Well, you can't quite know about the "whole time" until its over can you? But you can tell people who have diarhea of the mouth for whatever reason.
I will talk to people who talk to me, and don't start conversations much as I prefer silence. But if they talk, so will I. I will get an idea of them as we talk. When I think I am talking to someone who can't take a hint, I will still talk beyond my enjoyment or actual tolerance and move into ignoring them both as a test and because I am beyond my tolerance. Let it go for a while then tell ask them point blank to let me read my book or let me sleep. If they can't handle that I will start being direct and tell them they need to learn some self-control or something. Nicely, but direct.
Just be blunt and say this is meaningless banter and I really don't care. It solves everything - fast. What would really suck is if you crashed with the babbling fool - my guess a yappy Canadian.
I guess I'd participate in the conversation as long as the person isn't trying to convert me to his or her religion. I have actually met a couple of interesting people that way. In any case, I am unable to sleep on planes and don't find the films they show to be very entertaining. It's a good way to pass the time.
Too true, Pukey. I remember trying to get out of talking to a guy from Bolivia by pretending to be German and not understanding English. Problem was, he was a research agricultural scientist who'd lived and studied in Frankfurt for seven years. And I don't speak a word of German. Major embarrassment.
jforce Re: "yappy Canadian"
As a Canadian I take umbrage at your remark. In fact, I have a thing or two I'd like to tell you about that if you can spare a couple hours !
Honestly though, I fly international about twice a year, and Murphy's Law or whatever it is, whenever I sit next to someone who looks genuinely interesting, they don't talk at all, but when it's someone who wants to talk politics or religion or something else generally not appropriate to discuss with a stranger about, those are the ones that want to talk your arm off.
Id enjoy the conversation and be grateful Im sitting next to someone friendly who doesnt seem to mind the pint-szed entourage travelling with me.
Sadly though, most already seated passengers freeze when they see us coming down the aisle, close their eyes and mutter under their breath something like "duck! duck! keep moving witch!" - well, thats what it looks like anyway! Cant say I blame them. I wouldnt even be travelling with the little critters if I had the choice!
Actually I had to live through that situation once. I was on a flight and there was this rather large talkative guy who kept ordering coke after coke after coke. He was a nice guy but hogged the arm rest and talked like a machine gun. rat-a-tat-a-tat. I dealt with him in a kind manner after I had heard enough and told him that I was dead tired and really needed some sleep. He left me alone. There is nothing wrong with being polite and telling someone that you need your sleep. Holding earphones up to your ears like you really, really want to listen to music will help also.
Put on a very heavy accent on top of the language they are speaking and say that you do not understand very well the language they happen to be speaking. Works every time.
Ooops I messed up. I forgot something last night. He left me alone until I woke up and then started talking again. I acted like I really wanted to listen to some music by holding up my headphones, he eventually got the point and THEN left me alone. But would gab at me every time I didn't act like I either wanted to sleep or wanted to listen to music.
I don't let them have the chance to talk to me. Right when the plane is high enough to start using electronc devices my headphones are in my ears and I am reading a book while listening to music.
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pawatan
Ignore them.
paulinusa
Fall asleep or pretend to fall asleep.
Foxie
I will talk to them about completely boring subjects until they fall asleep.
CptCrunch
Well, you can't quite know about the "whole time" until its over can you? But you can tell people who have diarhea of the mouth for whatever reason.
I will talk to people who talk to me, and don't start conversations much as I prefer silence. But if they talk, so will I. I will get an idea of them as we talk. When I think I am talking to someone who can't take a hint, I will still talk beyond my enjoyment or actual tolerance and move into ignoring them both as a test and because I am beyond my tolerance. Let it go for a while then tell ask them point blank to let me read my book or let me sleep. If they can't handle that I will start being direct and tell them they need to learn some self-control or something. Nicely, but direct.
papasmurfinjapan
Tell them you're a Mormon and you want share with them a message about the purpose of life.
Azida Primus
Don't start the conversation, ignore and pretend to sleep or watching movie so i cannot hear the talk anymore
ben4short
Papasmurf, good one. But why limit it to Mormons? Any old self-righteous Christian will also do the trick.
jforce
Just be blunt and say this is meaningless banter and I really don't care. It solves everything - fast. What would really suck is if you crashed with the babbling fool - my guess a yappy Canadian.
HumanTarget
Drink free airline beer until I am clearly belligerent and the guy doesn't want to talk to me anymore
Virtuoso
I guess I'd participate in the conversation as long as the person isn't trying to convert me to his or her religion. I have actually met a couple of interesting people that way. In any case, I am unable to sleep on planes and don't find the films they show to be very entertaining. It's a good way to pass the time.
Pukey2
You're going to regret that if you find out the person's actually a Mormon too.
lucabrasi
Too true, Pukey. I remember trying to get out of talking to a guy from Bolivia by pretending to be German and not understanding English. Problem was, he was a research agricultural scientist who'd lived and studied in Frankfurt for seven years. And I don't speak a word of German. Major embarrassment.
CapnSinbad
jforce Re: "yappy Canadian" As a Canadian I take umbrage at your remark. In fact, I have a thing or two I'd like to tell you about that if you can spare a couple hours !
yabits
That usually always works when people say that to me.
Cos
I tell them I want to sleep (my main on board occupation). And if they want a conversation buddy, I propose them to switch seats with someone else.
Laguna
Quickly pull out the GabbaMeter, agree on a rate, and earn some cash. Otherwise, pretend you're Somalian.
HumanTarget
Honestly though, I fly international about twice a year, and Murphy's Law or whatever it is, whenever I sit next to someone who looks genuinely interesting, they don't talk at all, but when it's someone who wants to talk politics or religion or something else generally not appropriate to discuss with a stranger about, those are the ones that want to talk your arm off.
Nicky Washida
Id enjoy the conversation and be grateful Im sitting next to someone friendly who doesnt seem to mind the pint-szed entourage travelling with me.
Sadly though, most already seated passengers freeze when they see us coming down the aisle, close their eyes and mutter under their breath something like "duck! duck! keep moving witch!" - well, thats what it looks like anyway! Cant say I blame them. I wouldnt even be travelling with the little critters if I had the choice!
nath
Actually I had to live through that situation once. I was on a flight and there was this rather large talkative guy who kept ordering coke after coke after coke. He was a nice guy but hogged the arm rest and talked like a machine gun. rat-a-tat-a-tat. I dealt with him in a kind manner after I had heard enough and told him that I was dead tired and really needed some sleep. He left me alone. There is nothing wrong with being polite and telling someone that you need your sleep. Holding earphones up to your ears like you really, really want to listen to music will help also.
YongYang
Put on a very heavy accent on top of the language they are speaking and say that you do not understand very well the language they happen to be speaking. Works every time.
nath
Ooops I messed up. I forgot something last night. He left me alone until I woke up and then started talking again. I acted like I really wanted to listen to some music by holding up my headphones, he eventually got the point and THEN left me alone. But would gab at me every time I didn't act like I either wanted to sleep or wanted to listen to music.
nath
Ask them to pray with you.
Also on an international flight, special order the Muslim meal. Does wonders. No one wants to talk with you.
genji17
noise cancelling earbuds and airline bottles go far.
Stephen Jez
Absolutely nothing, I put my headphones in and either listen to my mp3 player or play one of my handheld gaming systems.
electric2004
Ask him to to a stroll out the emergency exit.
astrogaijin
I don't let them have the chance to talk to me. Right when the plane is high enough to start using electronc devices my headphones are in my ears and I am reading a book while listening to music.
girlinjapan
earphones and a book. and eyeshades.