Etiquette Analysis: Conversation
I am a story repeater, a very bad one at that. I don’t do it on purpose but I often forget if I’ve told that particular story to this particular group of people. It’s a bad habit and Emily Post would agree.
“Once is effective; twice is boring” Emily Post, Etiquette 1945, pg. 42
Mrs. Post, you have hit the nail on the head. This applies to stories, conversation and opinions. Say it once, try your darnedest to remember who you said it to and don’t say it again.
Now if you are on the receiving end of hearing something twice and you are in a group, my advice is to endure because rarely can you let someone know that they’ve told this story already. Undoubtedly, it will make them feel embarrassed. You can endure a little boredom, instead of resorting to embarrassing someone else. If you’re having a one on one discussion with someone and they begin to retell a story or start a conversation you previously had with them, you can gently let them know they are repeating themselves. But really, be gentle.