Another great post. Conversational parity— perfectly apt! I find when I interrupt it is because I am so excited about what’s being discussed that my thoughts bubble out of me; it’s also disrespectful to the speaker so I’m trying to rein it in.
Never, I'm very prolific, and I do not mind changing my mind if my reviews of the pros and cons lead me to re-examine old stories under a new light. It's possibly a French thing brought by the Cartesian way of thinking that we are taught in high school (thesis, antithesis, and finally synthesis). At least, I can be totally honest without fear of hurting anybody's pride for deeply disagreeing with them, or of being locked in the same concepts for life. And when I feel like being entertained by other points of view, I can always bounce them around with other people who may (or may not) open my eyes to something new or different. Finally, there are things that I will admit to myself that I do not necessarily want to discuss with others because they may be so deeply private or spiritual. Talking to oneself and talking to other people do not have to be mutually exclusive.
For the past 15 years I have been running with the same group of guys. Most of them are about ten years my junior. When I first started running with them, the conversations usually involved their school age children who were involved in sports.
One of my fellow runners is their soccer coach, so if he was with us, you can imagine what the topic was going to be. Now that their kids are now in college, they are not part of the conversational mix as much. Since we are all runners and triathletes, we frequently talk about what’s going on in the elite levels. Also, we are all anti-Trump, so we sometimes commiserate about the situation in our country.
Very thought provoking! There is another level or perhaps “mode” of conversation and that is - this. Right here. Me responding to you in a text-like environment. I’ve seen interesting conversations develop over time, in these short word-bursts…again, great article 👍
Another great post. Conversational parity— perfectly apt! I find when I interrupt it is because I am so excited about what’s being discussed that my thoughts bubble out of me; it’s also disrespectful to the speaker so I’m trying to rein it in.
When we next meet, let’s allow each other 3 excited interruptions!
The three levels of conversational depth. I learned them too. They still, even amid this madness.
1) his things (prisons, his Bibles, his crypto) are terrible
2) his people (cabinet, department heads) are terrible
3) his ideas (tariffs, shredding the US of its best programs and ideals) are terrible
End of conversation . . . but it isn't, is it?
Nope. If we don't engage in this conversation, if we don't stand up and try to do something about it, we are complicit.
What about talking to yourself. I generally agree with just about everything without any rude and needless interruption ...
But doesn't it get boring!
Never, I'm very prolific, and I do not mind changing my mind if my reviews of the pros and cons lead me to re-examine old stories under a new light. It's possibly a French thing brought by the Cartesian way of thinking that we are taught in high school (thesis, antithesis, and finally synthesis). At least, I can be totally honest without fear of hurting anybody's pride for deeply disagreeing with them, or of being locked in the same concepts for life. And when I feel like being entertained by other points of view, I can always bounce them around with other people who may (or may not) open my eyes to something new or different. Finally, there are things that I will admit to myself that I do not necessarily want to discuss with others because they may be so deeply private or spiritual. Talking to oneself and talking to other people do not have to be mutually exclusive.
For the past 15 years I have been running with the same group of guys. Most of them are about ten years my junior. When I first started running with them, the conversations usually involved their school age children who were involved in sports.
One of my fellow runners is their soccer coach, so if he was with us, you can imagine what the topic was going to be. Now that their kids are now in college, they are not part of the conversational mix as much. Since we are all runners and triathletes, we frequently talk about what’s going on in the elite levels. Also, we are all anti-Trump, so we sometimes commiserate about the situation in our country.
Sounds like you guys have talk chemistry!
Very thought provoking! There is another level or perhaps “mode” of conversation and that is - this. Right here. Me responding to you in a text-like environment. I’ve seen interesting conversations develop over time, in these short word-bursts…again, great article 👍
Thank you, Robin. And it's true, these short electronic bursts offer some satisfaction and bonding. But not like talk chemistry IRL!