How to deflect people who try to extort information from me?

People ask me questions relating to my uni course, life at home, where my parents are from, do I own my house and have discussions regarding politics and health issues in the staff canteen. They often will ask a question in public regarding something I would consider my business and confidential. My problem is, I don’t know how to deflect them! I know that they’re asking out of nosiness and to fuel their gossips. I now avoid tea breaks and lunches just to avoid sitting with my team. I am given the third degree as to why I’m not taking lunch or tea with them, whereas other people on my team do not get asked such questions when they want to have lunch elsewhere or skip it entirely. Please tell me what works to make all of this stop?

Parents
  • Just like I don't worry about trying to be interesting or cool any more so I either have lunch on my own saying I'm not hungry at the same time as the others, or from time to time I join them and just say the minimum. Usually there is someone else who doesn't say that much... I try to copy them without it being obvious.

    Maybe practise a few phrases about your past if you don't want people digging there. I'm awful at asking questions, really awful, but there's an opportunity to turn the same question back in those lunch time type chats.

    Sometimes the questions people ask reveal what they themselves would like to talk about. I would also like to hear others' tips on surviving lunch break! 

Reply
  • Just like I don't worry about trying to be interesting or cool any more so I either have lunch on my own saying I'm not hungry at the same time as the others, or from time to time I join them and just say the minimum. Usually there is someone else who doesn't say that much... I try to copy them without it being obvious.

    Maybe practise a few phrases about your past if you don't want people digging there. I'm awful at asking questions, really awful, but there's an opportunity to turn the same question back in those lunch time type chats.

    Sometimes the questions people ask reveal what they themselves would like to talk about. I would also like to hear others' tips on surviving lunch break! 

Children
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