Ever notice how some conversations just click while others feel like walking through mud? After decades of attending office parties, family gatherings, and community events, I’ve learned that certain topics kill conversations faster than you can say “awkward silence.”

And here’s what psychology tells us: the topics people bring up reveal a lot about their social awareness. Those who consistently wander into uncomfortable territory often don’t realize they’re doing it.

If you find yourself clearing rooms when you talk, or if people suddenly remember they need to check on something whenever you join a conversation, it might be time to take a closer look at what you’re discussing.

We all deal with health stuff. I’ve had my share of doctor visits, and I’m at an age where friends compare medications like they used to compare vacation stories.

But there’s a world of difference between mentioning you’re recovering from surgery and launching into vivid descriptions of what happened during the procedure.

I once stood in line at the pharmacy while someone ahead of me described their digestive issues in extraordinary detail. The pharmacist kept nodding professionally, but I watched three people quietly switch to a different line

was raising her first child. My mother-in-law would constantly tell her she was doing things wrong, from feeding schedules to sleep training. It created so much tension that Sarah started avoiding family gatherings.

According to psychology research, this behavior signals an inability to read social cues and respect personal boundaries. Unless someone specifically asks for your wisdom, keep your parenting philosophies to yourself.

4) Excessive personal oversharing

There’s sharing, and then there’s oversharing. I’ve sat through conversations where near-strangers told me about their divorces, childhood trauma, and financial disasters within minutes of meeting.

Studies published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that people who share too much information about themselves are perceived as less likable, especially when those details come in inappropriate contexts or too early in a relationship.

I learned this lesson during my insurance career. Early on, I shared too much about my personal struggles with a client, thinking it would build rapport. Instead, it made things uncomfortable, and I lost the account.

The thing is, vulnerability is powerful when it’s earned. But dumping your deepest problems on someone you barely know puts them in a position they didn’t ask for and may not be equipped to handle. That’s not connection; that’s emotional ambush.

5) Workplace gossip about specific people

Over my 35 years in middle management, I watched gossip tear through offices like wildfire. And while some gossip serves a social function, there’s a line between sharing information and spreading harmful rumors about specific colleagues.

I’ve covered this in a previous post, but it bears repeating: if you’ll talk about others to someone, you’ll talk about that someone to others. People pick up on this pattern quickly.

6) Constant self-promotion and bragging

Some people turn every topic into an opportunity to talk about their accomplishments, their travels, their successes. Every story somehow loops back to them and how impressive they are.

I knew a colleague who did this constantly. Win “Employee of the Month” once in 35 years? I mentioned it maybe twice. This guy would find a way to bring up every minor achievement in every conversation.

Researchers call this conversational narcissism, the habit of constantly steering conversations back to yourself without reciprocal interest in others.

When someone can’t stop talking about their achievements, it doesn’t come across as confident. It signals insecurity and a desperate need for validation. More importantly, it shows they’re not interested in actually connecting; they just want an audience.