Skip Navigation

The Daily Dish - 2006-2011 archives for The Daily Dish, featuring Andrew Sullivan

The Rules Of Conversation, Ctd

By The Daily Dish
Jul 24 2010, 6:08 AM ET

Scott Adams keeps talking:

As a general rule, the more dangerous or inappropriate the conversation, the more interesting it is. You'll have to use your judgment to know when you've crossed the line.

Also as a general rule, conversations about how people have or will interact are interesting, and conversations about objects are dull. So steer toward topics that involve human perceptions and feelings, and away from objects and things.



You also want to avoid any topic that falls into the "you had to be there" category. For example, if someone is describing a vacation, avoid asking about the food. Nothing is more boring than a description of food. Ask instead if the person answered email from the beach. That gets to how a person thinks, and how hard it is to release a habit. And it could provide an escape route to move the conversation to yet another place. Sometimes it takes two or three bounces to get someplace of mutual interest.

My thoughts here.

Presented by

More at The Atlantic

Mario Batali: Mario Batali: 'I Can Teach a Chimp How to Make Linguini'
A False Photo From a Real Massacre A False Photo of a Real Massacre
In 'Game of Thrones,' War Changes Everyone In 'Game of Thrones,' War Changes Everyone
50 Cent Endorses Marriage Equality; Wonders Why There's No 'White History Month' 50 Cent's Mixed Gay Marriage Endorsement
Requiem for Baseball's Memorial-Day Doubleheader The Death of Baseball's Memorial-Day Doubleheaders
View All Correspondents

The Biggest Story in Photos

Where in the World? Part 3: A Google Earth Puzzle

May 25, 2012

Subscribe Now

SAVE 59%! 10 issues JUST $2.45 PER COPY

Facebook

Newsletters

Sign up to receive our free newsletters

(sample)

(sample)

(sample)

(sample)

(sample)

(sample)