tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37050117.post-1165775445879063192006-12-10T10:30:00.000-08:002006-12-10T18:55:52.026-08:00Somebody help me out here. What do you do about a person who can’t decide whether to leave or stay? You know the type. You may even be the type. They say goodbye and start to leave, but as soon as they’ve got the door open they stop, turn around, and strike up a brand new conversation with you. The conversation is fine, but they’re standing there holding the door wide open. They won’t come back in. They won’t finish leaving. They just stand there talking. Have these people never had to pay a utility bill before? Shut the door! Either come back inside and talk to me some more or shut up and go home! <p class="MsoNormal">So what’s the proper etiquette in a situation like this? I’ve resisted the urge to shove them on out the door and slam it in their face. Surely that would be rude. It’s also somewhat rude to let them show themselves out. Plus, you’ll inevitably discover that they failed to properly secure the door when they left. If you gently force them out the door and follow them to continue the conversation you’ll get the door shut, but then you’re outside in the weather. This can be a problem at certain times of the year when your guest is dressed for the weather and you are not. How many of you have been stuck standing on the front porch in a t-shirt and shorts talking to someone who won’t leave for 15 minutes? </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I’ve resorted to inviting them back inside before and that usually works. Unfortunately, you end up going through the same process all over again when they finish the conversation and once again decide to leave. What is it about these people that cause them to come up with something new to say when they’re halfway out the door? If they’d stayed inside for another 10 minutes they wouldn’t utter a word, but get them halfway out the door and they can’t stop talking. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">What I’d really like to do is go visit these people’s home and open all of their windows, but they probably wouldn’t get the point. I’ve thought about holding their door open in retribution, but it’s not in my nature. Once I’m done talking, I’m done talking. There’s nothing magical about crossing the threshold of the door for me. There is no sudden conversational spark that ignites in my mind. I could stop in their doorway and allow their heat to escape into the night, but I wouldn’t have anything to say. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I just don’t know what to do about these people but here’s a suggestion for them: When a new topic springs to mind, just hold on to it until your next visit. I really don’t want to discuss it in my doorway. </p>Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08031881975630647735noreply@blogger.com