Rudeness redux

ANOTHER hidden rule? Everyone else uses "busy" to mean "no interruptions". Everyone else manages to start their IMs' simply with "hi, busy?" - tainting their communications with a slab of humour, another of those rules you believe applies only to you.

So, in summary: you have a hidden definition of "common courtesy": it's everyone else's problem, never yours: and yo udon't hesitate to break your own rules when it comes to handling other people. I see from your SL profile you're a member of MENSA; this explains a lot. I lectured to MENSA, by invitation, on sex, money and power, at Cambridge, back in the 90's, without ever having been a member: I am saddened to see that the "nobody else has a brain" attitude hasn't softened one tiny little bit.

do enjoy your isolation.

Those who have met me inworld may be aware that at times I can be preternaturally loquacious, at least whilst I am not simultaneously editing five different scripts and three different parameters (I actually created a Scripting Hat to wear in such circumstances). Others are not so, and certain customers and visitors do not wish to converse.

My usual behaviour if a customer happens to visit whilst I am not insanely busy is to approach and say something along the lines of "Hello, good afternoon! If you would like to ask me any questions or see a demonstration of any products, please do ask - I shall be here at the back if you need me" and then withdraw. That way whoever it is feels no particular pressure to speak if they don't feel like it, yet is aware that I am willing to reply myself.

That is in my commercial outlet of course. Were I to own a residential property, and some chap or chapess wandered in without a word and refused to respond, I would doubtless take it much more personally. I do not particularly like to talk when I am shopping so I can sympathise with the former, but my parlour is not an adventure playground.