h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'm sure you all know that: You meet nice people at the busstop, on trips, in the train, at the dentist (other than the medic, of course!), etc. It's fun, they are very interesting, aconversation starts and you really enjoy it. But after some time (ranging normally from five minutes to two hours) you just don't know what to talk about, even if you would enjoy to go on.
Anyone knows how to keep the conversation going?
Or how to pick it up again after a minute of silence and searching for themes?
Or at least how to end it without feeling somewhat uncomfortable, because you are still sitting near each other for the next two hours, but just can't talk?

Hmmm...looks as if nobody knows what to say about it....AND THIS IS EXACTLY THE PROBLEM!!!

On the contrary. I know exactly what to say about it. What I don't know is how to say it. Exactly.

I was just talking about this kind of thing in another forum.

I'm not sure how to keep a conversation going. Here's an interesting idea, think of something that you would like to know about every person, should probably be something weird so they will have to think about it, and they will ask you why you wanted to know something so odd, and whenever the conversation dies just ask them.

But some conversations die and there's no hope of bringing them back. In that case, I would just say move seats.

I try to say something controversial that will keep the conversation going. However this is easy to overdo and end up offending people. This is why lot's of people hate my guts!

Or alternatively try here: http://www.studentuk.com

That trick with the odd question seems quite a good idea; I didn't try it out yet, but I will on the next long bus/air/boat trip - if a sweet girl sits beside me, that is...
I sometimes try to find odd things on other people, like funny sweaters, neclaces, etc. Other things are books. Yes, books are perfect, especially odd ones with strange titles.
But unfortunately the interesting people become less and less...

I know what you mean. And a lot of the time, the ones who seem like they'd be interesting aren't.

Books are a good idea, especially since you can find out a lot about a person by the books they read.