I hate having to look at others' photos!!

salamacum · #1 13th September 2009, 01:30 PM

Visited a Christian acquaintance this afternoon. I was kindly invited for lunch so had to be on best behaviour.

The quid pro quo of the meal was to listen to an account of a short practical Christian visit to East Europe and see some photos.

Now this acquaintance is quite garrulous at the best of times and she now has had an impressive experience.

Well we listened non-stop (couldn't get a word in edgeways) over the meal and then my heart sank when I saw the photos. Three fat wallets - it was about 150 photos.

She never let go of each one until she'd explained the content, the people, the place, the activity.

I know - I should exercise grace.

But don't people understand how it is for the guest. It's the lack of empathy.

I remember another encounter where we were shown the same climbling frame on an activity holiday 40 - 50 times (from different angles) with a proud father commenting on the physical prowess of a favourite son.

Not once did he acknowledge that they were a bit 'samey'.

I've come to the conclusion that many Christians just long for a listening ear.

And holiday or other snaps are an opportunity to have a captive audience.

Is there a morally acceptable escape strategy?

NorrinRadd · #2 15th September 2009, 01:56 AM

Originally Posted by salamacum

Visited a Christian acquaintance this afternoon. I was kindly invited for lunch so had to be on best behaviour.

The quid pro quo of the meal was to listen to an account of a short practical Christian visit to East Europe and see some photos.

Now this acquaintance is quite garrulous at the best of times and she now has had an impressive experience.

Well we listened non-stop (couldn't get a word in edgeways) over the meal and then my heart sank when I saw the photos. Three fat wallets - it was about 150 photos.

She never let go of each one until she'd explained the content, the people, the place, the activity.

I know - I should exercise grace.

But don't people understand how it is for the guest. It's the lack of empathy.

I remember another encounter where we were shown the same climbling frame on an activity holiday 40 - 50 times (from different angles) with a proud father commenting on the physical prowess of a favourite son.

Not once did he acknowledge that they were a bit 'samey'.

I've come to the conclusion that many Christians just long for a listening ear.

And holiday or other snaps are an opportunity to have a captive audience.

Is there a morally acceptable escape strategy?

Well, you could try, "I'm sorry, I didn't hear a thing you were saying about those pics. I was busy staring at your zoomers." Of course, that probably fails the "morally acceptable" test, but...

salamacum · #3 15th September 2009, 04:00 AM

Trouble was, she was too far away on a separate sofa. The photos came down the line! She wouldn't have believed me and if she did, she would have passed them around again!

Tangible · #4 15th September 2009, 02:03 PM

I have a cousin like that. Every family get-together here come the scrapbooks.

I usually look for a few minutes, then find reason to excuse myself.

ebia · #5 23rd September 2009, 04:31 AM

Originally Posted by salamacum

Visited a Christian acquaintance this afternoon. I was kindly invited for lunch so had to be on best behaviour.

Is there a morally acceptable escape strategy?

Perhaps, "I'm in a bit of hurry but I would love to hear the editted highlights - would that be possible?"

Caliboy · #6 19th December 2009, 08:00 AM

I like looking at vacation pics.

salamacum · #7 19th December 2009, 08:25 AM

A similar thing I experience this morning. It's to do with lack of empathy - the inability to swap roles and put yourself in another shoes.
It's the inability to LISTEN and just shut up for a minute, without having to top/improve on an experience the other person had or to give the other person the benefit of your theology/life-experience or bible-knowledge.
No wonder we can't witness to the world.

KatAutumn · #8 20th December 2009, 11:34 AM

Bless her heart. My grandmother is like that. One year her sister and brother-in-law generously paid for her to vacation with them in Martha's Vineyard. She brought back a Black Dog coffee mug for my dad and she took thirty minutes to tell the story behind the dog and why he's the mascot of Martha's Vineyard. She also has to tell a lengthy story about every photograph. Yeah, sometimes it wears on you.

I'm reminded of George Carlin's sketch about how to tactfully bow out of looking at someone's endless array of kid photos. Is there a way to gracefully excuse yourself from the situation? I suppose it depends on the host(ess) and the situation. For example, if you've been invited to dinner and the pictures come out prior to the meal being served, you can't very well say you have a prior engagement and you need to leave in a hurry. I also, personally, prefer to not lie and tell someone I have an emergency.

Originally Posted by salamacum

It's the inability to LISTEN and just shut up for a minute, without having to top/improve on an experience the other person had or to give the other person the benefit of your theology/life-experience or bible-knowledge.

That's true. I suppose it falls under the saying, "the reason God gave us two ears, but only one mouth, is so we can listen twice as much as we speak."

nikkipompom · #9 29th January 2010, 12:50 PM

Arghhhhhh. I always feel trapped. Ha. I got a few people like this in my circle of friends.

Maviga · #10 14th March 2010, 07:14 AM

Such things can really get to me to!!
I mean the first 35 pics you may be genuinly interested and all the aah's and ooh's come spontaneously. After that though it's getting harder and when the person just keeps on going without any sense if the other is happy to sit there and listen or just really wants a break. It's an annoying situation and hard to get out of. Not sure what the answer is, sorry.