How do you do that when people keep asking questions? I don’t want to share my private life, sure little stuff, like talking about your kids or something is ok, but there is a limit.
What do you do if people keep prying into your life? You can’t just say ‘none of your business’. How do you politely make it clear something is in fact too private to talk about for you?
Re: keeping your private life private at your work environment
give vague answers. say you "don't know, cuz you don't do it" whatever "it" is. People ask about my "love life" and I say I don't have one. People ask about how school is going, and I say "Oh its going...", which produces some laughs and nods and "I hear ya's".
Its small talk really - well, more gossip talk than anything else. I made the mistake a few times of sharing private info - info that I really didn't even classify as being that private really - and it bit me on the behind. So make sure not to talk in too much detail about personal stuff.
Re: keeping your private life private at your work environment
Unfortunately I know what you mean. Been there… I never know what to do when people keep asking.
I’m going to try the vague method. Thanks. 
Re: keeping your private life private at your work environment
i noticed people at my work who never got too friendly with other co-workers never had a problem keeping their private life private. once you become overly friendly with your co-workers it becomes really hard to keep things private. So now i know just to keep a Hi, hello kind of relationship with people at work and i don't have a problem keeping my private life private.
Re: keeping your private life private at your work environment
I'm generally a pretty open person. But it's true, there's some stuff, like your sex life for instance that you really don't want to discuss causually. Some people at work do that, kind of weirded me out..but whatever. I usually keep a sense of humor and will give some odd and vague answer. You don't have to sound like a prude and say,"I can't discuss this." But confuse people it usually works an makes you seem mysterious and slightly dangerous.
Re: keeping your private life private at your work environment
i get where you coming from. what always bugs me is that doesnt the other person have the sense not to flaunt everything you tell them. i mean do you have to tell that some conversations are sensitive?
Re: keeping your private life private at your work environment
Watch out with confusing people! You think you are taking revenge and protecting yourself, instead you are eaten alive…
I once did that, to a bunch of friends and old colleagues, they had some weird ideas about me and never bothered to just honestly ask me if their terrible imaginations were true. I felt so sad and angry that I told them it’s true what they’re thinking and I confused them more, thinking I was taking revenge and it actually turned against me… so keep away from the confusing stuff …
and never ever admit something about you is true, when it isn’t, not even to stop the nonsense, because it won’t, it would only make it worse…
Believe me I’m talking from personal experience unfortunately. Gosh sometimes I wish I was on island, all by myself with my kids and thousands of books…
Re: keeping your private life private at your work environment
oh gosh - if they keep intruding further to make sense of your confusion, then the tactic is not to ever admit anything - just say something else that is more vague and confusing that would give them the opposite idea of what they are probably thinking.
If the person is too intrusive, and you don't have to do that much work with them, then avoid them.
Re: keeping your private life private at your work environment
You are absolutely right.
i think it’s easier for married folks to avoid getting too friendly and not be labeled “anti-social,” but for us, single people, it is harder. You cannot avoid an after hour social by saying " i have a date with my wife;" married people can do it, and no one frowns. If you are single and you dont socialize you are labeled as an “anti-social,” and this stigma hurts your chance come promotion time, especially if you work at a place where team work is emphasized.
Re: keeping your private life private at your work environment
Well people usually ask you, when they actually want to share some of their private life with u, i often give a vague answer and then ask…what about you…and then they start unfolding…people like talking to me…i know lot bout personal lives of my co workers and i keep it to me…USUALLY
Re: keeping your private life private at your work environment
I generally follow the same pattern as you guys by giving vague answers. It isn't necessarily rude and they realise that you're a private person and don't like to divulge into personal matters. If you do, then they'll go a step further and ask more after which it become uncomfortable and sometimes difficult to avoid. So its best to set your limits early on. Thankfully my colleagues aren't such a nosey bunch so don't ask private questions that much :)
Re: keeping your private life private at your work environment
Small minds discuss people
Average minds discuss events
Great minds discuss ideas
Genius act in silence
Giving vague answers is not a solution. If you have been part of a discussion where you have asked questions about other people's private lives, then you should not get offended by them asking about your personal life, at same or a later time. For me it depends on how I carry myself amongst other people. You define your own limits. If that means getting a label of anti-social, then be it. Dope, it might be true for very small companies; for big corporations nobody gives a dig. Generally, slightly anti-social people emerge as excellent leaders.
Re: keeping your private life private at your work environment
I've been told that I' ebeen rude because I won't strike up a conversation with every single person who looks my way, because I don't like to act sugary sweet and then say they're stupid behind their back, or that I make people feel uncomfortalbe because I'm not friendly. Thing is, I used to be very friendly, very social, very eager to please others, but I just went through this big anti-social phase, and i'm slowly coming out of it..
Re: keeping your private life private at your work environment
True Lydia. People don't forgive those who change. But don't do things just to make other people happy. You will never be able to make everyone happy. Find your own comfort zone.
Keep out of the discussions where personal lives are discussed. Take part in the discussions where ideas, events, etc., are discussed. Speak when you have something constructive and positive to add. It will reduced the number of your so-called-friends, but will also reduce the number of back-bitters.
Re: keeping your private life private at your work environment
:k:
Hey I’ve seen that quote before. Who does it belong to?
Re: keeping your private life private at your work environment
I know it from my school days. It was painted above the main entrance door of the school.
Re: keeping your private life private at your work environment
Thanks!
