In the spirit of Dave D’Angelo’s blog, I’d like to post my own latest experience with Don’t Be That Guy.  (NewPointe staff, rest easy:  None of you are That Guy.)

I’ve had 2 separate occurrences of this in the past month.  I would be in the same “air space” as a person that apparently wanted my attention, but was in conversation with another individual.  This person, knowing that I was already engaged in work OR walking to a new location, would drop my name in their conversation with the other party — a TOTAL third-person reference — in order to get my attention while I was still in said air space.  Once I heard my name, I would naturally turn around to see what was up.  The person, now having my attention, would break their conversation with their original party in order to give me the details on what they wanted from me.

This is slightly rude, and borderlines on passive-aggressive.  Don’t be That Guy.  If you want someone’s attention and they’re in the room, address them directly.  Failure to do so can only result in the possibility of more rudeness, such as your “target” actually ignoring you.  Not that I’d ever do that, but I’m just saying…

Keep it real, spread the love, converse directly, and don’t be That Guy.