https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/have-you-been-in-the-middle-of-a-conversation-and-have-a-third-person-walk-up-and-ask-a-question-like-you-werent-even-there <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I don't know if this is a military vs. civilian thing or just a trend in our culture. Today I was talking to an NCO in my civilian job. During the conversation, a more senior NCO walks up and engages the other NCO as if I was not even there. <br /><br />Is this just our culture changing or is this an example of "If you arent wearing a uniform, you are not important?" Wed, 16 Sep 2015 07:56:03 -0400 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/have-you-been-in-the-middle-of-a-conversation-and-have-a-third-person-walk-up-and-ask-a-question-like-you-werent-even-there <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I don't know if this is a military vs. civilian thing or just a trend in our culture. Today I was talking to an NCO in my civilian job. During the conversation, a more senior NCO walks up and engages the other NCO as if I was not even there. <br /><br />Is this just our culture changing or is this an example of "If you arent wearing a uniform, you are not important?" LTC Private RallyPoint Member Wed, 16 Sep 2015 07:56:03 -0400 2015-09-16T07:56:03-04:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/have-you-been-in-the-middle-of-a-conversation-and-have-a-third-person-walk-up-and-ask-a-question-like-you-werent-even-there?n=969386&urlhash=969386 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Common courtesy is increasingly uncommon, <a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="90491" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/90491-42h-senior-human-resources-officer">LTC Private RallyPoint Member</a>.<br />Generally if I need something, I will wait for a pause in the conversation. If I have to break in, a simple &quot;excuse me&quot; should suffice.<br />Just breaking in is rude, no matter who you are. 1SG Private RallyPoint Member Wed, 16 Sep 2015 09:18:03 -0400 2015-09-16T09:18:03-04:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/have-you-been-in-the-middle-of-a-conversation-and-have-a-third-person-walk-up-and-ask-a-question-like-you-werent-even-there?n=969822&urlhash=969822 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>No it's not our culture changing. It is just that some people are self important assholes, and what they have to say and do is more important than anyone else. They have no manners or respect for other people. They usually see everyone else as beneath them. SGT Patrick Reno Wed, 16 Sep 2015 12:12:04 -0400 2015-09-16T12:12:04-04:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/have-you-been-in-the-middle-of-a-conversation-and-have-a-third-person-walk-up-and-ask-a-question-like-you-werent-even-there?n=970143&urlhash=970143 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I have two problems with that scenario: one, it does happen a lot. The arriving third party bothers me because they must surely see a conversation is taking place. Secondly, and oftentimes forgotten in this equation, is the person to whom the interrupter is addressing their interruption. When the person with whom I HAD been having a conversation, knowingly engages the third party, I'm now pissed at TWO people. I'd have to say that people, in general, have long forgotten the simple rules of etiquette when it comes to communication. Back to my example, if the person to whom I was speaking does not take the bull by the horns and tell the third party to excuse them for just a moment while he or she and I finish our chat, I WILL DO IT FOR THEM and say, "Excuse you, but we were talking!!!" SCPO Private RallyPoint Member Wed, 16 Sep 2015 13:53:04 -0400 2015-09-16T13:53:04-04:00 2015-09-16T07:56:03-04:00