| If we are well-informed, then the goal in
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| | Suppose the subject is fishing, and the
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| conversation is to select subjects in
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| | group has been concentrating on
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| which all those taking part have an
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| | salt-water fishing. If you know that one
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| interest. When two people meet, the
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| | of the group fishes mainly in Minnesota's
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| overlapping of their experiences produces
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| | freshwater lakes, you might ask: "How
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| subjects for conversation. Mutual
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| | does this compare with fishing in
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| experiences develop interest. How
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| | Minnesota, Harry?"
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| enjoyable it is to talk to someone who
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| | Contribute what you believe to be your
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| visited Mexico last summer as you did!
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| | special knowledge. Perhaps in Maine last
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| What fun it is to talk to someone who is
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| | summer you learned some special
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| interested in fly-casting, as you are!
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| | information about whaling customs from an
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| So, the good conversationalist is, first,
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| | old sea captain. Such new information
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| well-informed, and, second, one who
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| | should appeal to the group.
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| chooses from his information a subject
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| | Answer the questions asked of you, but
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| that is interesting to the person or
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| | keep your answers short. For example,
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| persons to whom lie is talking.
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| | someone might ask, "Didn't you catch big
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| The technique of a good conversation
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| | bass up in Michigan last summer?" Answer
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| begins with the selection of a topic in
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| | the question but do not go on and on,
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| which you believe others have an
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| | putting in all the details. Give someone
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| interest. Then, make a sincere effort to
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| | else a chance to talk.
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| determine if others participating in the
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| | Contribute ideas and information on the
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| conversation are really interested.
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| | conversation at hand. Change the subject
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| Finally, if they are not interested and
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| | only when the group will benefit. If the
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| cannot participate, change the subject to
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| | subject is fishing, do not abruptly shift
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| something in which the interest is more
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| | the topic to sailing unless you ask
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| general.
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| | permission of the group to do so. You
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| A conversation must not be one-sided;
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| | might say, "If you don't mind, I'd like
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| everyone participating must contribute
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| | to shift the subject of conversation to
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| information and interest.
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| | sailing."
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| Conversation can be improved if those
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| | When stating an opinion, give your
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| taking part will contribute good
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| | reasons for holding such an opinion.
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| information and ideas. Just because you
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| | There is nothing more deadly to
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| know a lot about a subject does not
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| | conversation than the person who is "for"
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| insure a successful conversation.
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| | or "against" something but will not say
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| Those concerned must correctly choose
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| | why. He may say, "I do not believe in
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| appealing topics to make a conversation
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| | having any fish and game laws." When
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| interesting.
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| | asked why not, and told that this might
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| The selection of what to say in a
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| | lead to a serious shortage of fish and
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| conversation is a different kind of skill
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| | game, he simply says, "I'm just against
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| from those discussed above. It requires
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| | them, that's all." This refusal to
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| making a choice between the things that
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| | clarify is harmful to constructive
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| are available to say. How can your
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| | conversation.
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| choices be improved?
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| | If these suggestions are kept in mind
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| Draw others into conversation with topics
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| | when talking to others, you will find
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| of interest to which they can contribute.
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| | that conversation can be a very enjoyable
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| Contribute materials that are needed to
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| | pastime.
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| bring others into the conversation.
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|
