Everyone has things that interest them, and a whole lot of things that don't. Most of the time, though, we can still stay engaged in a conversation even if it's not really that enthralling.
There are at least a few things for most people that will cause their brain to instantly disengage, though.
A lot of people tend to zone out when someone starts talking numbers (budget, accounting, statistics, etc.), for example.
Reddit user u/IdiacY asked:
"What makes you 'check out' of a conversation almost immediately?"
10.
The word "sheeple".
I generally find that word is just shorthand for "I'm not capable of defending my perspective with any civility, coherence or original thoughts."
That, or encountering someone who seem to believe that volume and/or repetition increase the validity of their point.
9.
When someone expresses a strong, unchangeable opinion on something they don't know anything about
8.
A sudden noise, something mechanical that spins, a cool looking bird, a cloud passing by...
Almost anything really.
Squirrel!!
7.
"One-upping" everything just for the attention. And any sign of racism.
If you've been on holiday to tenerife, they've been to elevenerife.
6.
If they start talking antivax/holistic remedies/energies/goop.
Or if they want to show off baby pics.
5.
Religion. Doesn't really matter to me if that's your jam, but please don't expect me to relate to it in any way, shape, or form. That ship sailed a long time ago.
4.
Somebody saying "what you have to understand is..."
Like f**k off dude, you can explain yourself without assuming I'm an idiot.
My brother, who I love, has an annoying conversational habit of saying "let me explain something to you". OMG I used to go red. Then he'd say we couldn't have a conversation because I got so emotional. Finally we talked about it and I was rational enough to point out that when he said that it was demeaning and insulting. He had no clue.
He still does it, it's a tic. But now I know it's his way of saying "I need to express this thing I know." So I just indulge him.
Most of the time lol. I'm only human. Sometimes I'm not in a tolerant frame of mind and I hafta nope out.
3.
When done is attacking a person instead of that persons idea, action, etc.
"I hate David"
vs
"I hate that David always wants to talk about his ex girlfriend."
2.
'I'm not being racist but...'
'I'm not a homophobe but...'
Anything that follows is going to be either racist or homophobic and I don't have time for that kind of talk.
1.
"Wellllll to play the devil's advocateeeeeeeee"
Nothing good has ever come next. It's never "Oh well, to play the devil's advocate I really think pastrami is superior to corned beef." It always ends up being something sh**ty.