You know that feeling when someone’s talking at you, not with you? It’s like you’re there to clap at their stories and nod in agreement, but you don’t get a word in edgewise. Ugh, it’s the worst. Selfish people tend to fall into these annoying conversation traps that make you want to crawl out of your skin.
1. “Enough about you, let’s talk about me.”
Selfish people have no qualms about cutting you off mid-sentence to shift the spotlight back onto themselves. They’ve got a quota of “me” time to fill, and your pesky stories are eating into it. Heaven forbid they show genuine interest in someone else’s life for more than 30 seconds. The worst part is that they pull this line out when you’ve barely gotten halfway through your story!
2. “I’m just being honest.”
Gotta love when people pull out this classic (and classless!) excuse for delivering unsolicited and often hurtful opinions. Selfish people hide behind the guise of “honesty” to say whatever they want without considering other people’s feelings. What they don’t get (or care about) is that there’s a difference between being truthful and being tactless.
3. “I’m not interested in that, so let’s change the subject.”
Selfish people have no problem dismissing conversations that don’t cater to their interests. Your passions and experiences are only valid if they can relate to them. Prepare to have your sentences cut short with an abrupt subject change if you dare to veer off their approved topics list. Never mind the fact that you try to stay fully engaged with what they’re saying even when it bores you to tears — they’d never extend that same courtesy.
4. “You think that’s bad? Listen to what happened to me!”
It’s like they live to compete for the title of “Most Miserable Person in the World.” No matter what challenges you’re going through, they’ll find a way to one-up you. Lost your job? They lost their job and their dog in the same week. Battling the flu? They had a near-death experience with pneumonia. They’ll do anything to “win” at suffering.
5. “I’m too busy to help.”
Selfish people are perpetually too swamped to lend a hand, even for the smallest of favors. Need someone to proofread your resume? They’re drowning in work. Want help moving a couch? They’ve got a packed schedule. Of course, the second they need assistance, they expect everyone to drop everything and come running.
6. “That reminds me of the time I…”
No matter what story you’re sharing, selfish people will find a way to make it about them. Your tough breakup reminds them of their own dating disasters. Your career milestone triggers a monologue about their professional achievements. Every conversation is just a springboard for their own personal anecdotes, and it’s really obnoxious.
7. “I don’t really want to hear about your problems.”
Selfish people have a limited capacity for empathy. They’ll gladly unload their own issues onto you, but the moment you need a listening ear, they’re suddenly “not in the right headspace” to handle your drama. Funny how their emotional bandwidth is directly tied to the conversation revolving around them.
8. “You should do this my way.”
Selfish people fancy themselves experts on everything, even if they have zero experience in the matter at hand. They’ll dish out unsolicited advice and insist their way is the only right way. Got a problem? They’ve got the solution, even if it’s completely irrelevant to your situation. Greeaaaaat.
9. “Oh, I never do that.”
They love to paint themselves as paragons of virtue. They’ll proudly declare all the selfish things they “never” do, while blissfully ignoring their own glaring faults. They’re quick to point out everyone else’s shortcomings but remain conveniently blind to their own. In fact, in many cases, they don’t think they have any!
10. “You’re lucky I put up with you.”
Selfish people view their relationships as a one-way street. They act like their mere presence is a gift and that you should be grateful they deign to spend time with you. They’ll make you feel like a burden, even as they drain your emotional energy with their self-centered behavior.
11. “I’m just naturally better at this than most people.”
These people have no problem singing their own praises. They’ll attribute their success to their innate superiority rather than hard work or luck. Everyone else’s accomplishments pale in comparison to their natural genius. Humble is not in their vocabulary.
12. “I don’t see why I should compromise.”
Compromise? What’s that? Selfish people see no need for give and take. They want what they want, and they expect other people to bend to their will. The concept of meeting in the middle is utterly foreign to them. It’s their way or the highway, no matter how unreasonable their demands may be.
13. “Your feelings are not my responsibility.”
A little empathy goes a long way, but not for them. Selfish people absolve themselves of any accountability for how their words and actions affect others. If you’re hurt by something they said, that’s your problem, not theirs. They refuse to acknowledge their role in others’ emotional well-being.
14. “It’s not my fault you misunderstood me.”
In the world of a selfish person, miscommunication is always the other person’s fault. They’ll say something hurtful or misleading, then place the blame on you for misinterpreting their words. Instead of clarifying their intentions, they’ll make you feel stupid for not reading their mind.
15. “I’m sorry you feel that way, but…”
Who doesn’t love a non-apology? Selfish people will throw out a half-hearted “I’m sorry” followed by a justification for their behavior. They’re not actually remorseful; they just want to shut down the conversation and absolve themselves of guilt. A genuine apology requires taking responsibility, which is a foreign concept to the chronically self-absorbed.
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