Comments on: The Art Of Conversation: What Are You Passionate About? http://www.gnorb.net/412/the-art-of-conversation-what-are-you-passionate-about In your head it's only a memory, but written down it's working knowledge Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:56:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Gnorb http://www.gnorb.net/412/the-art-of-conversation-what-are-you-passionate-about/comment-page-1#comment-4192 Gnorb Thu, 01 Jun 2006 12:42:29 +0000 http://www.gnorb.net/life/20060525/the-art-of-conversation-what-are-you-passionate-about/#comment-4192 Hey, Kari! Long time, no see. Hope everything's going good! As for conversing, I know how you feel. I used to feel the same way. The problem was that every body around me also felt the same way, so I never really got into many conversations, unless I plainly saw that we had something in common, like Dungeons and Dragons, or Linux. Then I noticed that everyone who was in life where I wanted to be would go out of their way to say "hi" to people, even when they didn't know them. More often than not, these people had also supremely developed listening skills, something I then realized I lacked, no matter how much I believed I was a good listener. The truth of the matter was, however, that by waiting for someome to say "hi" to me -- by being reactive -- I was missing out on meeting a ton of people who were friendly, but were just waiting for someone to say "hi" to them. When I started becoming more proactive and saying "hello" to people. As I did that, more and more I started to get interested in people (and, somewhat selfishily, I'll admit, get people interested in me). Since I started doing that, my life has been so much better, to the point where you can tell how good or bad I'm doing based on how many people I say "hi" to. In the end, for me, it was a matter of self-esteem: I waited for them to say "hello" because I was affraid of looking stupid if they didn't say hello back. As it turns out, most people do respond, and usually with a smile (if I'm also smiling). You should try it out sometime, maybe making it a goal to one week say "hello" to 10 new people a day, then the next week making it a point to do that and talk to 1 or 2 of those new people a day. Then, keep this up for a month and see how many new friends you have made. Heck, this is how I finally found out that my barber had her own business, that my neighbor worked at the airport, and that some guy I met at the gym drives that big blue truck that's always parked just inside my apartment complex. All of these people are now people I can converse with and can introduce me to other people. (Come to think of it, this is exactly how I ended up becoming a writer.) You should try it. It can be a lot of fun, and very very rewarding. Hey, Kari! Long time, no see. Hope everything’s going good! As for conversing, I know how you feel. I used to feel the same way. The problem was that every body around me also felt the same way, so I never really got into many conversations, unless I plainly saw that we had something in common, like Dungeons and Dragons, or Linux. Then I noticed that everyone who was in life where I wanted to be would go out of their way to say “hi” to people, even when they didn’t know them. More often than not, these people had also supremely developed listening skills, something I then realized I lacked, no matter how much I believed I was a good listener.

The truth of the matter was, however, that by waiting for someome to say “hi” to me — by being reactive — I was missing out on meeting a ton of people who were friendly, but were just waiting for someone to say “hi” to them. When I started becoming more proactive and saying “hello” to people. As I did that, more and more I started to get interested in people (and, somewhat selfishily, I’ll admit, get people interested in me). Since I started doing that, my life has been so much better, to the point where you can tell how good or bad I’m doing based on how many people I say “hi” to.

In the end, for me, it was a matter of self-esteem: I waited for them to say “hello” because I was affraid of looking stupid if they didn’t say hello back. As it turns out, most people do respond, and usually with a smile (if I’m also smiling). You should try it out sometime, maybe making it a goal to one week say “hello” to 10 new people a day, then the next week making it a point to do that and talk to 1 or 2 of those new people a day. Then, keep this up for a month and see how many new friends you have made. Heck, this is how I finally found out that my barber had her own business, that my neighbor worked at the airport, and that some guy I met at the gym drives that big blue truck that’s always parked just inside my apartment complex. All of these people are now people I can converse with and can introduce me to other people. (Come to think of it, this is exactly how I ended up becoming a writer.)

You should try it. It can be a lot of fun, and very very rewarding.

]]> By: Kari http://www.gnorb.net/412/the-art-of-conversation-what-are-you-passionate-about/comment-page-1#comment-4176 Kari Wed, 31 May 2006 19:20:35 +0000 http://www.gnorb.net/life/20060525/the-art-of-conversation-what-are-you-passionate-about/#comment-4176 I think that if I want to start a convo with someone.. they might just have to speak to me first! I am not one to go up to strangers and just start chit-chat unless I know them.. or I really want to talk to them (like if they have children my childrens age.. or If I got a question so forth). I think that if I want to start a convo with someone.. they might just have to speak to me first! I am not one to go up to strangers and just start chit-chat unless I know them.. or I really want to talk to them (like if they have children my childrens age.. or If I got a question so forth).

]]> By: Junior http://www.gnorb.net/412/the-art-of-conversation-what-are-you-passionate-about/comment-page-1#comment-4037 Junior Fri, 26 May 2006 23:21:09 +0000 http://www.gnorb.net/life/20060525/the-art-of-conversation-what-are-you-passionate-about/#comment-4037 you gave my head an owwie. meanie (all those years in school and this is the limit of my academic prowess) you gave my head an owwie.

meanie

(all those years in school and this is the limit of my academic prowess)

]]> By: Gnorb http://www.gnorb.net/412/the-art-of-conversation-what-are-you-passionate-about/comment-page-1#comment-4022 Gnorb Fri, 26 May 2006 14:37:07 +0000 http://www.gnorb.net/life/20060525/the-art-of-conversation-what-are-you-passionate-about/#comment-4022 Ok, talking "real world" here, not the "high winded" (if you get my drift) tower of academia. (Also note that social astuteness and social experience are two totally different things. The former merely indicates the level of comfort at and ability to manage social situations. The later involves what a person chooses to do with the former.) Ok, talking “real world” here, not the “high winded” (if you get my drift) tower of academia. (Also note that social astuteness and social experience are two totally different things. The former merely indicates the level of comfort at and ability to manage social situations. The later involves what a person chooses to do with the former.)

]]> By: Junior http://www.gnorb.net/412/the-art-of-conversation-what-are-you-passionate-about/comment-page-1#comment-4021 Junior Fri, 26 May 2006 14:06:35 +0000 http://www.gnorb.net/life/20060525/the-art-of-conversation-what-are-you-passionate-about/#comment-4021 The average 25 year old's social experience tends to favor partying, drinking and activities that involve a lot of arrogance. have fun with that. The average 25 year old’s social experience tends to favor partying, drinking and activities that involve a lot of arrogance.

have fun with that.

]]> By: Gnorb http://www.gnorb.net/412/the-art-of-conversation-what-are-you-passionate-about/comment-page-1#comment-4003 Gnorb Fri, 26 May 2006 00:56:59 +0000 http://www.gnorb.net/life/20060525/the-art-of-conversation-what-are-you-passionate-about/#comment-4003 Yes. More times than I want to count. (It's embarrasing, really.) Somehow, it took me a bit of time to learn that wasn't a good thing. Also, never start off a conversation by asking "So, does your wife stay at home all day?" Never got a good reaction with that one. Social graces and astuteness are gifts I've yet to fully develop, aparently. Slowly, though. Slowly and most decidedly asuredly. By the time I'm 45 I should be as socially astute as the average 25 year old. Looking forward to that one. Yes. More times than I want to count. (It’s embarrasing, really.) Somehow, it took me a bit of time to learn that wasn’t a good thing. Also, never start off a conversation by asking “So, does your wife stay at home all day?” Never got a good reaction with that one.

Social graces and astuteness are gifts I’ve yet to fully develop, aparently. Slowly, though. Slowly and most decidedly asuredly. By the time I’m 45 I should be as socially astute as the average 25 year old. Looking forward to that one.

]]> By: Junior http://www.gnorb.net/412/the-art-of-conversation-what-are-you-passionate-about/comment-page-1#comment-4002 Junior Fri, 26 May 2006 00:28:06 +0000 http://www.gnorb.net/life/20060525/the-art-of-conversation-what-are-you-passionate-about/#comment-4002 Logic followed by action helped me overcome my fears. That action was essentially practice and thus built self-confidence. I read and listened a lot about this topic, and the more you konw, the more confident you feel. I basically talk to anyone who dresses like i should know them. Sharp. Someon who looks important essentially. Though while in conversation if i realize they are rather dimwitted, I dont follow through (now). Most embarresing moment.... Ever say 'i can help you look better' to a girl and walk away unscathed? Logic followed by action helped me overcome my fears. That action was essentially practice and thus built self-confidence.

I read and listened a lot about this topic, and the more you konw, the more confident you feel.

I basically talk to anyone who dresses like i should know them. Sharp. Someon who looks important essentially. Though while in conversation if i realize they are rather dimwitted, I dont follow through (now).

Most embarresing moment….

Ever say ‘i can help you look better’ to a girl and walk away unscathed?

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