Disinterest Interrupt

Techniques > Conversation techniques > Steering the conversation > Disinterest Interrupt

Description | Example | Discussion | See also

Description

Indicate that you are are not interested in what the other person has to say.

You can do this explicitly, saying that you are not interested now in what they are talking about, or you can indicate it, perhaps with a Body Language Interrupt or Distraction Interrupt.

The level of disinterest may range from mild boredom to strongly not wanting to hear what is being said.

Example

Look, I'm not interested in going over all that again. What I really came here to say was...

(Yawn). Sorry, what was that again? You know I'm not with it today -- I spend yesterday working late on...

NO. I'm NOT ready to talk about this now...

You know I haven't the faintest I idea what you are talking about...

Discussion

We talk to other people because we believe that they have some interest in what we want to say. When they cut us off or otherwise flag disinterest, the wind is somewhat taken out of our sails and we may thus may pause or stop.

In effect, most interrupts are disinterest interrupts, as they say 'I am more interested in you listening to me than me listening to you.'