18:23:05 Sat
Dec 18 2004
| Re: Abby 12/16 - Give Restaurant Eavesdropper Something to Listen to |
| Quote: ketz |
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She does seem to be getting into the liquor cabinet this week. Maybe it's the holiday parties.
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valjean 04:08:14 Sat Dec 18 2004 |
My husband and I tried to ignore it, however, it put a damper on our nice evening. How should we tell nosy people to "butt out" of our dinner conversation? -- CONVERSATIONALLY SPEAKING IN DELAWARE DEAR CONVERSATIONALLY SPEAKING: You and your husband missed an opportunity to have some fun. If you invent wild enough dialogue, the reaction can be funnier than a floor show. You could have raised your voices just a bit and begun discussing how you were going to spend the "drug money" -- or which girl you planned to send on the next "call." Short of asking to be seated at another table, there is no foolproof way to discourage nosy eavesdroppers. |
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Peppergal 04:23:34 Sat Dec 18 2004 |
Did it occur that perhaps, they were speaking too loudly? Maybe they need hearing aids…I was in Wendy's with my family once and two old fellers two tables away were talking about health issues…one guy was frankly sharing his colonoscopy, and something about his bag and emptying it, and being catheterized, and something about his penis, etc…it was quite gross - though all medical, not in a base or crude way - they looked like rather dignified old guys… and you couldn't help but hear it. I really doubt they had any idea half the restaurant could hear them. |
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ketzpjz 18:01:05 Sat Dec 18 2004 |
I think a FAR less potentially self-destructive approach would be (as soon as one notices one's conversation is being listened in on), to just start talking sheer jiberish to each other (e.g. 'Blah, blah,BLAH, blah-blah, blah, blah-BLAH, etc') making sure to change inflections, tones and intonations of the blahs every so often. The other couple would either have to laugh or just lose interest FAST- and it would discourage them from wanting to listen in to others' private conversations (which was the whole POINT the correspondents were trying to seek guidance for)!. This has gotta be among the Top 100 of Abby, Jr.'s STOOPIDEST Answers!:bonkhead: |
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valjean 18:23:05 Sat Dec 18 2004 |
She does seem to be getting into the liquor cabinet this week. Maybe it's the holiday parties.
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suzarama2 01:32:04 Sun Dec 19 2004 |
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jimbo9 04:27:52 Sun Dec 19 2004 |
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valjean 04:33:35 Sun Dec 19 2004 |
Personally, I like to stare back at them. See who blinks. |
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jimbo9 04:38:35 Sun Dec 19 2004 |
 type.
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siblygirl 00:55:35 Wed Mar 23 2005 |
As a police officer who has had to waste significant time and resources following up on such reports of "suspicious behavior," I'm surprised you would encourage such an irresponsible action. Our nation's homeland security is of paramount importance these days, and our governing leaders have requested help from the public in "remaining vigilant" and reporting suspicious behavior to the proper authorities. Fifty lashes with a wet noodle to you for failing to consider the consequences of your ill-advised recommendation. What were you thinking? -- DAN HOFFMAN, DEPUTY CHIEF, FAIRBANKS (ALASKA) POLICE DEPT. DEAR DEPUTY CHIEF HOFFMAN: I was thinking about having some fun, not about homeland security. In the light of the sober times we live in, however, I probably should have played it straighter. On a lighter note, quite a few readers wrote to describe how they have handled the situation. Read on for a sample: DEAR ABBY: My husband and I have a suggestion. Talk about "Aunt Tilly's" recent operation with details so graphic that only the strongest stomach could hold its contents. Or, perhaps, mention "Cousin Mandy's" little boy throwing up all over the wedding cake at someone's reception. -- MARGARET IN SWOOPE, VA. DEAR MARGARET: That could, indeed, work. Read on: DEAR ABBY: I had the same experience. Since everyone at my table was in the medical field, I began describing an extremely grisly autopsy I had been involved in. Within five minutes, the couple at the nearby table had paid their bill and left their food. While they may have not been "cured" of listening, they certainly got their "dose" of reality. -- STEPHEN IN THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS DEAR STEPHEN; Your eavesdroppers must not have been fans of the currently popular TV crime series and their spin-offs. DEAR ABBY: Some friends and I were eating in a restaurant that featured a large atrium and all kinds of plants hanging from the rafters. When we realized we were being listened to, my friend's wife started telling everyone at the table how -- in order to control the bug population in the plants -- they had hundreds of lizards living in the foliage. "Nosy Rosy" went screaming from the restaurant with her coat pulled over her head. I guess she was afraid of lizards. -- JOHN IN WELLINGTON, OHIO DEAR JOHN: Leapin' lizards -- your friend was creative. DEAR ABBY: Here's my technique. I lean over to the rude eavesdroppers and smile. Then I invite them to scoot their chairs a little closer, so they can hear our conversation more easily. It usually embarrasses them into stopping. -- MARTHA IN DALHART, TEXAS DEAR MARTHA: Not everyone is as straightforward as you. DEAR ABBY: Some people need to be reminded about good manners. When I'm in that situation I confront them and ask, "Are we talking too loud? If not, how about giving us some privacy?" and continuing eye contact until they stop. -- AIDA IN RAPID CITY, S.C. DEAR AIDA: Interesting you should mention it, because several people suggested that the volume of the conversation might have been the problem to begin with. |
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TragicallyHipper 02:39:41 Wed Mar 23 2005 |
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Peppergal 03:49:56 Wed Mar 23 2005 |
heh heh, too bad you're not. |
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SarahJane 04:17:32 Wed Mar 23 2005 |
~ Sarah Jane |
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valjean 05:38:38 Wed Mar 23 2005 |
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ketzpjz 16:44:59 Wed Mar 23 2005 |
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april_wino1 04:08:00 Thu Mar 24 2005 |
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pyxi_styx 17:29:49 Thu Mar 24 2005 |
Peace out. 
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hipgurl 06:23:04 Fri Mar 25 2005 |
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Emily_Garfunkel 20:36:59 Fri Mar 25 2005 |
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tragicallyhip_babe 21:39:25 Fri Mar 25 2005 |
Keep Hipping! 
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TragicallyHipper 22:27:44 Fri Mar 25 2005 |
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AprilWineChick 00:36:31 Sat Mar 26 2005 |
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Holly_Green 02:44:58 Sat Mar 26 2005 |
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