How do you deal with people who talk a lot but don't listen?

@thehorse You say "can you hold on a moment, I need to nip behind that bush - I've had awful diahorrhea all day". Then you nip behind the bush and disappear. Problem solved.

doesn't matter to me.I cannot hear some of the conversation.

I have a SIL kind of like that. She will go off on a tangent and it's hard to get a word in edgewise. And if I ask her about a certain thing, she'll start to tell me but veer off course telling a story about one of the participants then maybe someone that person knew and I have to get her back on the subject only to have her go off again. If you ask her how her friend got into a car wreck you might get an answer in about 30 minutes but you'll have to re-ask your question repeatedly! Talking to her is not hard, you just have to listen and insert some monosyllables every so often. But she has a heart of gold and will do her best to listen if I have a real issue I need to talk about! When we get together we do so at her house--then I'm not trapped and can leave whenever I want. I think we learn to be better conversationalists from people like this because they teach us how it feels when someone doesn't value your ideas or feelings. It makes us more sensitive to the needs of others when our own needs are ignored. Did you know this guy was like this? Now you know not to isolate yourself with him again!

My friend simply tells me to be quiet so she can get a word in. And yes, I do listen.

I'd probably be switching off but then I'd get caught out. Think of it this way - he no doubt thought you both had an excellent day out.

I will just tell them shut up and listen to me first

Just as long as it's two hours and it's the last time I'll be with that friend coz I don't want to have a friend like that at all.

I'm afraid I'm one of these people. I talk a lot and I interrupt people .. I don't mean to, I just have all these ideas buzzing around in my head which pour out of the hole in the front of my head. It's very annoying apparently

This discussion hits me hard. Someone I love is like this. I don't think he knows he does it, though I've tried to tell him he needs to let others talk, too. I'm not sure how to help him. I think he can't always remember what stories he's told to people before.

My mom always talked and never listened, I did what my father used to do. Nodded time by time without listening at all what she said. Time by time I was caught by surprise when she asked something and I had no idea what she was talking about.

Mental note: find new hike buddy. Or extra chewy toffee...

I zone out their droning.

I just let them talk all they want and I will give sarcastic replies. I am sorry if that was a straight answer but then I am in a situation where I have to save my energy for something worthwhile.

I don't listen too when they talk

nod and make "mmm-hmm" noises a lot..and tune them out.that's what i do.

That would be annoying, but it is worse to be stuck with someone who asks the same questions over and over. I know someone who does that..I don't think he has Alzheimers but some degree of brain damage must exist. It is a question like How are you coping?? I mean huh? I should say, I would be coping alot better if I didn't have to keep answering that question every time I see you...lol.

I know people like that and yesterday, I was on the phone with someone who talks and talks but wont listen. I just had to make an excuse for why I had to get off the phone.

HA! I have one in the house, I sometimes only respond to the serious in pain moaning since he talks all the time. I have learned to space them out, auto yeah, yeah, yeah. If I get that quiet, you`re boring to me and I won`t come back for seconds.

I wouldn't go hiking with this friend again. One sided conversations are not healthy and very selfish. :-(