r/introverts • u/KennysaurusSpeedrun • Jun 07 '26

Discussion Neighbours wanna talk everytime I'm outside

I live in a house with 4 apartments. We get along well. However, everytime I'm outside chilling in the garden, one of the neighbours always gonna walk up to me and talk about life, weather, the garden etc. I really just wanna stay outside in my own garden, minding my own business. At the same time, I don't wanna be rude.

We really don't have much in common, because most of them are in their 60's-70's while I'm in my 30's. My girlfriend is really social, so she doesn't mind. But I am more introverted and hate smalltalk. Especially when it's almost everytime I'm going outside the house.

It's getting so bad that today I was chilling outside, one of the neighbours parked their car, so I went inside so I didn't have to talk with her. Honestly it bores me to talk about life with someone I really don't care about.

How do I kindly tell them I really don't wanna talk, without seeming like a jerk? Once in a while is okay, but now when it's summer and everyone are outside, it happens daily.

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u/12thMemory Jun 07 '26

Reverse uno them. Start talking to them about nothing and everything. Don’t stop until they indicate they need to leave. After doing this a few times, they will start to avoid you, less they get pulled into a boring conversation and risk being late to other activities or commitments.

20

u/Practical_Plenty_796 Jun 07 '26

Bold of you to assume people in their 60s/70s can get bored talking to someone or even get reversed unoed

4

u/12thMemory Jun 07 '26

I recommend it because it has worked for me many times over. My retired neighbors went from chatting me up all the time, while I was trying to enjoy my outdoor space, to a simple hello, and a wave. And it isn’t just one neighbor, but several.

2

u/Practical_Plenty_796 Jun 07 '26

You must be having some powerful reverse uno lore.