Is this weird or am I rude and unsociable?!

[Bertsmum22]

Lived in our street for 6 years now. Lovely street, say hello to the neighbours etc. One couple who live at the other end of our road walk their dog about twice a day and each time, accost anyone they see for a long chat. They’re nice enough people but want to know everything and tell you everything and remember what you’ve told them for next time you bump in to them. It’s clearly their evening ritual to chat to as many people as possible for as long as possible! I mean they seem to know near enough everyone! I am all for saying hello to my immediate neighbours but can’t say I know many others.

I find myself avoiding them if I see them from far away and either going inside until they’ve passed or walking the other way! Am sure they’ve noticed!

I want to walk my dogs or take my daughter to the park not stand for half an hour chatting to randoms!

Am I rude or would you be the same?!

Sometimes you need a killer phrase. I had a friend who had an excellent line to ward off over-friendly people, but if I shared it here I'd be banned for life.

It worked though.

Funny how I always seem to get a phone call coming through whenever I spot certain neighbours approaching…

Sometimes you have to be a bit blunt.

Just day "Hi" and continue to walk briskly!

Depends on my mood 😆 Usually I'd do same as you, but if feeling particularly chatty/lonely/bored/happy I might engage and have a good chat and gossip. These people always have interesting stories about other neighbours!

I would def be avoiding.
I prefer the level of interaction where you say hello in passing and will take in a parcel or inform the other person if you smell gas but thats it!

‘Hi - how are you ? Yes weathers been good hasn’t it. Can’t stop Fido needs his walk and then need to go Matilda’s reading with her and I’ve got a chicken in the oven. Never ends!!! and I Don’t want that dinner to burn ! See you soon - bye.’ Walk off! all polite and breezily said

I’ve tried this at work,but once the phone started ringing loudly whilst I was deep in fake conversation on it 🤣

You are unfriendly but I’d do the same. 🤷🏻‍♀️

“Inform them if you smell gas!” That’s hilarious and I think needs to become a new MN term for functional and polite distance.

To pull this off properly you really need to be able to fart on command.

It’s your choice who you speak to but it does seem a bit rude and unsociable to actively avoid them to the point they have noticed. I would just say a bright and breezy “hello” and keep walking.

The dog walkers on our estate all chat to each other, socialising is very much part of their exercise routine.

Their poor dog!

There comes a point when you mutually decide to ignore each other and peace resumes.. Until you end up behind them at the only till with a human operating 😂

I always think it’s a bit standoffish to start a thread on a talk forum and then not talk to or thank anyone for engaging 🫤

So you may fall into the camp of Rude and unsociable In RL and could make slightly more effort to interact!

Think this is very common tbh and most streets have a person like this. I’m fairly outgoing and socially comfortable and don’t mind chatting to people but it’s the expectation and the assumption that everyone has 15 minutes to spare in the middle of the working day and that you’re rude if you don’t.

In my previous home there was a woman like this who would involve everyone in her feud with a local guy. It felt like we were always being asked to take sides and was exhausting.

True! It’s one of those strange social conventions we all seem to adhere to;

If you bump into someone you know in the supermarket, it’s polite to acknowledge each other and chat but you both know by aisle 3 you’ll be stonewalling each other and pretending to be engrossed in your shopping list 😂