Socializing with people, particularly within the context of a face-to-face conversation is healthy. Friendships are formed and bonds are strengthened between people in this manner. However, even a simple chat can become an unhealthy habit if taken too far. I once knew a sales representative who was incredibly friendly and would chat for hours whenever he would visit me. We would discuss just about any subject matter: the weather, business, politics, motor cars, holiday destinations and even family issues. After a while I noticed that this fellow didn't have a large order book and his clientele base was rather thin. This actually didn't surprise me. Since he enjoyed chatting away and spending considerable amount of time discussing all these issues, he didn't pursue other clients. It seems like he was so addicted to chatting that it was hurting his own livelihood. Do you anyone with this habit, and are they in a similar line of work?
I know a lot of talkative people. They are mostly into networking, sales jobs or call center jobs. All of them though are doing pretty well in their chosen career paths. Being addicted to chatting has helped them in maintaining their careers all throughout these years. But I see your point. Too much of everything can be bad. We (my husband and I) have this former classmate that is very talkative. He always relates his life story to us. Or tells us some anecdote or anything just to have some conversation with us back when we were students. We view him as somewhat weird because of this. He is nice and all, but to relate to other people you are not close with your problems and stories in life is not really that appropriate.
I do know a few people that are overly talkative to that sort of point. Similarly to @Coolkidhere they are all in customer service type roles where it's probably in their best interests to be a chatty type - but sometimes it can be a handful to put up with them in a normal, social setting. I'm relatively quiet as it is, and if I'm around one of those sort of people it's like I almost don't exist, because they're so content to carry the conversation that they're not interested in my opinion or thoughts!
My friend's mother likes to chat a lot, but I can't say she is addicted to it. Despite our phone calls lasting around an hour, she's sane and stable, and just a very talkative person. She does well at work and I envy her life and wealth. Needless to say, I have never meet someone who was addicted to chatting.
I know people who love to chat but I wouldn't call it an addiction. Some people are just more social then others. I am the opposite way. I am really quite quiet and shy. I find it difficult to start up a conversation with somebody I don't know. After I.get to know somebody I am fine. I could never do a job where I had to deal with the public. I wouldn't do very well and sales would definitely not be my thing.
I'm also pretty quiet especially in new situations. I admire those people who can talk to someone new and chat with them like they're friends for a long time. I guess most people love talkative people and I think it's because they are more relatable than us the quiet types. But one thing that I do find in talkative people alike is just like what you said. They can carry the conversation themselves, not even wanting to hear my stories or opinions lol.
My uncle is like this to an extent. He spends way too much time talking and not enough time listening, or even just, you know, doing other things. I don't know if I would consider him an addict, exactly, but everyone else in the family gets put a little on edge the moment he enters the room, because you know he'll just latch onto someone and pester them for the rest of the night.
I know someone who supposedly claims that she chatted with her love interest for 24 hours on the phone, so that can be considered as an addiction already. Chatting can be physically tiring, so I think that not much people will be addicted to doing it, apart from it doesn't give you any type of high at all, just human interaction.
It depends on the circumstances. For the person you mentioned being talkative didn't work out, but by being a natural chatter you can get in some pretty good situations, not to mention that a person like that can be a successful salesman! It's a double-edged sword.