TheNoNamedOne
06-08-2007, 10:39 PM
Man, I don't know, perhaps I am just not aggressive enough, or I am not tuned in to how people are supposed to act in a conversation. Or perhaps I've been over here too long. I don't know, but...
It seems like the last several Americans I have met for the first time do not understand when to shut up, or at least pause, during a conversation to let the other person get a word in. I am serious. I have met a few people recently and it seems as if they are in their own little world conducting a monologue. Did they notice that for the last 2 friggin hours all I did was mumble the Japanese "nnn. nnn. nnn." just to acknowledge I was listening to them? Geesh!
On with class...
Conversation Etiquette 101:
1. Stop or briefly pause every 30 to 60 seconds to check if your conversation partner wants to, or is getting ready to, or is trying to say something. If it is the latter, then you probably have gone over your 60 second friggin limit.
2. Remember; conversations are like a dance, or even sex. Both have to push and pull in opposite and same directions at different moments. Have you ever had sex where you just kept on pushing? If so, then something needs to be offering more resistance in certain places. Now, if you are in a conversation with several people -- forget the sex analogy with someone, you have to upgrade to orgy level. Look around for christs sake. Do you see someone left out. Well, invite them in with some inviting words.
3. If during the conversation someone asks you about your job, by all means answer it, but friggin stop to show interest in the other person's job as well and ask them.
Class dismissed for now. If some of you want to be visiting professors in this thread to offer advise and add to Conversation Skills 101, please do so.
Step up to the lectern and ring in class if you have something to offer.
It seems like the last several Americans I have met for the first time do not understand when to shut up, or at least pause, during a conversation to let the other person get a word in. I am serious. I have met a few people recently and it seems as if they are in their own little world conducting a monologue. Did they notice that for the last 2 friggin hours all I did was mumble the Japanese "nnn. nnn. nnn." just to acknowledge I was listening to them? Geesh!
On with class...
Conversation Etiquette 101:
1. Stop or briefly pause every 30 to 60 seconds to check if your conversation partner wants to, or is getting ready to, or is trying to say something. If it is the latter, then you probably have gone over your 60 second friggin limit.
2. Remember; conversations are like a dance, or even sex. Both have to push and pull in opposite and same directions at different moments. Have you ever had sex where you just kept on pushing? If so, then something needs to be offering more resistance in certain places. Now, if you are in a conversation with several people -- forget the sex analogy with someone, you have to upgrade to orgy level. Look around for christs sake. Do you see someone left out. Well, invite them in with some inviting words.
3. If during the conversation someone asks you about your job, by all means answer it, but friggin stop to show interest in the other person's job as well and ask them.
Class dismissed for now. If some of you want to be visiting professors in this thread to offer advise and add to Conversation Skills 101, please do so.
Step up to the lectern and ring in class if you have something to offer.