‘Yes, you told me’?

I don't let them tell me again. I interrupt to say "oh you told me this - so crazy/wonderful/funny/insert adjective here!" while making the appropriate supportive face.

If they continue to tell the story even when I've made it clear they've already told me, that's when I'd get irritated (dad, I'm talking about you).

A woman I used to work with did this, she’d tell the same stories over and over and they weren’t even very interesting stories!

My old manager used to do this. The same stories over and over. Then I found out he also tells those same stories over and over to the other members of the team too. There's no way he's forgotten he's told these stories 30+ times, but I'm not sure why he does it. I just started saying "oh i remember you telling me this!" and try to change the subject.

My DH has form for this. Tells the same stories and anecdotes from YEARS ago, some of them he has told some 10 to 15 times over the years. He used to take great pleasure in repeating a tale about when I made a bit of a tit of myself some 30 years ago, and would LOL and ROFL as he told it. He told people as he thought it was funny, but I used to cringe and feel embarrassed.

After about 10 years had passed, he told it to someone, and I looked at him blankly and said I didn't know what he was talking about. Kept saying it. Grey rocking, denying it, and denying other things that he continually repeated. He got so fed up that he eventually stopped... It was banter to him. To me, it was irritating and tedious.

He also tells me stories about what happened at work, and then 3 hours later, he tells me AGAIN.

Of course! And it’s just light hearted. But sometimes especially the manager one he’s repeated the sane saying/story multiple times every week for the last two months. That’s just insane.

Both of my parents inlaw do this all the time about their precious son (my husband). They seem to remember every morsel he's ever eaten, every item of clothing he's ever worn and everything he's ever said or done. I don't care that he asked for a second piece of shortbread in a cafe in Watford in 1989 because i already know that he wasn't allowed any more and then he knocked over his milk!!

Mil does this all the time. I interrupt with "yes you told me that before" and she continues regardless.

I think it can be hard to remember who you’ve told something to. I hope that people will say if I’ve told them something before. I do sometimes stop my DM from telling me exactly the same thing again, as the detail (which I didn’t need last time either!) can be exhaustive.

It's called euphoric recall. Really annoying for the people listening to it for the millionth time but it gives them good feelings to relive those stories.

Some people take on other people's stories as their own and get the same effect.

My colleague of over a decade still tells stories about her old workplace, the same over and over. Sometimes I try to interrupt or cut her off, without sounding horrible

It's all a bit "this one time, in band camp..."

YANBU and I get where you’re coming from (but I’m sure I’ve done this in the past myself)

It’s when you tell them “Oh yes I remember you’ve told me this story” and then they continue telling it again anyway 🤣

My DH and I go to a village near us about, I’m thinking, ten times a year for the best Fish and Chips. On the way there we pass a cottage and every, single time he tells me the same story. “Oh, that cottage reminds me of…did I tell you about…” yes! Yes, you did!!! aaahhh!!!

Now he makes a point of not saying anything. As the dreaded cottage looms over the hill, there is a deathly silence in the car, as I hope so, so much he won’t tell me his anecdote and he is really, really trying not to say it again.

Ah, that makes sense. It's why, even when you've said 'Yes, you've told me' they carry on. My lovely dad does it sometimes, but he has six children so I think he just forgets which of us he's had the conversation with. I do get a bit annoyed sometimes, but I hope I don't show it because I don't like that about myself.

I have a friend who repeatedly tells my stories back to me forgetting it was me that told her these stories in the first place.

I tend to say something like 'oh yes, I remember you saying...'

My DM does this, has told the same stories hundreds of times. 'I'll never forget that day when...' she also doesn't stop when people explain they've heard it before. Then she'll respond with 'Well I'll tell you again in case you've forgotten!' 😬

I think you must be a friend of my mother’s😁

”Yes mom - I told you that”.
”Really? Are you sure?”
”Yes, on the phone the other day.”
”Are you sure? I don’t remember that…”
”But how else would you know?”
”Ooh, I don’t know…”

(Continued for 94 years)

My grandad. I've heard the same stories hundreds of times. And he'll do this with stories about me, as if I wasn't there at the time. Most of the time I just let him go on if it makes him happy. Very rarely cut him off even though it makes me cringe.

I tend to forget who I've told things to so will accidentally tell the same story twice, but am quite conscious of repeating myself for this reason!

I can see its annoying when its a colleague.
I used to get irritated with my grandpa for doing this, but now he is dead, it means I can remember his stories really well and I miss him telling them..

If you find hearing the same old stories repeated again and again annoying (and I can understand why), then the Mumsnet forums probably isn’t the place for you.

YES! It's boring and infuriating!