This story is a classic introvert versus extrovert situation.

If you’re minding your own business in a waiting room, how would you react if a stranger who was also waiting started talking to you? Extroverts would probably engage in the conversation while introverts might want them to keep quiet, or at the very least, talk to someone else.

That’s the situation in this story, and now one woman is wondering if she handled it poorly.

Let’s read all the details.

[Am I a jerk for] asking a lady to let me read?

I’m (61f) and sitting here at the doctor’s office waiting for my turn.

I’ve patiently sat here and read on my own for the last 2.5 hours.

It sounds like a loud waiting room.

People have lost all common sense.

I’ve listened to others have personal conversations, play games on their phones, watch TikTok and YouTube.

Not one of these persons has silenced their phones!

I just want to be left alone. I’m not a people person.

It gets even more annoying.

About 15 minutes ago a lady about my age sits down and tries to talk the me.

I mutter some inaudible answer hoping she gets the message.

Nope, no way.

She takes a phone call and then proceeds to tell me her daughter is calling about…

I interrupt her and say “Mam, do you think you could just let me read my book?”

So, who’s in the wrong?

She looks taken aback, says yes and remains quiet.

The two ladies on my other side and people in front all give me a look.

After about 3 minutes chatty Kathy moves the another seat and I am now being being looked at like I had tried to hurt her or something.

AITAH here? I’m basically the same age, i didn’t raise my voice and I’m just trying to mind my own business.

Not everyone wants to chat with strangers in the waiting room.

Let’s see if the comments on Reddit confirm my bias:

You gotta read the room, ma’am.

Some of us are just wired different, I guess.

Time and place, yo.

This whole thing is one big social experiment.

People have lost all common sense.

If you liked this post, you might want to read this story about a teacher who taught the school’s administration a lesson after they made a sick kid take a final exam.