We all love it when people pay attention to us or our opinions. But what I am talking about is people who CRAVE and FORCE ATTENTION from others. Not just people who talk a lot, but those that FORCE EVERYONE AROUND THEM TO FOCUS ON THEM AND THEM ONLY.
In one of my classes there is a woman who raises her hand to ask a question, but never really has a question to ask. She talks in this special voice of importance, stumbles around, and when the instructor tries to pin down the question, she says, "no that's not what I mean." She always has terrible accidents, stories of people taking advantage of her, people treating her bad. If it's not about her, she will try to make it about her.
In my opinion, there is someone on this board that hijacks threads, makes accusatory comments, and says crazy things. In fact, that persons only real motive seems to be to get attention, because nothing with that person is ever resolved. Many on this board fall for it and actually address her comments. You can tell by reading a few threads that she skillfully avoids answering questions, and is good at "baiting" the board to rile people up.
At a shoe store a few weeks ago, a woman overheard me talking to my friend about good work shoes. She offered a suggestion as to where we could purchase a good pair. We tried to be nice, and thanked her. But no way would she let us go. She said, "I just want to tell you one more thing..." and then would keep going. It was almost like she WANTED us to be rude to her. I gave her 5 minutes, and then I said, "Well, I have to go, thank you for the chat" and I walked away. She followed us all the way to the door of the store trying to tell us "one more thing" and even followed us outside towards our car, but we just kept walking.
So, my way is usually to give the person the benefit of the doubt at first. I talk a lot myself anyway, so I try to be cool. But when it becomes obvious that their motive is only to take up others' time, then I give them a minute or two, and then I say thanks and walk away no matter if they keep talking. If someone phones me like that, I talk for a couple of minutes, then I say goodbye and hang up.
I have seen these kinds of people both in and out of the Organization.
What is your experience? Do you know people like that? Any success on helping people like that? Or do you just cut them off and say bye?
BF