How Do I Tell People To Back Off?

[samhain]

Over the years, I've gotten pretty good at conveying my interest in conversation without actually using words. People don't like it when you ignore them, particularly in conversations like the ones you mention. Confrontation is all well and good, but the real insult to that kind of person is to let them feel ignored and unwanted. They'll get tired of the one-way conversation and go away.