Omniverse Venting Thread

[Strazio Rockwell]

A few things I've learned from having to deal with people as part of my job that may or may not help you.

- In a group setting whoever is the dominant speaker tends to position themselves so everyone else is staring at them (hard to describe, but imagine they are the point of a triangle and everyone else is the opposite edge). If you want to join the conversation and become the dominant speaker come in behind and slightly to the side of the speaker. This forces them to reorientate themselves to where they give up the dominant position.

- If you wish to get a word in edgewise with someone who apparently doesn't need to breath, drop something (pen, loose change, soda bottle cap, anything innocuous really). Bend down to pick it up and as you come up start speaking. Most people will pause for a moment as you bend to grab your item and if you start speaking on the upswing you can take the reigns of a conversation.

- If people are constantly interrupting you train yourself to ignore them and finish what you're saying. This one is very hard to do because you instinctively want to stop talking and listen, but it works wonders against most people that butt in. If you're speaking you have the baton and they're the rude ones for trying to interject inappropriately, not you for finishing your thought.

The key with all of this is subtlety, and it doesn't work all the time so picking and choosing your battles is important. I don't really know you or your family so this is all just generic advice that I've picked up from being a people wrangler for the past few years. One thing that I think a lot of relationships (professional, personal, romantic, etc) lack is communication. It can be very uncomfortable and sometimes hurt feelings, but sometimes sitting down with people and having real talk about what you feel is an issue can be the best thing. Again you know your situation better than I do, but if it is really bothering you it might be worth letting them know about it.