Do you read?

Question

If you do maybe you can relate to my question? Why is it when people see you with your nose in a book, they take that as an open inventation to start a long winded conversation with you? I love to read but find it hard to find the time to devote to it as much as I would like. I usually ride the bus into work each afternoon and like to read then. Why do people insist on interupting you with one question after the other? Can someone please explain this to me?

Answer 1

Argh yes. I know exactly what you mean. People interpret it as 'I am reading cos I am bored and have nothing else to do' and so assume you are free to be interrupted. I absolutely hate it. In my family, locking ourselves in a bathroom and sitting on the floor with back to radiator was the best way to have a good read. Sometimes you wouldn't be missed for hours.

Answer 2

Yes, I love to read and I will even read while having to stand in a long line (such as Drivers' License Renewal, or even at the bank).

It has not been my experience that people will interrupt, except to show interest in the book I'm reading---to say: "Oh, I've read that" or "Is that a good book?"

Standing in line is virtually the only reading I do in public (except maybe at the park), so maybe that's the difference in our experiences. Maybe riding a bus breeds more familiarity---if people see some of the same people day after day, perhaps they feel less inhibited to talk to another rider. Or maybe, it's that riding a bus can be so boring that they will even interrupt someone who is obviously busy, for the sake of a little conversation.
Or...(and this is most likely)...you look friendly enough that people are not too intimidated to interrupt you, feeling you might be kind.

Answer 3

I think I understand your situation. I also read while a bus stops sometime in a traffic jam but there was a lady, a Peace Corps volunteer, politely asked what I read and I was glad to share my information on the book and its author. Some people are simply curious, they don't mean to interrupt your reading, therefore, they should be informed briefly on the matter. Then, you might say I'm sorry I don't have time for you, I need to finish it for my boss or whatever. I think, again, some people are envious when they see someone reading a book with no interest to the outside world around him/her. Thus, it's a matter of wise tactics to be kind and sweet to them and when they're used to what you usually do, they won't disturb you. Good luck.

Answer 4

There is nothing more frustrating than getting into a good book and have someone just start picking at you, I know my husband and children all do it. On the bus I would get myself a nice set of headphones (they don't have to be plugged into anything) and make it very obvious that you are not open to being disturbed...with the headphones you can legitimately ignore people and they will think you can't hear them. Good luck.

Answer 5

Yes! I love to read but it's true, it's hard to find uninturrupted time.

I used to try to read in the lunchroom at work and people would see me sitting there alone and stop to chat. Maybe non-readers don't understand how much fun it is to get "into" a book. Kind of like how I don't understand why my boyfriend is bothered when I try to talk to him when he's watching tv. ;-)

Answer 6

I don't really get a lot of time to just read for fun because I go to a private school and am always doing homework. But I really do like to read U2 By U2, if you consider that a book, which I do, and Harry Potter. Otherwise, I don't really get to read. To answer your original question, I don't know why people interrupt. Maybe they don't like reading, so they think they are doing you a favour and saving you from reading a book. Dunno.

Answer 7

I don't know. That's one of life's unanswerable questions.

The closest I've ever come to actually killing someone was when a dude kept wanting to talk to me while I was reading "Time Enough For Love". I finally said, "Dude, I don't know if it would kill you but if I smack you upside the head with a 3 pound book it will probably do some damage."

Answer 8

People are naturally nosy, if you are reading a book in public and it looks like an interesting book, they want to know what you are reading, so that they can decide whether or not they want to read the same book as you. If it really bugs you be straight forward and say to them please don't ask me questions I am trying to read and you are putting me off my concentration.

People will generally respect your wishes unless they are arseholes.

Enjoy my reading alone too.

Jade

Answer 9

I don't know, but this reminds me of a scene early on in "The Catcher in the Rye" when Holden Caulfield is sitting in his dorm room reading a book and his annoying neighbor comes in and starts chewing his ear off. This guy (I think his name was Ackley) drones on and on and then finally asks Holden how his book is. Holden replies "Well, this SENTENCE I'm reading is fantastic!" implying that this Ackley was making it really hard for him to concentrate.

I guess that's my long-winded way of saying they do it because they don't have a clue!

Answer 10

I have no idea why people insist on talking, my friend ALWAYS starts talking when i pull out a book to read. but whenever she pulls out a book i don't talk at all. it is really annoying, most people are just curious but some just like to annoy you,