July 13th, 2005
It's like a 85% packet loss. Ok done with the technical stuff, you can breathe now. I don't know how many times I've done that. I'm supposed to be friends with this guy just cause he's in my class so when I spot him on the bus, I try to make conversation. It's like swimming against a current. I have to do all the work, ask all the questions. Questions are good cause they require answers. But the conversation never goes anywhere, it's boring questions with short, tedious answers. I hate the one way conversation, it's such a struggle. "So did you start on that report yet?" "No." "It was funny what the history teacher said today." "Yeah." "So how about that Liverpool?" I, of course, don't give a damn.
And the sad thing is that sometimes you have to do it because there's no way to get out of the situation, like meeting someone on the bus. You can choose to sit by yourself, which seems a little funny. Or you can endure it. If you meet them on the street, you don't even need an excuse to take off. But sometimes you also get it with people you think are your friends or could be. I should have something in common with this person, I've heard her talk to other people about things that interest me, yet when I'm here the conversation doesn't work. Sometimes you both would like it to work but it still doesn't. And anything you say comes out like a clueless attempt on the other side.
And then there's people who know how to do this well. The kind of people who can always find something to talk about with someone. I envy them, they got it easy.
Some people seem to be born with that talent yeah...
I'm not that lucky however so I live with a couple of rules:
1) On the streets or in a similar situations where you can take off; make polite but short conversation, then go to avoid awkward silences
2) On the bus or in similar situations where you cannot take off; do your best to avoid it. For example, if person comes on, look the other way if you still can. If you come on, wave or nodd, then go sit somewhere else
3) Always take your phone or something to 'study' so you have excuses for ending the situation
Only goes in situations where you don't want to put in the effort of course. Often enough I feel like talking and I'll usually manage to get a good conversation pulled from the person.
If you succeed at making conversation then you don't suffer from this, go away you poser (indeed I am pretty keen on that term lately, thanks for asking) :P
But to get right to it, #3 is not me and #2 I can't imagine being you so I'm a little surprised..
I only recently used it after someone pulled it on me (bastard :D)