A Little Less Conversation

I used to enjoy tests at school, and I get a kick out of playing the fancy new electronic quiz machines they put in drinking holes these days. It occurred to me today that I treat conversations as if they were one of these things too. I comment quite often on how I'll rarely start or lead a conversation, and I haven't got the faintest idea how or why people think to talk about the things they do. It's a puzzle, it really is. But anyway, I forget my point. Wait. Gimme a second.

Yeah, conversations, as if they were a quiz, a game even. I enjoy reacting to what's said to me, listening to what is said and trying to respond in the way that will get the best reaction. Usually I'll be aiming for laughter, as it's a rare day that I'll find myself embroiled in a discussion about anything that actually means something. But sometimes it's just a smile you want, a smile that indicates you've solved a problem, or shown an alternative perspective, or made someone feel better about themselves. Sometimes you want a different reaction entirely, but that depends what particular game you're playing, and who you're playing it with.

The games have rules too, you can't just say what you think people want to hear, because you have to factor in honesty, and a bigger picture. Sometimes the games are short term and simple and all you want to do is get that laugh, at any expense. Sometimes they're more complex and can happen over a period, or several periods, of time and you might have to force some negative effects to get a bigger positive.

Sometimes the prize is different, it could be information, or objects, or actions. Or all of the above, but even then, you know you can score the bonus points by bringing in some more human results, more personal results, as fringe benefits to the exchange.

I don't think I'm gonna win any prizes for incision with this little blog. But I've enjoyed thinking about building blocks for a bit.