I sat in court last week next to a younger colleague who I’ve known professionally for several years. We have never socialized, only speaking to one another when we happen to see one another in court.

Sitting in the courtroom, he began to tell me about a personal dilemma he was experiencing. At first I was flattered that he felt he could share this private matter with me. But as he continued to speak, the details got more personal and I began to feel uncomfortable.

Luckily, our conversation abruptly ended when I was called into the judge’s chambers. But I wonder what would have happened if that had not happened. Oversharing can blur the line between healthy self-expression and making others uncomfortable.  I wonder whether it’s due to the effect of social media, where it's easy to forget that not everyone needs—or wants—to know every detail of our lives.

At what point do we tell other people that we do not need to know everything?