Q: When I’m on a plane, I prefer to be left alone, so I don’t like it when my seatmate tries to engage me in conversation. Last month, I was trying to read, and the woman next to me wouldn’t stop talking. I kept my responses brief, but she didn’t take the hint. What’s an inoffensive way to cut off such an annoying chatterbox?
A: Anyone who keeps talking after you’ve exhausted all the obvious signals needs to have it spelled out in no uncertain terms. You might smile and say, “I’d like to chat, but I really need to use this time to read. Thanks for understanding.” You can then reinforce your plea by burying yourself in your book. Another tactic is to put on the headphones that airlines supply. Whatever track you take, try to be gracious to your fellow traveler. Nonstop chatting may be annoying, but it’s just a friendly gesture-and a time may come when you’ll welcome the contact.
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This used to happen to me a lot. Headphones are a good idea and response given above is excellent. Someone once told me that I make eye contact often and that is a cue to folks that you want to engage in conversation. I don’t know if this is the case with you, but since I have stopped making eye contact, there have been less unwanted conversations.
Headphones can be a lifesaver in this situation. You don’t have to actually listen to anything, just put them on and people will not talk to you. I carry a little case with earbuds in my travel bag for just this situation.
Hilarious! It really shouldn’t be so difficult to get the point across without saying “Can you stop talking to me? Thanks.” but it really really is sometimes! I am completely deaf in my right ear, so if I am flying alone I usually reserve a window seat, leaving my bad ear facing the rest of the plane. Strangely enough it hasn’t stopped people from tapping on my shoulder repeatedly, even after I awkwardly twist my head around and tell them that I can’t hear in that ear. I keep an eye mask with me now and put it on as soon as I can tell they want to talk and talk and talk… The earphones work pretty well too, but I think people are less comfortable disturbing a nap than a song.
Maggie,
I am a flight attendant and what you do is really dangerous. Don’t do it again. Because in case of an emergency, the cabin crew will give instructions and you won’t hear as well. Remember that even though everybody should keep calm, chances are it will be a lot of noise because of the panic, so having you deaf hear is the good side (the side of the aisle, where the crew will be) is terrible cuz you won’t be able to hear the instructions clearly.
In my company it is a safety procedure and if the others don’t (doesn’t matter if they don’t do it in a normal basis procedure or if it’s just that you didn’t thell the company when purchasing the flight or even directly to the cabin crew) you should start doing it for your own safety!