Questions tagged [conversations]

Questions about having conversations with other people, and how to achieve certain things when having them. This can be covering (or avoiding) certain topics, starting them, keeping them going or bringing them to a close.

Conversations are a key way of communicating between people, and people have them on a daily basis with various people. Whether they happen online, or in person, conversations are a part of everyone's life and a key method of communication.

Conversations can happen either between just 2 people or in larger groups of people. In addition it can happen between strangers, work colleagues, friends and family. In addition the topic of conversations can also vary drastically between people, covering work or just casual chit-chat.

Communication skills can take a while to develop, and often there are various conversation topics that people have difficulty talking about, and this tag is for helping people cover the more difficult conversation topics. In addition it can also be used when seeking for help regarding starting a conversation, keeping it going or even bringing one to an end.

693 questions
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How can I tell non-parents, "Wait and see until you have kids" without being cliché and obnoxious?

I am in my early 30's, married, and have multiple young children. I have a lot of co-workers in the same age bracket that doesn't have children but are on the path (newly married, or engaged, kids in the future in the next 5-10 years). Often topics…
user3314
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How to stop people from looking at my mouth when we're having a conversation?

Context I am a male in my early 20s. My work requires me to frequently communicate face-to-face with customers that are often strangers to me. Because of this I tend to take good care of my appearance. I neatly trim my beard, put product in my hair…
Cartman
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How can I react better if someone confesses their identity that I have little or no knowledge of?

Sometimes a person confesses to me in a conversation something that I don't know how to react to due to my sheer ignorance and lack of interactions with these people. For example: Person X: What are you eating? I: Chicken fillet! X: Whao! X: But…
Blaszard
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How do I build a rapport with someone I find really boring and have nothing in common with?

I have a job where I frequently meet new clients. Sometimes this is good, but often, it can be quite difficult. I'll meet people who I have nothing in common with. So we'll explore a few topics - sports, weather, family life or whatever - basically…
PetePie
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How to reply to "Drive/Travel Safe"?

Oftentimes when leaving work, or the last time I see someone before I go on a trip, someone will say "drive safe!" or something similar. On one hand, this feels more or less like well-wishing to me (e.g. "I hope you have a safe drive.") so my…
thesquaregroot
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How to respond to "shut up" as a form of incredulity?

The usual flow of conversation (that I am used to) when a person says something surprising is as follows: Person A: (says something surprising) Person B: Wow! Really? Person A: Yes, (elaborates) (conversation goes on..) However, I have been…
user2159
13
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2 answers

How to properly communicate that lack of proposals to meet is not because of lack of interest?

I routinely have a monthly lunch with a group of people. Also, I share a WhatsApp group with the same people (that we use to organize the lunchs, but also to talk about professional novelties, comment on news...). Now, in the last couple of years a…
Anonymous
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3 answers

How to not be a part of self centered conversations?

In the past, I have been a part of self-centered conversations, especially in the offices. These would be among a group of people, where there is one person who is very much self-centered and would tactfully concentrate all the conversations towards…
Sara
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Conversation with a person who is stressed out because of a facial tic

Recently I ran into an acquintence in a coffee shop. Our usual routine is to crack a few light-toned jokes or share some stories (Usually that person is quite a conversationalist and we talk about 5-15 minutes.) That day the person had a slight…
arang
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How to re-engage someone whom I think might not remember me?

So now and then a really old contact pops up on Facebook or Telegram, technically we aren't friends - they could be a former intern, an ex-student or some such, and I have no confidence that they will remember who I am without some context. Should…
Extrakun
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How can I better moderate my speaking volume in conference calls?

My natural speaking volume is on the louder end of the spectrum. In in-person conversations visual cues, even just seeing the other people, help me to regulate it, though I can still mess up when I'm not paying enough attention. (Lifelong struggle…
Monica Cellio
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With whom to make eye contact during a conversation with 3 people?

Suppose you're in a conversation with 3 people. Person A, B, and yourself. Currently person A is speaking, directed at person B. In this case, who is it polite to look at? I know the general rule of thumb is to turn to whoever is speaking, but is…
Yvain
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Is it weird that I sometimes don't respond to comments / jokes?

When someone makes an off the cuff remark, joke, or observation to me, I sometimes just laugh and nod along. I realized this silence might be kind of weird. I typically don't respond because I don't have anything clever to say back, so sometimes…
5
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3 answers

How to clarify questions to professors without seeming condescending?

I often ask questions to professors outside of class, on technical topics (I am a student in STEM) that I want to explore into, and I value their input. When I ask a question about something that is unusual in the technical sense, often the…
4
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Responding to people who assume that I know certain things because of my dressing

I am a moderately good looking woman. With basic makeup and hair styling, I can make myself look pretty. This is my preferred look when I go out. Situation: Meeting new people or acquaintances and having formal/casual conversations. Scenario :…
Replica
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