I can be a terrible bore when talking about my chronic allergies or compound hyphenation, but I am hypersensitive to the second I see anyone's eyes drift or glaze over. And who knows how long that takes! But the second I do, I try to steer the conversation to more interesting waters, like your allergies.
Whether it's body language or canned responses, I'm sure you all have grace-saving tactics to recognize when you've said enough. How do you know when it's time to change it up?
Ed Hardy
Miss Selfridge
La Perla
when the other person stops responding (physically, verbally, with words or with mmmhmmms etc.)...then you can tell they aren't listening anymore
1i agree with skigurl. also, when the person starts looking away or checking something (watch, phone).
2Shifty eyes, glancing around the room, is always a sign I notice. And I'll admit, when I'm drinking, I have a much harder time picking up such cues.
3Same here -- I just read the other person's body language. Generally, I would politely change the topic, or gracefully stop talking. However, if think I'm saying something important (and it would behoove the person to pay attention), I would gently confront the person. I would say,"Listen," and quickly wrap-up what I'm saying.
While I generally respect when someone stops paying attention to me, sometimes I need to confront them about it.
4I'm with nancita, when they have to often of a wandering eye I now I've lost them.
5When the person starts looking around the room.
6I work with all girls and they just interrupt and talk over me if I'm boring them. It's rude, but it definitely gets the point across.
7OMG-I have chronic allergies too! Call me anytime; I never get tired of discussing them.
8LOL @ jadenirvana
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