A conversation is like a game of table-tennis. To have a good one you need a good opponent who can give you a good rally. Yes, you need to listen, but you also have to actively participate. It never works otherwise. It's not a passive situation where you can take a backseat and let the other take all the responsibility of driving the tete-a-tete. A conversation is not a seminar, it is not a lecture, it is not pep-talk. There are reasons why those are not synonyms for conversation. A conversation needs nuances, it needs agility, it needs response.
X: Hey, what're you doing?
Y: Nothing much, just watching Perfume, the Story of a Murderer.
X: What's that?
Y: You know that movie where the protagonist makes perfumes from women's bodies after killing them?
X: No...
Y: Erm... The one where he was born with an extraordinary sense of smell...
X: No...
Y: You should watch it.
X: Okay.
Y: Do you want to download it? I can send you a link...
X: Maybe later.
Y: ...
How would you rate this conversation? I'd give it a maximum of 3 on a scale of 10. Do you know how this could have been a good conversation? Like this -
X: Hey, what're you doing?
Y: Nothing much, just watching Perfume, the Story of a Murderer.
X: What's that?
Y: You know that movie where the protagonist makes perfumes from women's bodies after killing them?
X: No... What's the story like?
Y: It's really weird! This guy is born with an extra sensitive nose and he's bent on making the best perfume in the world...
X: So why is it called a story of a murderer?
Y: Because he kills women to steal their body fragrances...
X: Woah! That's psycho!
Y: Do you want to download it? I cam send you a link...
X: Yeah why not? It's bizarre though...
Y: Well, do watch it and tell me how you liked it.
X: Will do...
Now that's more like it, isn't it?
Good conversationists are hard to find these days. I happen to be one of those people who find a good conversation highly erotic.
X: Hey, what're you doing?
Y: Nothing much, just watching Perfume, the Story of a Murderer.
X: What's that?
Y: You know that movie where the protagonist makes perfumes from women's bodies after killing them?
X: No...
Y: Erm... The one where he was born with an extraordinary sense of smell...
X: No...
Y: You should watch it.
X: Okay.
Y: Do you want to download it? I can send you a link...
X: Maybe later.
Y: ...
How would you rate this conversation? I'd give it a maximum of 3 on a scale of 10. Do you know how this could have been a good conversation? Like this -
X: Hey, what're you doing?
Y: Nothing much, just watching Perfume, the Story of a Murderer.
X: What's that?
Y: You know that movie where the protagonist makes perfumes from women's bodies after killing them?
X: No... What's the story like?
Y: It's really weird! This guy is born with an extra sensitive nose and he's bent on making the best perfume in the world...
X: So why is it called a story of a murderer?
Y: Because he kills women to steal their body fragrances...
X: Woah! That's psycho!
Y: Do you want to download it? I cam send you a link...
X: Yeah why not? It's bizarre though...
Y: Well, do watch it and tell me how you liked it.
X: Will do...
Now that's more like it, isn't it?
Good conversationists are hard to find these days. I happen to be one of those people who find a good conversation highly erotic.
True that. Everything u said. Real conversations are rare these days. Forget about face to face talks, even when I chat with someone online, I feel like I'm forcing words out of the other person, and they're too reluctant and busy to keep it going. It simply irritates me to see a 'hmmm', 'yeah', 'cool' to a long remark by me. I don't know about this psychology, but maybe they think it's kinda cool to act careless or casual with people, but it just shows their lack of social skills.
ReplyDeletePS. I HATE MONOSYLLABIC PEOPLE! :@
Today the world is filled with conversations full of 'hmm'', 'k' and more such inane expressions that actually make a topic reach a dead end even as you want to explore more. Your post is well-written rey, it hit hard where it hurts. People are more interested in checking out random posts on Facebook than having a good conversation on different things and ideas. Sad but true.
ReplyDelete