Time Trolls and Dealing with Real Life Time Wasters
Shutterstock by Oleh flyagulaka
We have all likely encountered that person that doesn’t stop talking. We struggle to get away from but they don’t stop. Even when we try to be polite and back away, they just keep coming. They are resistant to you trying to change the topic or telling them you need to go, and they are oblivious to social cues to wrap up their conversation. In monster terms, these are “ Time Trolls.” What are they and how can we deal with those over-talkers in real life?
Time Trolls
Looking to make a quick snack run, the hungry villager fails to see the danger approaching from two aisles over. Thinking himself safe, he adds soda to his cart and moves to the next row. Hunched over the vast selection of potato chips, he is alone, without a lookout that could give warning and give him time to escape. The villager’s blood chills as he hears that all too familiar “Hey There!” Eyes down, still kneeling in front of the greasy fried goodness, he glances around for some avenue of escape before acknowledging the beast’s presence. Seeing none, he takes a deep breath and looks up into the creature’s smiling face and its perpetually moving mouth, which is already spewing words relentlessly without pause. No amount of polite excuse is sufficient, and retreat is futile against the endless verbal battering. The droning voice hypnotizes the villager while the gaping maw shallows him into a void of endless time.
An hour later, the dead-eyed villager stumbles out of the market. His pack half empty, the chips long abandoned. His arms hang heavy at his sides, and he stares into nothingness, his mind drained of all mental fortitude by the monster’s psychic attacks of incessant prose.
Appearance
Only distantly related to true trolls, time trolls share their devouring appetite and uncontrollable nature. They are magically inclined and use their verbal powers to attack while lacking the strength of their more notable kin.
Time trolls often take the appearance of humans. This mimicry makes the creatures nearly impossible to detect initially. However, victims of their previous attacks will recognize time trolls by sight and from the sound of their draining voice
Hunting
Time trolls are indiscriminate hunters and tend to use familiar hunting grounds. They will hunt in crowded venues such as town markets or busy fast food establishments, looking for easy targets. Group gatherings such as family events or holiday parties are particularly appealing to them, where they will often disguise themselves as the irritating uncle or tedious cousin. They typically do not venture far from their territories. But on finding a particularly vulnerable target, time trolls may stalk the victim with random household visits and regular un-ending phone calls.
Their never-ending hunger leads them to be solitary hunters, and it is unlikely to find more than one at a time. When two time trolls are encountered, it is possible to direct their attacks toward each other and gain escape from the verbal battering as the monsters fight for dominance.
Dealing with Over Talkers in Real Life
It is estimated that about one in 20 people is an over talker so the odds of an encounter are relatively high. What are the best strategies when dealing with these people that chatter away your time and energy?
1. Set Time Limits
Set the expectation immediately that you only have a few minutes because you have another commitment. If there is a clear expectation, some over-talkers will honor it.
Photo by Isaiah Rustad on Unsplash
2. Actively Listen to Them
It seems counterintuitive, but actively engaging in the conversation with them may help. Some compulsive communicators feel that no one listens to them, and they talk more to get attention. By asking them questions and drawing them deeper into the conversation, they may feel heard and respect you more in the future. Reversely, if they think you aren’t listening, they are more likely to reiterate the same thing repeatedly in an attempt to be understood.
3. Help Them Come to a Decision
Some people think out loud to work through a decision or difficult situation. By asking them questions like “What are you going to do next?” “What was the end result?” “What do you recommend for that decision?” may help to organize their thoughts and allow them to move forward.
4. Summarize Back to Them
It can be helpful to respond with a summary of what you heard them say. Things like “I think I heard you say” or “So it sounds you want” make them feel heard and can wrap up a winded conversation if they are repeating the same topic.
5. Interrupt Them
You may need to interrupt them and remind them of your other commitment in order to break off the conversation.
6. Agreeing to Talk at a Later Time
Letting them know a specific time that you are free to talk later and then being firm that you are not available right now. “I really can’t talk now but call me at 8 pm on Thursday, and we can catch up” can work. They don’t feel ignored, and by a later date, they may forget, and you can avoid the conversation entirely.
7. Show Your Annoyance
If they continue to babble, look at your phone, cross your arms, or show other body language signs of annoyance. They may notice and feel uncomfortable enough to wrap up the conversation.
8. Ask What Their Main Point Is
No matter what you have done, they just aren’t getting it and keep talking. You may need to be more aggressive. Questioning them on what is the point of the conversation can return someone to Earth that is caught up in the sound of their own voice.
9. Start a Conversation with Someone Else
It’s not polite but can be effective. Start a new topic or conversation with someone else nearby who is also annoyed by the overtalker. It takes the attention away from the rambler and probably makes them feel uncomfortable enough to stop talking.
10. Walk Away
It’s rude. But if they have been ignoring all social cues and you have tried everything else, you may need to walk away. You have a life and need to move on. Say something like “I need to go,” and turn around and leave, even if they keep talking. It’s the last resort, but it works.
What’s your experience dealing with Time Trolls and how do you deal with them in real life?
Author:
Laurie Trueblood is a writer and life coach that enjoys fantasy, science, psychology, and everything nerdy. As the founder of Adventures to Authenticity, her mission is to help others level up and become the best versions of themselves.
Learn more about RPGs in real life. Check out: Is Life an RPG? Why We Should Treat Life Like a Roleplaying Game and Real Life Questing
