Funny things are everywhere
The title is a line from one of my daughter's Dr Seuss books, One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish. I hope she learns it well and is able to maintain a curious mind for the rest of her life, no matter the surroundings.
A couple of people commented about my Vicar post talking of the conversation providing original content and I am sure that many people have noticed that I use real-world discussions often as subject matter. I am lucky when it comes to verbal interaction because it comes with the territory of my work and travels plus, I enjoy it.
Many people these days bury themselves deep into a screen or have earbuds in while the while away the time they spend waiting. They distract themselves with what is generally passive consumptive activity to avoid boredom. I do the same except instead of passive, I look for something that makes me work a little and that is generally observation of surroundings or like on the train, conversation with others.
I don't mind talking to anyone and even though there is a range of what I consider interesting, every conversation holds something of value. In many respects, the more valuable areas are on topics I may not have previously found interesting at all but having them explained by someone who is interested, can give me new perspective.
I wonder if understanding and perhaps fear of the world would change if people spent more time talking to each other instead of compartmentalizing themselves when in public, hiding behind screens and distractions so interaction is unnecessary. In many ways for me, a good conversation with someone is like eating a meal together and grabbing a coffee or glass of wine. It is an intimate experience shared where two people can express themselves and swap lives through stories that evoke images. At the end of a good conversation, two people part carrying a little piece of the other with them in their memory and perhaps, will adjust opinions and actions based upon what they have learned.
I am on the first of three flights today and this one is only 30 minutes. My transfer is a 4 hour stop in Helsinki however and perhaps in that time, I will find someone interesting to talk to. The sunrise is gorgeous but I don't have a window seat to take a picture unfortunately.
Take off time.
Taraz
[ a Steem original ]
(posted from phone on flight 1 of 3)
I agree, we need more human interaction and less screen time. My nephew was at my house and we were playing cards (there were 6 of us around the table). Matt had his nose buried in his phone during the entire time and had to be reminded each time it was his turn to play, let alone engage in any conversation with us. We finally told him to choose between playing cards or his phone - he left the game and curled up on the couch with the phone. Sigh.
This is so common these days and it isn't even just the kids. I have friends near my age who have trouble making it through a light meal without falling into that and when I watch tables eat in my travels, people use their breaks to catch up on phone time rather than talk with others.
We are social beings, and should actually do a lot more talking.
I think technology has interrupted so many things with us, starting proper conversations may be out of the reach of many
I find that many struggle to keep conversations going and I think that perhaps it is a depth of experience. Take away the shared entertainment topic and many have little else. I wouldn't want to date them :D
I believe folks do need to communicate better and interact more in conversation. The world has become so generic and fragmented. You see it in our architecture or paintings are music even our poetry. Text messaging is a response and that sense as it is a fragmented language. We have lost our humanness and a heart and soul Iseem to have been made captive by some Force rather than captivating an audience. This is not a good direction for mankind but I think it has been in-play progressing for well over a hundred years and we did not get here by accident. Automation in technology has helped to Spur this along. Thanks for sharing @tarazkp
It is definitely not accident and it reeks heavily of authoritative control mechanisms but, it has been packaged as freedom of choice and individualism. The generic nature of content will continue for a while yet but, the creators aren't bound to create for the masses only, they do it through choice and the desire for fame, fortune and relevance.
I love talking to people, especially when I am traveling. Some of my fondest memories are of the man I talked to at the bus stop in Lisbon, or the kid from Amsterdam that I sat next to on the plane, or the woman in France who used to work at the Lourve who told me the story of how she met and fell in love with her blind husband. . I often remember the people more than I do the site I paid admission to visit. Safe travels!
^ This is the way everyone should travel.
And this is what should make up the memories.
I have so many stories of people I have met along the way. People in museums, cafes and subways. Give them a chance and there are some amazing people with fantastic stories everywhere.
Thanks for giving me a reason to think back and remember some of them!
I guess what really made people to talking to each other is having low level of human interaction in them.
That aspect needs to be developed
It is the same on Steem where many people don't actually have conversations or interact, they do the bare minimum for what they think will get them a reward.
I am guilty of this as well! I too often look forward to having an empty seat next to me so I can be more comfortable while I work and read. However, my experience here on the ecosystem has probably impacted me enough to consider being more open to interactions. We will see soon when my travel schedule picks up once again!
Posted using Partiko iOS