People warned over 'boomerasking' behaviour that means you’re actually more self-centred than you realise
Have you ever endured a catch-up with someone who ceaselessly brings the conversation back to themselves?
These are usually the same individuals reluctant to ever ask a question about you in return, and often seem to be bragging about their life achievements and successes.
Sound familiar? Well, my friend, it would seem that you've inadvertently formed a friendship with a 'boomerasker'.
That's right - there's actually a term being used to describe these seemingly unashamed conversation-hijackers.
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According to experts from the Journal of Experimental Psychology, these such individuals often fall into one of three variations.
They'll ask you a question - likely out of courtesy, with a plan up their sleeve. You'll then answer. Then, seconds later, they'll spin the subject matter back to them.
It can happen so quickly that you're discussing how great they are once again without even having realised.
The name literally comes from a merging of the words 'boomerang', referring to the conversation reversing back to them, and 'asking', referring to the questions they ask you out of politeness.
There are also three different types of 'boomerasking'.
The first is 'ask-bragging', whereby the perpetrator asks you a question with the aim of subtly bragging about themselves.
The second is 'ask-complaining', where the 'boomerasker' asks a question before following up your answer with a complaint they're facing themselves.
The third is 'ask-sharing', whereby the convo-hogger asks for your opinion about a certain topic with the aim of introducing their own.
The final of the three, experts say, is actually a pretty common conversation habit, so we shouldn't get too riled up about it.
It's the first two that we should be worried about.
Apparently, however, even in both of these instances, many 'boomeraskers' don't actually realise how self-centred their behaviour can make them appear. It's said to be part and parcel with their natural 'me-first' way of thinking.
That isn't to say that chatting to a 'boomerasker' can't be frustrating - especially if they're exhibiting selfish conversational traits the very first time you meet them.
So, if you're sitting there thinking, 'I don't know anyone who behaves like this', I hate to break it to you, but you might be the 'boomerasker' of your girl gang...
Rhianna Benson