Is the Art of Conversation Dead?

[Astro Pen]

Back in the 80's I used to spend many hours in conversation with friends about art, astrophysics, books, economics, travel and myriad other things.
But I am just thinking how few people I can enjoy a decent conversation with these days. These fora excepted of course.
Nearly everyone just spouts stupid wise cracks, political platitudes, cliches, and football. They won't go any deeper than the mist on a window!
I feel like one of those Russian dissidents who were put in lunatic asylums to destroy their minds.
Anyone else find this? Or do I just need to throw away the books, buy knee length trousers and retrain as a chav?

 

[Stephen Palmer]

I find talking with women means I never have to listen to a word about bloody football.

 

[Astro Pen]

I find talking with women means I never have to listen to a word about bloody football.

Agree. Nearly all my friends these days are women. It wasn't a conscious effort, just a sort of relentless gentle gravity.

 

[Stephen Palmer]

Likewise!

 

[nixie]

Our Northern meets, are conversational masterpieces.
I'm sure the Southern ones are too.

 

[Rodders]

I don't really know anyone that's into Science Fiction, so most conversations tend to be about other people's interests, and yes, Stephen is right, so much football and sport. But I find people's passion to always be interesting.

Mobile technology is a super distraction now days.

Conversation isn't so difficult with friends, but making friends when you get older is difficult and striking up a conversation with people outside of your normal social circle is tough. Everyone appears to wants to be absolutely right, (even dominant) in any conversation now.

The Chrons are a nice place to be, though and the people are always nice. Maybe conversation isn't dead, just electronic now.

 

[-K2-]

Wut?

K2

 

[Jo Zebedee]

You’ve obviously never spent a week in Ireland. We never shut up.

 

[Astro Pen]

You’ve obviously never spent a week in Ireland. We never shut up.

Or the women here in Wales, reduced by law to shouting across to each other from their doorsteps instead of the usual gaggle on the corner by my house. Eavesdropping by leaving the window cracked open a bit is a great source of local information

 

[Montero]

I've definitely got friends where we manage conversation, and one whose family has parties and invites more people who have conversations. Party topics have included the difficulties of the house clearance business, geology in the mining area of Cornwall and the works of Terry Pratchett.
But yes on *****sport - and it isn't a new phenomenon, sport (especially football) and cars were the popular topic of conversation by the kettle at work decades ago. I would occasionally throw in the odd spanner, such as "anyone catch the welly wanging finals on the weekend?"
(For the baffled, here is a link -

)

Or another useful sport is Cheese Rolling down Cooper's Hill

 

[Brian G Turner]

This is why we have forums - so we can converse with interesting people we'd never normally meet.

 

[AlexH]

*Tries to think of a wise crack about the art of conversation not being dead.*

*Fails.*

 

[BAYLOR]

I find talking with women means I never have to listen to a word about bloody football.

Well bad news , im new England patriots fan !

No worries , I don't talk endlessly about football or any sports. Im just having fun here.

 

[Astro Pen]

*Tries to think of a wise crack about the art of conversation not being dead.*

*Fails.*

"Science fiction writer eh? Look no furva than westminster for martians mate, did you see that envinement plonker on telly last night?
Fanks mate, mines a lager top. Anyway Villa done good against the 'ammers, ref was blind though, shoulda been a red card against Blobbio for that tackle."


FIFY

 

[Elckerlyc]

I don't think the art of conversation is dead. It's just that when you get older it's more difficult to find someone you can feel comfortable with and have a decent conversation.
You also get more wiser (well, some of us do. Not me.) When you were young you could solve all of the world problems in a single conversation with some friends that went on till the small hours. You would go to sleep satisfied that you had just together saved the world... until you woke up the next day, dull with a hangover and all the brilliant solutions forgotten. That art has gone lost with the years.
But a good conversation should still be possible, with the right company.
Most conversations I have these days is with myself.

 

[Foxbat]

When I was working, we had a new start who happened to be into astronomy, various tech stuff and was doing an OU degree so we used to have some good lunchtime conversations. The rest of the guys would just yawn, roll their eyes and pretend to fall asleep when we got started. I still hear from him now and again via email but, not much other real life conversations like that. But as @Brian G Turner says, this is what this place is for

 

[Alan Aspie]

But I am just thinking how few people I can enjoy a decent conversation with these days.

A decent coversation needs to have at least 2 people with more attention span than a gold fish.

And they both have other things to do.

 

[Danny McG]

It does seem nowadays that long and involved conversations don't happen much.
i get sick of hearing:-
"this person on Facebook/YouTube/ Twitter says blah blah, here look! I'll show you"

 

[Elckerlyc]

A conversation implies listening to what the other is saying. A lost art and nowadays generally considered a waste of time anyway.

 

[-K2-]

A conversation implies listening to what the other is saying. A lost art and nowadays generally considered a waste of time anyway.

I'm sorry, did you say something? I was reading another post. Please feel free to start over, I'll be right with you

K2