Discussion Groups / English Usage / February 2010

Hello all:

It is stretching it a bit to consider this an issue of English usage,
but I think it's an issue that language-enthusiasts may be a bit more
"tuned into" than most.

My own feeling is that conversation is (to an extent) an art form, and
it's one we have ample opportunity to practice.

I suspect that all of us have known people who are particularly
interesting conversationalists and some others who are boring
conversationalists.  As people, the boring conversationalists may be
(otherwise) every bit as interesting as the interesting
conversationalists -- but for whatever reason, they lack
conversational skills.

I have my own ideas on the subject of what makes someone an
interesting conversationalist (or a boring one), but I would like to
ask members of this esteemed newsgroups what their opinions on this
subject are before I share my own.

Thinking of people you've known (or public figures you may not have
known personally), what sets them off as interesting or dull
conversationalists?

Thank you in advance for any thoughts you may choose to share.  Even
if they are simple and somewhat random, that's just fine by me.  They
are appreciated in any case.

--
Brett (in Berkeley, California, USA)
http://www.electoralmaps.org/
Pictorial election results for every U.S. Presidential Election from
George Washington to Barack Obama.