How do you avoid silly personal questions from co-worker’s?

califonialove: How do you avoid silly personal questions from co-worker’s?
I try not to be rude, but one co-worker in particular keeps prying into my personal businuss. She asks when my boyfriend and I go out, who pays, does he cook, etc?? It gets on my nerves, because I don’t like talking about that stuff at work. Plus, she’s not my firend, just co-worker, so we don’t have that type of relationship. How can I let her know nicely I don’t want to answer?

Answers and Views:

Answer by JIM
Seems like casual conversation. If you let it be known you don’t want to converse in this way with co-workers, you may be regarded as aloof and distant – not wantng to join in, and therefore, by implication, a little stuck up

Answer by Jr
Say “I really need to get back to work” or “I am uncomfortable talking about my personal relationships at work”. Make it about you, and not her.

You can also just give a one word answer, like “sometimes”, and don’t elaborate. Sometimes he pays, sometimes he cooks…. She will probably think you are pretty boring with your one word answers and move on to someone who wants to be friendlier.

Answer by BEV
Say “why do you ask?”. When she answers, say “hm” and go back to what you were doing. She’ll stop asking.

Answer by Walker
You want polite and peaceful boundaries. Replying with silence will erode her interest in you fast, but be nice and give her a little, but silence to her (nosey) queries. Be more mysterious but not smug, and kill with kindness.