Freedom of speech doesn’t mean a guaranteed audience for your speech. For example, if people decide not to watch my videos (I’m taping one on the Minneapolis shooter today, by the way), they are not infringing on my freedom of speech. They are simply exercising their freedom not to listen.
What I do in such situations is adopting what somebody recently aptly called “the dotty aunt act.” When people start on their ideological trip, I chime in with a beaming look, “Oh, and I’m sorry for interrupting but I keep wanting to ask, how is your daughter doing in her first weeks of college? That’s so exciting!” or “Oh my God, and sorry for interrupting, but you won’t believe the funny thing that the Dean said.”
I have this perfect little anecdote about how the Dean said in a meeting, “Our university has many delayed maintenance obligations in the amount of a billion dollars”. And as he said that, pieces of stucco started falling from the ceiling right on his head. I already interrupted half a dozen unnecessary conversations with this story.
I understand that this strategy works for some personalities and not others. If you don’t have the dotty aunt look, it might be harder for you.
Does anybody have any suggestions for more seriously looking people?
Clarissa's Blog 
“Does anybody have any suggestions for more seriously looking people?”
The boring baroque response works in all sorts of contexts. Just start telling a pointless story and interrupt yourself every other sentence or so with self-corrections.
“That reminds me of a problem at the office a few weeks ago. Our new assistant manager Ron, was supposed to set up a zoom meeting with colleagues in New Zealand. But instead he got confused and set it up for Australia…. I think it was Brisbane because we used to have a branch there…. or was it Melbourne which is those is further South, that’s important because the weather is supposed to be very different.. you know how different the weather can be in the North and South of this state, why this last year it was snowing in February… or was it March, I think it must have been march because it was almost Spring, and anyway with this Australia thing it’s easy to forget hos big that county is….”
Another tactic that works well is to Not. Understand.
A: Well their daughter said ‘they’ are non-binary…
Me: Non…???
A: Non-binary
Me: What’s that?
A: they don’t identify as male or female.
Me: I don’t understand.
A: (bunch of blather)
Me: What does that mean? (continue until they change the topic)
LikeLike
I have a colleague who is a clear, pithy, strong communicator. But sometimes he turns into a blubbering, confused, wordy mess. He’s young, so it’s not age-related. I always wondered why that was.
After reading this comment, I started to suspect something.
Hmm.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Oh, dear, look at the time!”
and
“This is terribly embarrassing and you probably don’t want to know about it, and I’m so sorry, but my colitis is acting up again.”
…followed by a quick exit, are traditional and effective ways of leaving a conversation.
LikeLiked by 2 people
People do think I suffer from a range of gastrointestinal problems that I never had. 😆😆
LikeLiked by 1 person
“my colitis is acting up again”
If a woman wants to get away from a group of male colleagues… a quick mention of ‘lady problems’ is very effective, for sure, no questions will be asked.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“I have a very hard time removing myself from conversations politely.”
Yeah, and usually you are well and truly trapped ;-D
LikeLike
It’s like you peered deep into my soul and understood me profoundly with this meme.
LikeLike