Do you like talking about yourself and what's happening in your life?

Exactly same for me. I have to think twice to remember that other people might feel the same and be interested in me. Therefore I try to talk about myself just to be polite, but it's kind of a strain. Except with close friends.

 

Well put. And another thing - I dislike when someone gets impressed by something I have done. I think the relationship gets distorted if that happens, so I tend to tone myself down.

 

I do like talking about my day, if someone asks about it

But I also like asking people that question. . . because to me, if they do tell me something other than the usual 'it was good', then I believe they are opening up more to me. . . sort of welcoming me into their personal life. . . I like it

 

At 57, I know myself very well. It kinda depends on who I am talking with as far as "how are you" type stuff is concerned. If someone I've known for a long time asks, I'll bring out the details, and that is usually a two way street. If it's a stranger, or someone I don't know well, it will be superficial and "social" in tone.

 

I agree to this as well, but if it's something a person you've known for a long time hasn't said to you yet. . . there's a little bit of a victory in that. . I think. especially if they keep telling me about their day in the days that follow. . .

from what i gather. . you don't really share your day with other people. . .
would it mean that you trusted a person if you did share how your day went?

 

+1

 

If it's people I am not close with, I don't mind it as long as it remains conversational and not too many personal questions that feel like an interrogation. I am a very private person, and I will not get into the details of my life. (Also, my life is complicated and I'd rather not explain it to every single person I meet, because there's a possibility they won't able to relate or understand what I am talking about)

 

I don't enjoy talking about myself that much. As a result I often find myself surrounded by people that can't stop talking about themselves. You would think this to be an ideal situation. But as I get older, I find more and more that I desire the sense that others are interested in me. I don't get this vibe from those I am close to.

Yea, I love to discuss ideas. But when I try to express myself, I'm most often interrupted. I welcome interruptions that allow the focus to shift to someone else. But it seems that those prone to interrupting do this also when I'm trying tell them about what I've been thinking about. After the third interruption, I usually give up.

 

I do, every once in a while, especially if the person is showing friendly, genuine interest...But usually, i am much more interested in what other people have to share. I love hearing their stories because it let's me view life from different perspectives

 

I like talking about my thoughts and asking other people about theirs, but I don't like the feeling of a person asking me a bazillion questions. I'd rather be asked: "What's been on your mind lately?"


My favorite conversations are imaginative and playful. Or discussions that lead to an insight of some kind. Otherwise, I'd prefer to do something instead of talk. The absolute worst is when we just did something together and they want to reminisce--in concrete terms--about the thing that just happened. In my head, I'm thinking: YEAH, I KNOW! I WAS THERE!


But I don't say this, because it's rude.

 

i wonder how many people didn't answer this because they disliked it?

 

In some senses I do enjoy it, in others I don't. It really comes down to what is going on, and who would become informed of this. I will not lie I tend to focus more on the positive aspects of my life, and when I do focus on something negative, I try to spin it to make it lighter. When I act all doom and gloom I feel like I am just trying to elict a sympathetic response in others and that makes me feel bad. As such I will avoid it. Even something as simple as facebook statuses make me act this way.

With my close friends, I will explain to them (most of the time) in high detail what is going on in my life. On here I will do the same, but it is more so I can get my thoughts down on paper(text). The fact that I know some people will read it, gives me a sense of satisfaction that I am not completely "alone" in a sense. Even then I still sort of feel guilty about that.

If someone asks me how things are going and I don't want to tell them the details I either make it more or less positive, short, or I will flat out ignore it. The reasons behind this are very diverse and often specefic for different people, but the action usually remains the sense. It just feels like I will be using too much energy to explain something going on in my life to them, and I don't want to expend that energy.