Cam films me at conferences - which means he has hours of B-roll where I stand side of stage, nodding and smiling politely while someone craps on at length.
This is bad form from me and I need to do better.
We've been talking about getting some little conversation cards printed, with messages like:
- "Try asking me a question."
- "You have lost your original point."
or maybe just:
- "Your time is up."
I will obviously never do this because I am a Kiwi and a woman. Despite being at the rude end of both, that means I'm still quite polite.
We need a cultural shift that OKs the shutting up of insufferable people. This is for our collective good. If we don't tell people to shut up early or often enough, we can't expect any different.
We might think we're being kind by suffering through the chat, but we're actually ruining everyone's life, in the whole world, forever - even, no, especially for the person doing talking. They have no idea how boorish they are and it's our fault.
Normalise telling people to shut up.
Start with me if you like.
Merry Christmas.
A
🎄 About 24 Days of Unpopular Opinions
This December, I'm calling bullshit, to keep you sane over the silly season. Over 24 days, I'll share 24 unpopular opinions - like an advent calendar, but filled with controversy instead of chocolate. Share widely to whoever else needs this.
Catch up on unpopular opinions you might have missed:
December 1: You don't have a strategy
December 2: CEOs are tiny babies
December 3: Women should be ugly and mean
December 4: Leaders are dry drunks
December 5: Conspiracy theorists are right
December 6: We should tell people to shut up
