DEAR ABBY: I have a male friend who is a nonstop talker. He talks constantly during a meal and doesn't even stop when eating. He's so rude that he won't let a person finish a sentence. At meetings, people sitting near him get up and move away because of his talking and complaining. My friends refuse to come over if he's going to be there.
Advertisement
One man said he's the only person who can carry on a conversation with himself. His son and I have both told him he talks too much. He thinks his opinions are important, but they are boring.
Abby, he's a faithful and helpful person, and he wants to marry me. We are older people and men are scarce at this age. But I must avoid stress because of medical problems. Any suggestions? -- TALKED TO DEATH IN WASHINGTON
DEAR TALKED TO DEATH: A person who does all the talking is no less a hog than the person who comes to your table and eats all the food. Your friend is ignoring the fact that being a good listener is often more important than being a good talker.
Men may be scarce in your age bracket, but from your description he appears to be self-centered, insensitive to the feelings of those around him, and probably very insecure. If your physician has advised you to avoid stress because of medical problems, try to find a mate who will be more sensitive to the feelings of those around him.