My family has many traditions, and I have been taught many skills to go along with these traditions.

One such skill has been passed down through (presumably) generations of women in my family.  It’s the skill of acting dumb or ignorant.  I don’t mean this in backhanded way, and I’m not making some sort of pompous joke about how we hold ourselves back from fulfilling our potential

I’m actually saying that one of the best defenses I have learned, particularly in the face of gossip, is to say: “I don’t know.”  I remember on more than one occasion asking “But what if they ask me about so-and-so?  Or what if they want to know what happened with such-and-such?” And I remember on more than one occasion hearing the reply: “Just tell them you don’t know.  Say you weren’t paying attention.”

This is a very tricky tactic, but if used correctly and sparingly, it can be super effective in combating a nosy person.  It can be an excellent way to keep the cards close to your chest, and can be useful in keeping a secret when the other party is bent on discovering it.  Note of caution: overuse can lead to negative results…meaning people will eventually begin to think that you really are that oblivious.

Just today I used this defense.  To be honest, I could have done better with it but I’m a little rusty.  Still, it shut the kid up and I’m confident that he thinks I know nothing about the subject he was drilling me on.  When in fact I know everything. 

EVERYTHING.