I feel bad cuz I get impatient during conversations and if affects my limited relationships. I was talking to someone and everything was fine until he said, "really you know that actor?" and "really you know that movie?" It felt like he was surprised I knew it and didn't take me seriously and I overreacted. Also he kept quoting movie lines and I didn't listen and zoned out. People say I seem distracted in conversations.
Maybe because I lack patience and drink too much caffeine or something. Anyone else?
Does this happen to all conversations you have or just this one?
Also consider if you're getting your own thoughts and opinions in the conversation. If it's all one-sided, it can get tedious, no matter who you're talking to. Part of effective communication is having both parties being given time and opportunity to talk.
On a more social level, I read that modern life is making people more impatient. The explosion of instant gratification (pornography, YouTube, Facebook) means longer, in-depth conversations are no more than a boring exercise in tedium for a lot of people. Why talk at length about something when you can post it on Facebook for the world to see, when you can then reply with "thats cool lol yolo" and be done with it? Or, for the even lazier, just like their status! Brilliant! :applause:
However....
I really puzzle over what makes these "normal" people excited. Talking endlessly about this new wood floor you're considering getting, really that subject can get you going for hours at a time?? And I'm supposed to act like I'm interested too? I don't get it.
While I don't know a single person who could talk for hours about wooden floors, part of being a good friend is to be interested in, or at least show attention to, what your friend is talking about. If I went up to a friend of mine and they were visibly uninterested and/or uncaring about something exciting I wanted to share, would they be a friend?
I have had friends in the past - one in particular springs to mind - who would always, always,
always talk about herself in great detail, and couldn't give two shits about what I wanted to discuss, unless she could throw a segue about her life. That was awful.
To answer your question, Bronson: yes, act interested, or at least act like you're listening and not trying to turn the conversation back to yourself. However, be reasonable, too. You have as much worth as your friend does.