hellison | A Learning Experience

Some time ago, last year I think, I was reading one of the Gossip Mag ilk - Closer/New/Star/whatever on a journey, and I came across the problem page, where the Problem Answerer was Vanessa Felps.
A lady wrote in with a question about a a guy she liked that she hung out with a lot, went to films/cafes/bars with but Did He Like Her. The answer was, which at the time I totally disagreed with was "he must do. To men, women they aren't attracted to are invisible"

I thought "WTF? that's bollocks! I have many male friends to whom I am sure I am not invisible, despite there being no sex! Obviously, this is a pile of sexist (against teh menz) shite!"

Since then, however, I have had occasion to rethink and wonder if she was not, in fact, right. I have discovered that however much I might talk (which is A Lot) , people aren't always listening.

But, until today, I did think they at least realised I was there...

Tonight I went for drinks with a friend V. (male) who moved to England some years ago. As, on many previous occasions, when he's been back, the same small group of friends meet up - ie friends of his who only really meet to see him.
This group usually involves me, V.'s cousin and her husband, his blokey mates S (now shunned), P (who drives) and I. Sometimes more, but that's the basic group. All there tonight except S.

Tonight I had the following conversation

ME - lalalala stuff, things lalallal CIDER LALLALAL TALKING LOUDLY ABOUT STUFF LALALALLA
I. WHAT? You were never like this before!
ME like what?
I. LOUD! You were always so quiet

*silence descends. All look at I.*

Me. Um, What?
I. Loud! and a bit scary! When did that start?
Me. Always? With the loud especially. ALWAYS!
I. I never noticed!
Me well. Every other time we met, there were more people. And by 'people' I mean other ladies, so you never really bothered to pay any attention to me before. You never actually talked to me.

I. (and I swear, he said this) NO! I've known you for 10 years and you were NEVER loud!

Me. ...

Everyone else ...

Me - you heard him say that, right?
Everyone else *nods*, baffled ( and some guffawing)

Me - we've never actually had a conversation before. Beyond the basics. You never *had* to talk to me before.

I. *confused* no! you were always just quiet!

Everyone else - (who, remember, include people I've only met IN HIS COMPANY) QUIET?? HER?? *baffled*

And then we all went home.

So. Seriously, F-list guys, was Vanessa right ? Do Girls (or Boys) You Don't Fancy basically... not exist for you?
I'd have sworn (loudly ;p) that she was talking utter bollocks before, but lately? I'm starting to wonder.

She's not right, is she?

(btw I am not Offended in an OMG Why Doesn't He Fancy Me Way, just... baffled. No-one has EVER said - and again, NOT MAKING THIS UP - "but you were always the quiet one" to me.)