a) already thinking of what they're going to say the minute you stop talking
b) watching someone over your shoulder
c) making mental notes of things they need to pick up at the grocery store
d) making sure they insert the appropriate "Really?" or "Yeah...yeah..." at the right time
I figure if everyone was given a quiz after a three-minute conversation, they would fail.
It's all very frustrating until you make sure that in the middle of a conversation when you are sure the other person isn't fully listening, you drop in a non sequitur. The speed with which the other person responds to the non sequitur reveals the level of listening skill they've been applying to you.
For example...
"Jane, you won't believe what happened. Remember I told you about that guy, Johnny, that I met at the gym last week? Well, he asked me out a date this morning."
"Really?"
"I couldn't believe it. I thought he might have asked me last week when I was getting off the treadmill and he pretended to be waiting for it. It was funny, though, because there were four other machines free that he could've have used. It's amazing how empty the gym is at six in the morning."
"Yeah..."
"So, of course, I said yes."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I mean, he seems nice. We're going out to dinner at that Italian restaurant on Maple Avenue. You know - the one that sells the really good spaghetti. Remember? We went there last winter for Sara's birthday."
"Yeah."
"I mean at least Johnny cares about his health. Not like that Sean guy I went out with last month. The closest he got to caring about his health was ordering lettuce on his double-cheeseburger."
"Yeah."
"You wouldn't believe how much Johnny laughed when I told him about selling the purple pony."
"Really...what? What are you talking about? What purple pony?"
Maybe if we did have the antennae-like ears of the rabbit we could tune in a little more effectively.
3 comments:
As I turn my rabbit ears inward picking up just enought for a quick really if need be. Back I go again to thinking about the colour of that car I saw yesterday. My nose tiching for key words to reply too. What was that again she said about her kid calling? Which remines me of that weared phone call I got the other day or was that last week? "I know what you mean." She was right people never seem to leasion . I think that is what she said, or something about a padren that glission. "Sorry I have to go talk to you again tomorrow hun".
LOL! Maybe it's not that we're not listening, maybe it's that we all suffer from various degress of A.D.D.!
Talon
Okay, this post and few others from the time period appeared in my mail box yesterday. It's strange to see posts from 2008.
I enjoyed this post and you are right about listening. I have to admit I've been guilty of this, but I'm trying to better:~) I hope this means you're working on something new...the blueberry picture was lovely:~)
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