It's the nature of our situation here in Seattle that we often meet new people in social settings. We're not social butterflies, but we're introduced to new people on a pretty regular basis. These meetings generally take place in restaurants.
It amazes me how bad people are at social conversation.
Ed and I tend to ask the new people at the table about their lives. What do they do? What activities or interests have they? Generally people answer these questions with side information that allows us to segue down another path. The objective is to get these people to open up and feel comfy at the table. Ed is the best at this, but it's a tactic I've used for years to make folks feel they're in a pleasant setting. After all, dinner without conversation is just a restaurant review by consensus.
People seldom have difficulty talking about themselves and their lives.
Within a few minutes, Ed and I let the conversation rest for a while. No sense in making the new folks feel like they're being probed by aliens.
What amazes me is that about 2/3 of the people we meet don't have the courtesy, decency, or social skills to turn the conversation around and learn something about us. When I say "let the conversation rest", I mean it takes a nap more than half of the time!
So what's up people? Do you not understand that basic social courtesy suggests you ask us a few questions? Do you not care who you're sharing a table with?
If this is how people are in common social settings, is there any wonder blind dates go so badly?
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1 comment:
haha.. Ray and I must be doing resaturant reviews. We hardly ever talk during dinner when it's just the two of us. He is too into his food and I am listening and observing the people around us.
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