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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think talking to 15 sperate people in a day isn't really that many?

272 replies

orangesandlemonssaythebellsofstclements · 17/01/2025 15:48

I've seen a meme going round Facebook three times now. Apparently the average number of different people a person talks out loud to in a day is 15.

The comment section is always full of people saying they don't speak to anywhere near that amount of people in a day and some quite horrified by the mere idea of it.

But on three separate occasions, I think I have had fairly quiet days and each time my number has been between 12-18. Is 15 really very much??!!

Today it has been:
My husband and both of my kids
my daughter's teacher
the lady in tesco express
Another mum I saw in tesco express
3 separate customers
my supplier
Two different people on the phone about a bill
A taxi driver

Total: 13

I've only left the house to do school runs and pop to tesco express while out.

So... how many people do you speak to in a day? For the purpose of the experiment, online or messages does not count. It needs to be spoken out loud.

OP posts:
ilovepixie · 17/01/2025 19:12

Today

Mum
Sister
Nephew
Nephew
Man on phone
Woman on phone
Woman in chip shop
My dog
Sisters dog
Nephews dog
Cat
Cat
Does giving the fingers to a bad driver count? 😂😂

PigInADuvet · 17/01/2025 19:15

Today...

Husband and child
Dog walker
2 women in the office at school
A couple of parents in the playground
Teacher, TA and SENCO
Speech therapist
Random other visitor at school
3 colleagues at work and an interviewee
Guy in the lift (x2 one at each end of the day)
Lady on supermarket checkout

I'd say that's about average. Some days it's a lot more. Some days it a lot less if I'm working from home on an admin day and not doing any school runs.

HowAmITheCatsGranny · 17/01/2025 19:16

Today - 2 (ds and his gf)
On a work day - well over 100 (I work in a supermarket so multiple colleagues and lots of customers!)
Add in uni - several fellow students, library staff, coffee shop staff, etc.. well over 15 on those days.

Mermaimum · 17/01/2025 19:18

does WhatsApp, email and mumsnet count? Or just 1 to 1 face to face?

Mermaimum · 17/01/2025 19:19

If they do then 1 person face to face and 2 on WhatsApp and however many quote this post on mumsnet.

Cakeybake · 17/01/2025 19:20

No idea of exact numbers but Secondary school SLT here, I was on the Front gate this morning and said hello/good morning to every student/ group of students that came in, completed my normal day/interactions and was on canteen duty at break and lunch time. There are over 1000 kids, plus staff in the school. Today I probably spoke to about half of them!
Plus my own family, delivery drivers and neighbours.
By the evening I'm done with people.

XWKD · 17/01/2025 19:20

Two most days.

katepilar · 17/01/2025 19:24

It can either be based on some random survey or be just what someone decided to post.
Either way obviously the number of people one speaks to in a day will vary a lot depending on so many factors. Many people will speak to noone some days, or just one or two.
Average number is an average number... I usually dont speak to more then 10.

LindorDoubleChoc · 17/01/2025 19:25

Three. DH, DD and the checkout operator at M&S.

surreygirl1987 · 17/01/2025 19:25

denpark · 17/01/2025 15:50

Oh god. Heading to over a hundred a day at least. But I'm a teacher so that gives a falsely high ratio.

Weekends. Not that many. My social battery is low by then!

Same! Probably more than a 100. Maybe around 20 individual colleagues plus heaps of kids. Couldn't say how many I spoke to at length, but in class discussion I probably speak individually (albeit briefly) at least 20 in every lesson I taught today. I feel exhausted just thinking about it! I'm not even very sociable...

Elefant1 · 17/01/2025 19:29

Probably about 50-60 today, I work in a library.

MissEloiseBridgerton · 17/01/2025 19:33

Yesterday I spoke to my DH, my 2 kids and my Mum.

On a work day, I'd speak to at least 40 people if not more. Very variable

Scribl · 17/01/2025 19:33

Not a soul. I'm a writer. I talk to the people in my head, and that's plenty!

JellyFlooding · 17/01/2025 19:33

Why does phone count but online doesn't?

5 today and that's not unusual. Add another six if you count online.

Basketballhoop · 17/01/2025 19:35

Hmm, thinking...
Husband
Son
2x delivery drivers (ignore the 2 that ran away before I answered the door)
One work call - think there were 7 others on it.

But, that was a day off work, bar that one call. Am housebound post op at the moment so very limited.
A normal work day, easily 5x that and I am fully home based.

Sleepyallday · 17/01/2025 20:41

I’d estimate that I’ve spoken to approximately 60-70 people today. But I am a teacher so it’s probably higher than most.

OTannenbaumOTannenbaum · 17/01/2025 20:42

I only did nursery run and went to the shop but went through self service so didn't even talk to anyone at the shop.

DH
2 x DC
My auntie on video call
2 nursery teachers
1 neighbour
1 neighbours DC
Another mum at the bus stop who we see every morning

9 people and as I say that wasn't me doing much as I spent most of the day at home with an under the weather 2 year old.

If "hi/good morning" counts then around another 5 other parents at nursery drop off :)

Thepeopleversuswork · 17/01/2025 21:19

DP and DD, five different colleagues on Teams, four clients, my financial adviser and a bloke who came to quote for some work on my kitchen.

Thats a relatively people light day for me: when I go into office it’s closer to 40, depending on how many clients I speak to.

unmemorableusername · 17/01/2025 21:33

Today:
4 family members
3 people I know
3 shop assistants

It feels like quite a lot compared with normal.

At my last job 50+ was typical in a day.

I think typical days now will just be 2-5.

Flamingoknees · 17/01/2025 21:39

I'm retired
11 today

dizzydizzydizzy · 17/01/2025 21:39

Do I count customers who I merely say something like "that'll be £17.25 please!" If so
On working days I'll easily reach 100.

On non working days like today, I doubt I'll often reach 15

Today I have spoken to:

2DCs
DM
Julian
Neighbour S
Neighbour J
Train man
TOTAL: 7

mum2jakie · 17/01/2025 21:39

Interesting discussion. Office based today but Fridays are always quieter. I make it 16 people all together, so fairly average! Some days it would be just 4 - others over 50!

MsAnnFrope · 17/01/2025 21:44

Interesting. I was working today in my “sociable” job and went to gym and DD had an activity where I know and talk to parents. So I easily spoke to 40 people.
When I work at home I speak to DH and DD, 2 or 3 colleagues on video call and maybe a neighbour or person in a shop/cafe. So I wouldn’t even get to 10 on those days.

JaceLancs · 17/01/2025 21:51

10-15 most days - I work in an office which varies between 3 and 8 people in on any day, then there’s DS, buying a coffee or going into a shop

fudgesmummy · 17/01/2025 22:12

As usual I have only spoken to my DH today.
I am pretty much housebound as I’m crippled with Osteoarthritis in both my hips.
I can often go a week or more with out speaking to another person other than then him ☹️

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