November 30, 2003
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Do you have a polite way of telling people their presence is no longer required?

I usually just ignore them until they go away.

Keri-Jade, 23
Brampton, Ontario CANADA

I've adopted my brother's method of getting someone to phone my mobile with a message where I'm urgently needed somewhere.

Aly, 17
Cardiff UK

More importantly, I've learned to endure boredom when there is no polite way to dismiss a person.

Jill, 61
Saylorsburg, PA USA

I guess I would if the situation warranted it.

Karen, 24
Ames, IA USA

I guess that is left in the opinion of the person whose presence is no longer required.

Fisch, 47
Preston, CT USA

The exact words vary depending on circumstance but the essence is to imply that you wouldn't dream of wasting their time with you when they have other/more important/more interesting things to do.

Jane, 63
West Linn, OR USA

no, I just either accept their presence or tell them to go away

Melodi, 19
Gahanna, OH USA

Over the summer we visited a farm where they let kids make icecream. Rather than tell the kids their turn was over the staff told them to give their arms a rest. I guess this is the same as telling someone "I'll let you go."

Alias Irrelevante

Not really. Usually it is full of sarcasm and humor, so they either don't get it, or find it offensive.

Ryan, 29
R iedlingen GERMANY


My attempts at politeness in such matters are absolutely ineffective for folks who are socially clueless, but most people will get the idea if you say something like "I have a lot of work to do" or "I have something on the stove that needs attention"

Felicia, 37
Lowell, MA USA

It usually doesn't come up, but if it does, I guess I say something like, "Thank you for helping me. I know you time is important, so please go back to what you were doing before." Or aomething like that...

Laura, 38
Lowell, MA USA

If it is someone who is chatty at work and I have stuff to do. I just say, I'd love to talk but I have this project due. I'll catch up with you later or talk to you at lunch.

Janet, 46
E. Brunswick, NJ USA

if anyone knows please let me know. i am dealing with this exact situation right now. my grandmother is here and has been here for almost 5 months when she was supposed to only be here for like 4 weeks.

there is alot of other situations surrounding her stay like her wanting to get her green card. she is from panama. but she waited until november (two months after she was supposed to leave) to tell us after she found out that she has been in the country for too long and only had a stay of 40 days left.

in the middle of this the phone bill has shot up 900 bucks. every month everyone is pointing fingers but not at her. i am the only one willing to say what everyone else is thinking.

i cant take it. so now she is trying to stay till june. and the only reason she is doing the green card here is because my parents are the only ones who will pay for it. we have other relatives on my moms side in the country. but we are the only ones who are comfortable financially.

these are the people who get settlements for accidents and things for at least 40 g's more often than i know but they squander off the money like idiots and then ask us to help them out.

its ridiculous. and completely rude. i know whats going with this whole mess. she is going to try and live with us. i definitely need to move out.

i am a very blunt person and i have trying so hard to hold my piece on this but its getting harder. i am not a social person. i grew being alone most of the time even though i have siblings. i need my complete solitude. or else i go crazy. i feel like a caged animal right
now just pacing.

its almost boiling point. i am definitely going to say what i need to say directly to her. i have said it both of my parents but its time for her to hear directly from me.

i guess i will be saying it on my way out the door.

ingrid, 22
Stockton, CA USA

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