Is it normal that i don't know how to polietly end a conversation?

I have never been good at ending conversations... whether in person, via text messages or via email.

I always wait for the other person to indicate that they need to go... For some reason I feel akward ending a conversation first, and am worried that the other people will get offended and think I am being rude.

:(

A particular family member likes to chat via text messages throughout the day. She will send 50+ messages a day and will expect a response to all her questions, and comments to all her comments. It just goes on for ever and is extremely annoying. Any tips on dealing with these kids of people

Also, how can I improve in ending conversations polietly in person?

I better do some work (when at work)
I better let you go
I've gotta go

All of the above for some reason sound rude to me :(

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88% Normal
Based on 24 votes (21 yes)
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Comments ( 20 )
  • Avant-Garde

    This has happened to me every now and then but it's definitely more awkward for me to do it offline, for some reason. I think it's because when doing something like e-mail you are given extra time to think of closers and think over your words, you can't really do that in a public setting.

    I almost always end up saying something I regret because I often feel like I'm being rushed to answer a question. If you aren't comfortable with the person it can further make things awkward. I know I have had many awkward conversations when trying to contemplate not only how to progress the conversation but bring it to a end too. (All this being for offline situations.)

    The things you mentioned as closers don't sound that bad. As long as they can get the job done without coming off as being rude, that's good. Heck! You shouldn't even have to tell them why you are going. However, some people won't take a simple goodbye for an answer. In that case you'll either have to ignore them or lay the law down!

    As for people sending 50+ texts. Tell them exactly how you feel. Don't mince your words to appease them. Be straightforward and honest.

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    • robbieforgotpw

      All I usually have to do is gas myself and things end quickly
      *turbo gasses the area

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      • Avant-Garde

        It wouldn't end quite so quickly if it were more socially acceptable to wear gas masks in public.

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        • robbieforgotpw

          You accept me as I am don't you?

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          • Avant-Garde

            I suppose so. How could I not?

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            • robbieforgotpw

              Pigpen in the Peanuts cartoon wanted friends just like me. Charlie Brown was Pigpen's friend.

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  • StarTeddy

    Something like "I've gotta go now, I'll talk to you later" should be okay, or "I need to get back to work now but it was nice talking to you".

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  • GoraIntoDesiGals

    BRB (but never do)

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    • StarTeddy

      I think that's definitely rude. They'll stay waiting but you'll never be back.

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  • EthelBlumpkin

    All you have to do is contort your face when they are mid-sentence and say,

    "Please excuse me, I don't mean to interrupt, but I have to take a massive sh*t"

    Then run away.

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  • RoseIsabella

    I have that problem too sometimes so in real life I can be more reserved to kinda keep certain people at bay. For instance, in the case of your female relative, her expectation of a response would make me feel compelled to ignore her and give her no response at all.

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  • Mark92

    Neither do I!

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  • Terence_the_viking

    It was nice catching up with i need to go now maybe we can do this again some time.

    Or fart and they will just leave.

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  • amidone?

    This is something I've encountered as well.

    Social circumstances are always riddled with awkwardness. If you ask me, I'd say embarrassment is a prominent means of social propagation- probably form being so prevalent common.

    The ending of conversations get even worse when you feel it taper off, but somehow feel obliged to perpetuate it, at least out of politeness.

    But consider this, these situations are actually something of a paradox in that either party is trapped within the same situation. Think about the fact that maybe the other person is also looking for signs to end it, and how. Knowing this, rather considering this, it should come to down to being as simple as: 'well, nice catching up (/that's cool/alright then -you know, depending on the circumstance) or something a little more ambiguous, give it a second, feign some degree of urgency and end it as you begin to walk away with as short a sentence full of politeness as possible and be off. Punctuate with a smile. This being face-to-face conversation-wise.

    Digitally, its much simpler. You could cease to reply until much later and state a random need to have left. Or a battery drain. Or a random distraction- that actually isn't rude under this. It is much simpler because it gives you enough time to come up with an excuse before you have to face the person.

    So, yeah. I hope that helped. :)

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