Starting a conversation?
Created | Updated May 25, 2010
Start a conversation?
Sounds easy. About what? Lets say that I’m in a group of friends, some good ones, others just acquaintances. Talk about the weather? (I was told that this is a favourite starter as in the UK annual precipitations are a pint less than those of Ireland ) Not sure of that..If I say ‘Forecasts are for hail tomorrow’ the most likely answer would be ‘Ok, and so what?’ That would kill the conversation right from the beginning.
Better would be to talk about the hilarious memo about what the Pope should do during his forthcoming September 2010 visit. But Roman Catholic friends could be offended.
The re-cycling of garbage? Necessary, but still, boring unless you’re in a group of enthusiasts.
Sausages perhaps could be a good issue, The difference between English and Italian sausages, If in Italy a butcher ever tried to dilute a pork sausage with bread and an array of herbs, he would be dipped in a vat of stale Chianti wine and left there to marinate for a couple of centuries, By the way, I personally like English sausages, especially those which have a faint taste of sage.
Corruption, bribery, dishonesty, greed in political and upper circles? A difficult subject as one is influenced by hers/his political beliefs. Corruption and the rest of similar behaviours exist in communist and fascist regimes (what is the difference anyhow?) and all the other political nuances between the two extremes.
Champions League? Be very careful. Recently in northern Italy a Juventus fan was stabbed to death by an Inter fan as he offended an Inter player (Materazzi). Sounds crazy. It happened on 23 May 2010.
Do conversations usually lead to antagonism? And when do they most likely lead to a fight?
What is a conversation? Forget the dictionary’s definition. There are feelings involved, whatever the subject may be; it’s difficult to define feelings, their intensity, their impact on people’s relationships.
Is this a load of codswallop (British. ‘nonsense’)?
Sounds easy. About what? Lets say that I’m in a group of friends, some good ones, others just acquaintances. Talk about the weather? (I was told that this is a favourite starter as in the UK annual precipitations are a pint less than those of Ireland ) Not sure of that..If I say ‘Forecasts are for hail tomorrow’ the most likely answer would be ‘Ok, and so what?’ That would kill the conversation right from the beginning.
Better would be to talk about the hilarious memo about what the Pope should do during his forthcoming September 2010 visit. But Roman Catholic friends could be offended.
The re-cycling of garbage? Necessary, but still, boring unless you’re in a group of enthusiasts.
Sausages perhaps could be a good issue, The difference between English and Italian sausages, If in Italy a butcher ever tried to dilute a pork sausage with bread and an array of herbs, he would be dipped in a vat of stale Chianti wine and left there to marinate for a couple of centuries, By the way, I personally like English sausages, especially those which have a faint taste of sage.
Corruption, bribery, dishonesty, greed in political and upper circles? A difficult subject as one is influenced by hers/his political beliefs. Corruption and the rest of similar behaviours exist in communist and fascist regimes (what is the difference anyhow?) and all the other political nuances between the two extremes.
Champions League? Be very careful. Recently in northern Italy a Juventus fan was stabbed to death by an Inter fan as he offended an Inter player (Materazzi). Sounds crazy. It happened on 23 May 2010.
Do conversations usually lead to antagonism? And when do they most likely lead to a fight?
What is a conversation? Forget the dictionary’s definition. There are feelings involved, whatever the subject may be; it’s difficult to define feelings, their intensity, their impact on people’s relationships.
Is this a load of codswallop (British. ‘nonsense’)?
