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Our extended family celebrated Easter early this year and met at the Uncles house for a big dinner and conversation. The lack of true curiosity and interesting conversation was shocking. Here is an example:
One of my sons had gone on a semester abroad in Europe last term and this was the first time many of the relatives had seen him since he returned. He had quite a few observations, experiences and adventures. He saw 9 different Countries in Europe during breaks and after he finished his studies. Here was a typical conversation with the relatives about his semester abroad and travels through Europe:
RELATIVE: "So Andy I heard you spent the Fall Abroad, good for you!"
ANDY: Yes, it was great, I went to College in Ireland and saw..........
RELATIVE: After listening for about 30 seconds. "Yah Yah Yah. Good. How about those Redskins?"
ANDY: "Do you want to hear about my semester abroad?"
RELATIVE: "Your mother told me about it already" (She didn't!)
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A similar conversation happened with many other relatives. They really did not want to hear about the young man's adventure of a life time, they just asked to be polite but then would cut him off and change the subject after a thirty second reply."
For you, yes. It's almost identical to an earlier thread you started about a nephew whose college experiences were likewise ignored at one of these holiday family gatherings you love to write about so disparagingly. When you start recycling old material it's time to get out more so you have better fodder for your creative writing endeavors. But I like the thread title which appears to fit you like an old shoe.
For you, yes. It's almost identical to an earlier thread you started about a nephew whose college experiences were likewise ignored at one of these holiday family gatherings you love to write about so disparagingly. When you start recycling old material it's time to get out more so you have better fodder for your creative writing endeavors. But I like the thread title which appears to fit you like an old shoe.
Yes, the situation is similar but these are two different people who have two different stories and we have new posters with new perspectives!
Yes, the situation is similar but these are two different people who have two different stories and we have new posters with new perspectives!
Exactly. The audience who you first attracted with your many and varied tales is hard to hold onto when the basic material stagnates. Different venues on different days with fresh audiences is the only way to maintain the momentum.
Our extended family celebrated Easter early this year and met at the Uncles house for a big dinner and conversation. The lack of true curiosity and interesting conversation was shocking. Here is an example:
One of my sons had gone on a semester abroad in Europe last term and this was the first time many of the relatives had seen him since he returned. He had quite a few observations, experiences and adventures. He saw 9 different Countries in Europe during breaks and after he finished his studies. Here was a typical conversation with the relatives about his semester abroad and travels through Europe:
RELATIVE: "So Andy I heard you spent the Fall Abroad, good for you!"
ANDY: Yes, it was great, I went to College in Ireland and saw..........
RELATIVE: After listening for about 30 seconds. "Yah Yah Yah. Good. How about those Redskins?"
ANDY: "Do you want to hear about my semester abroad?"
RELATIVE: "Your mother told me about it already" (She didn't!)
=======
A similar conversation happened with many other relatives. They really did not want to hear about the young man's adventure of a life time, they just asked to be polite but then would cut him off and change the subject after a thirty second reply."
Is this typical?
I don't think it's typical.
Why not host your own gathering, invite the young people who have something to say, and show them how well you can listen to them?
Maybe some of your family members are jealous of those with opportunities for adventures, and therefore don't want to listen to them.
Yes, the situation is similar but these are two different people who have two different stories and we have new posters with new perspectives!
Could you PLEASE go back and update your thread about your nephew. We are still trying to determine if the nephew is a guy or girl, because you stated both, please clear up this before posting other fiction for us to read.
Could you PLEASE go back and update your thread about your nephew. We are still trying to determine if the nephew is a guy or girl, because you stated both, please clear up this before posting other fiction for us to read.
The ratio of his threads to posts and allowing for a few posts he contributes to others, shows that he only contributes approximately 3 posts (including the first) to each of his threads. Going back and updating would clarify a few threads and would also probably reduce the sheer repetitiveness - but would probably stunt the flow of "creativity" (a word I use loosely).
What's typical? Personally, I avoid people who place expectations on me regarding what they think I should want to talk about. Sometimes I'm up for a deep-dive to learn everything I can about a person and what's going on in their lives, sometimes I just want to share a polite comment to let them know I care enough to know what's going on in their lives but not much else.
And all because someone thinks a topic or experience is interesting doesn't mean it's necessarily so, it just may be interesting to that person.
The ratio of his threads to posts and allowing for a few posts he contributes to others, shows that he only contributes approximately 3 posts (including the first) to each of his threads. Going back and updating would clarify a few threads and would also probably reduce the sheer repetitiveness - but would probably stunt the flow of "creativity" (a word I use loosely).
Which is the equivalent of him saying to us "yeah yeah, how about those Redskins"
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