CONVERSATION

 

CONVERSATION

 

    Conversation is an integral part of life. But, the attitude to conversation is under the powerful grip of social influence. In western civilization – especially Europeans do not readily enter a conversation with strangers. In India people gladly enter conversation with others without any formal introduction. It is debatable as to which of the above is good as a human attitude. A convincing judgment may never emerge since it is a matter of social behaviour. It is interesting to consider the different aspects, more to understand how best it can be employed to advantage. It is important to keep in mind that most situations are informal and a whiff of regional dialect spontaneously exhibiting itself is inevitable. Why I touch upon this point is, getting the best of  another man’s point of view needs a clear understanding of every syllable uttered. Besides, regional usages of idioms and phrases / proverbs carry a precise relevance. Our being not-so-equipped in some of these usages may prove a handicap in our grasping the message. One way of getting over this hurdle is, to try to mix with the local population and slowly become comfortable in picking up the details. Even the language “English” runs under the same influence. Quite a few usages are not exactly convenient, though not alien to us. I would recall an example at a later point and leave it to the reader’s inference. So long as we are not in a great hurry, a conversation of the right kind is an enjoyable pursuit. However, an element of personal preference does influence the degree of participation in a conversation. An ideal conversation is one where both parties are interested in the subject matter and willing to heed the other view. Sometimes a zealous orientation to an idea might lead to a conflict or at least a momentary unpleasantness. It would be necessary to restore our healthy relations by relegating such displeasure unfathomably deep; better still if we can dislodge it from memory, though a Herculean task

    A typical feature of conversation is the freedom for switching over from topic to topic without any limit what so ever. Also, all the participants are donors and recipients. The disadvantage that can arise is that one may lose sight of some other priority because of an engaging conversation. Some of the conversations turn out to be lively,vivid and to turn off that is almost impossible.  The lone option is to not to get into it, to avoid running out of time. An interesting feature of conversation is it begins in common locations like street corners /shopping zones or some place of a common acquaintance, often as an unscheduled event. It is a place and hour of equality absolutely free from hierarchy and any rigidities of formal addressing. There are no fixed turns by which one has to speak. It is a near free for all situation and no wonder people relish it for the sheer informal freedom of expression. Certainly this unfettered freedom draws out the best in a person for his / her dimensions as a wholesome personality. A conversation helps our judging the attitude of a person for topics, ideology, likes and dislikes besides the individual’s comprehension. Invariably those with fertile wit and humour hold the attention and enjoy “popularity” in the group.

     Quite a few humour clubs have come in to being to cater to the longing of people for a joyful spending of time. Some such groups also fritter away due to the disproportionate domination of a few who insist on others to only listen and not to speak. Some people have an imaginary evaluation of self and impose themselves on others. Soon the gathered crowd disperses in preference of something else. If such a signal is shown to us, we should try to locate our defect and rectify it. Unfortunately we would rather find fault with others than mend some of our idiosyncrasies. Thus, a venue of conversation can provide for some assessment of our social acceptance.      But such a ‘facility’ of silent declaration is there for only those who try to dominate every occasion. Those who are passive listeners do not suffer this treatment nor do they enjoy any special invitation. There seems to be some general behaviour about such attitudes. Patient interactions provide for assessments that are emotionally detached and neutral. Studying of various characters is a useful tool in life, since people of similar attitudes behave similarly under comparable situations. Judging the others around us is an essential requirement to avoid the unwanted or undesirables. It is a safety precaution of avoidance that helps us to escape from social entanglement.