It sounded a bit like that - but as a conversation "allower" rather than patronising or dismissive, so don't worry. A cue to allow the patient to ramble on, like "really?" and "always the way, isn't it?" and "so then what happened?" is a good thing. to be blunt, if I've had a phase of being housebound and alone, (as I'd imagine quite a few PTS clients do) I will have a conversation with anyone who comes within earshot. It's just about talking to someone and going "yes! I'm part of human social groups! I have opinions and can voice them!". Why do you think I post so prolifically on places like this? But it's better in real life. I'm not so naive as to believe that most of the people I talk to have any interest in me at all. I'm not really a very interesting person. But I am a person, and as such I like to talk to people, and if you end up housebound and you can't talk to people every day at work or at college you'll understand how good it feels just to be allowed to waffle on once in a while. You're not being told off ;)