A train of thought is a fragile, fickle thing. It can be frustrating when, in the middle of a sentence, someone interrupts you with their own thoughts, derailing the conversation altogether. This has happened to me many times, and the disrespect of it all never fails to astound me. Why is it that you assume your thought is more important than mine? Must I put everything on pause to entertain your ideas? That being said, when I interrupt, it’s a completely different story. Here’s why when other people interrupt, it’s rude, but when I do it, it’s a sign of enthusiasm that should be celebrated and cherished.
When other people interrupt, that is a sign they don’t value your input enough to wait their own goddamn turn. When I interrupt people, though, I do it with a certain joie de vivre that actually makes it all okay. I’ll always start with an exclamatory phrase like, “Egads!” or “Say, fellow – indeed!” These starting phrases make it clear that I’m interrupting in celebration of what you’ve just said, not because I am annoying and an ungenerous conversationalist, like some people. In fact, this makes the interrupting fun for everyone involved!
Also, when I interrupt someone, it’s because I can tell that the conversation would be a lot better if I chimed in. This stands in contrast to the typical reasons someone interrupts: arrogance and incivility. I make sure that when I cut someone off in the middle of their statement, I am only doing it because I’m helping them out and introducing a fun new idea, which actually makes it okay and even cool. Some people could learn from this, even.
Other people interrupt with voices that are loud and crass, while I interrupt with the tone of a good friend or confidant who cares and loves deeply. This makes people want to hear me out. It even makes them want me to interrupt, such that I can lend my voice in enthusiasm for the topic. You see, when I cut someone off mid-thought, it’s because I care and I have something to say that I think they might just love.
Interrupting someone is one of the worst, rudest things a person can do and should be punishable by death. That being said, when I do it, it is good. These are the kinds of distinctions that keep our world organized!
