Friday, June 24, 2011

TMI

Too much information.

Okay, I was involved in two conversations recently. During the conversations, all I could think is, “you are just giving me too much information.” I will share the information to illustrate this point (and it doesn’t count for me – this information is not mine).

Plane Trip
I was recently traveling, and I sat next to a kind-looking woman.

First, I would like to tell you how I look for a seat (I fly Southwest Airlines, where there is no assigned seating). I actually like no assigned seating. The first thing I do is try to get a number that is in the high A’s or low B’s. Southwest, when you check in online or in person, assigns you a sequential number. You can pay $10 to get in the first 15, but I caution against it. Get the high As or low Bs. I like at least 1/3 to 1/2 of the plane full, so I get to pick who I am sitting next to. With assigned seating or low numbers, you don’t get to pick. And I pick a skinny person who is reading, if at all possible. That way, I get to use all of my seat and elbow space and I don’t have to hold up a conversation. Male or female, it does not matter to me at all. I am all about elbow room.

Anyway, kind-looking woman, after the plane takes off, starts talking with me. She wanted to talk about her kids. Both are early 20s and both work in the same Hooters. She shows me a picture of her daughter, and says, “She is so smart, and she said she would only work there for three months. She has been a waitress at Hooters for two years now.” Then she tells me about her looser boyfriends. Her name for one was “looser.” That’s what she called him. When I was dating, my parents were really nice to my loser boyfriends, because they knew I would continue to date looser boyfriends. Their disapproval was part of the attraction, I found out later. The same parents who were all about delayed satisfaction (eat your food before playing in the McDonald’s playground, for instance), wanted me not to date losers. I figure there must have been something good about them that was not good for me but satisfying.

If I had a daughter who worked at Hooters, I don’t think I would be bragging about it to strangers.

Transgendered Children
I was on a first date with a gentleman who had four children (two from his first wife, two from his second). Okay, I knew he was divorced before, but I didn’t know twice before the date. Dating at my age and most of the men have been married before.

Anyway, he tells me about one of his sons. I first thought the son was male, but it happens that his son is a 19-year-old transgendered female. Now, I don’t know too much about the TG world, but I did find out a lot on my first date with him. Well, apparently her measurements are similar to mine (I did not tell my date that).

During the date, he answer and talks on his cell phone, talking to the TG son, and apparently my date was dissuading the 19-year-old son from going swimming in a public pool. Apparently he wears men’s swim trunks – so basically it is a TG female swimming topless.

I have never really thought about TG issues, but I am not sure I would have brought up the issue on a first date. My head was spinning all evening, and I was a bit distracted. At the end of the evening, I knew little about my date and a lot more about his TG son. I don’t know if I like the guy, but I declined a second date because I figure it was easier to decline now than to figure out the whole TG issue at a later date.

I just think we share way too much information way too soon. And I am not sure why.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

In regards to the date offering up TMI on the first outing. It's a postive. you have actually gotten the chance to know more about him in a shorter amount of time. No needless 2nd or 3rd date if he's that crazy and rude(answering his phone while out with you).

Michael Mullady said...

I totally agree! I a constantly amazed at the amount of information strangers offer up for absolutely no reason other than I happen to be next to them. I guess I just was raised to not share such private things unless you really know and trust the person. But I guess at the same time some people just need someone to share to and a stranger who they may never see again (although I'm sure your date hoped to) is an easy target rather than someone they have to see on a regular basis.
Your plane story made me laugh though, I'm not sure I'd be sharing hooter stories either if my daughters worked there lol.

Leesa said...

jim: from my point of view, you are dead-on. I just am baffled that he would do something not in his best interest.

michael: I have always wanted to get on a plane and make up some absurd stories while sitting next to a stranger, but my conscience always gets the better of me.

Xmichra said...

I get a lot of TMI stories for some reason. I don't know what it is about my face that gives of the "I want to hear this" vibe, but apparently it does.

I can barely be friends with someone who constantly checks thier phone while we are out, so with dating that would be an instant fail. Seriaously, that is just rude and tacky.

Xmichra said...

I've nominated you for an award :) It's at my blog :)

Anonymous said...

Why do people feel the need to share things?

Leesa said...

xmichra: thanks for the award.

knot: we are social creatures so we share. I think it is genetic, but I don't like it.

snowelf said...

Leesa--your date story was much MUCH funnier than mine!! omg, hilarious!!

I agree--I don't know what makes us spill stuff out of our mouths sometimes--it has to be some kind of genetic thing...

thanks for coming to visit me. :)

--snow

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