the hierarchy of conversation

[lauralh]

I'm trying to figure out why I don't like talking to people, and of course my basic retort is that people aren't very interesting. But that's not true, it's just that it's hard to talk about interesting stuff sometimes. No one is going to find the same things compelling, so you have to start at a basic level, then work up from there...

this is subject to change, input welcome:

             total enlightenment
         philosophy/religion/politics
     small talk/stories about your own past
 small talk about pop culture/current affairs
totally inane small talk about weather/traffic

Comments

[mitwess.livejournal.com]

i think you can often read a person before saying a word.

secondly, i think you should talk about the most important things as soon as possible, why waste your time or thiers... conversation is like everything else in life, their is a variety of ways to go about it. just because most people have an innefficent communication progression method does not mean you have do.

figure out what is most important to you in life and frame a question around it to ask new people. if your main goal in life is to be a great mountain climber. ask people what they think about mountain climbing or if they have a dream they are pursuing. i think you can only be good friends with people who share similar goals in life.