Turning My Back On The Non-Askers™

Finally, a matter you can control

Turning My Back On The Non-Askers™

A few days ago I went to a bar with old friends and new acquaintances. I started talking to one of the women I just met. I am often hopeful when I meet a new person that I am about to have an interesting conversation, to make a friend. Some would call this optimism, others, foolishness.

I asked this woman a question about her work and she gave an interesting answer. Then I asked her a question about where she had grown up and she gave me another interesting answer, which she then expanded upon. I offered one or two things about myself that built upon what she said, she behaved as if I had said nothing and went back to talking about something else that had to do with her.

There was nothing wrong with the content of what she shared. She was lively, intelligent, engaged, reflective, self-deprecating, and emotionally complex.

What she was not was about to ask me anything about myself.

When she got to the end of a story, she just looked at me, like, “Ok, what’s next.” I gave her a few chances to express even the smallest bit of curiosity which was not forthcoming. I could not stick with this situation.