YzermanS19

I was thinking a lot recently about how our society as a whole talks and talks and talks and talks and nothing really gets said. Nobody listens. And then people get upset how we're living in a world of "soundbytes".

I don't think we have the attention span to truly listen to what another person has to say..atleast in this modern age. When was the last time you sat down and actually connected with a person? I think significant others should be included in this question, because I know lots of couples that never really listen to what the other is really saying.

Personally, I don't think I have truly "listened" and connected with anyone in probably over a week. Is it because nobody has anything to say, or that its lost all meaning due to sheer volume? I'm not sure.

In fact, I think that TFP (and the internet in general) is special because I don't have to listen to what everyone has to say. I can just skip over it if I don't have the time or will to do it.

Opinions on this? Do we talk way too much as a society?

My apologies if this has already been debated....I searched.

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the light that burns twice as bright
burns half as long

and you have burned so very, very brightly

Jam

what?,... what was that?

OFKU0

Yeah we do talk to much as a society and while we are doing that people are talking over us. We can't wait 10 seconds before we open our pie hole cuz we think we can say it better,faster,stonger,more hip etc,..

I love to watch CNN when they are doing a live interview via satellite feed to somewhere and because of the delay and interviewers who can't wait to ask the next question long before the first one is answered,you get two people talking at once and both people can't hear eachother cuz they are both yapping.

Obviously the interviewers fault. Darren Kagan on CNN is especially bad for that.

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dragon2fire

i dont know about soceity but among my friends and i this could not be less true we listen to each other all the time

that said you could be right about our soceity

YzermanS19

Very interesting point. Watch the Today show and any interview with Katie Couric or Matt Lauer and you'll see this. I guess they aren't paid to chit-chat and be friendly. They want answers and now.


Good one

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the light that burns twice as bright
burns half as long

and you have burned so very, very brightly

little limey

This is sooo true. I totally just skimmed over what everyone typed. I only did enough reading to get the jist of what everyone was saying. In real life people talk over each other and can't wait to get thier two cents in so they never listen to anyone but themselves. There are people, however, that are very observant and only listen. I think that they make up for it all.

Ralvek

yeah why does my girlfriend need to tell me everything that happened in her day? can't she just say it was fine?

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krwlz

Maybe thats what makes people like me... I try to always listen to what people say, and relate. Well, most of the time. On here, its easier to skim what people say that it is face to face.

Gortexfogg

Some of us listen, but not to conversation. When people pick up a book or article that is interesting and making a point, they'll usually connect with it more intimately than conversation. Also, say Hitler, Cicero or some other skilled orator is giving a speech; people would also listen more actively to powerful speakers. But like you said, daily chatter goes in one ear and out the other...

ninety09

I am one of these people. Almost everybody tell me that I should talk more, but I don't know. I just prefer listening, I think that I can learn a lot from what people say.

YourNeverThere

Man I totally agree, I think that people should work on saying what has meaning, and what is worth saying. A friend of mine just moved in to my house about a month ago, now she always lived about a 10 hour drive away, now she lives at my house, after this month she has pritty much told me all her stories, really I've heard them all. Now she does have a job and everything, but really doesn't do much that I don't do because I'm the one with the car, so she ends up talking about nothing all the time, "today the phone rang it wasn't for me or you" or "today I slept in till 11" its useless. Now, its not that bad, I'm not complianing just observing, we talk about nothing all the stupid time.

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The Above post is a direct quote from Shakespeare

Sledge

I used to be a listener. But then I got annoyed when everyone made me their shrink.

I listen very, very closely to people I care about, and people who interest me. Sometimes if I think they give a shit I respond.

RelaX

My friends always jokingly say that I talk their ears off... I don't often speak unless I have a unique point or something that others may not have thought of to contribute. Or if I'm just with 1 other person and even then I prefer to let them to the talking. I'd rather speak sporadically and be taken seriously then speak and be skimmed over. Although at times I can engage in chatter like the rest of society. If only to assure my friends that my mouth still works.

Maybe it's true what they're saying, most of the time we're not really talking just waiting our turn to speak.

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dime365

i noticed im starting to talk alot

its not because im a talker, i've always been rather quiet
so im trying to talk more so people dont think im a mute, or stupid

i think ill just continue to shut up and see how far i get.. hehe

castex

I don't say all that much. Perhaps part of me likes to think that when I do speak, my customary reticence means that people will take more care to listen...
I don't have a mobile. I don't wish to impose myself on others, nor do I wish to be distracted from where I want to be and what I want to be doing by some remote interloper. This frustrates friends from time to time, but I think they respect my choice to limit my potential sources of distraction.
With regard to the issue of having to listen to news of others' days, this is fundamental to any successful, close relationship IMHO. I'm not lucky enough to be able to work alongside my wife, and so I will pay close attention to anything she has to say about her time spent in my absence. If the person concerned is not so dear to you, then you can choose to gently ask them to keep quiet, you can join in with the babble, or you can offer them a conversation topic that might stimulate you both.

I really enjoy the TFP format. I like the comfortable pace, the measured tones of thoughtful people. This is the perfect forum for someone like me who wishes to interact with the world, but in his own sweet time, on his own terms.

absorbentishe

Well, my take is that, yes in general, we talk too much. Mainly about stupid every day observations. I think people talk to just hear themselves. I am a people person, and I can talk to anyone, but in every conversation, you get to the point that you know it's not going anywhere, but you or the other people bring up some stupid crap just to keep on talking. I talk to people at work, and when I get home, I just want to chill a little, but my wife then wants to talk to me? I can't stand talking on the phone anymore. If I could do everything through IM, then I would. As for people on their cell phones at 8 in the morning, WTF, what's sooo important??

/rant

Sorry all, this is one of those subjects for me.

Jesus Pimp

Ha I was going to start a thread like this but was going to title it "Shut up already, you talk too much". Seriously some people just talk way too much about nothing or stupid shit too the point of being annoying. There's this guy at work who talks constantly. I always roll my eyes whenever I hear him talk about his extensive computer knowledge. Most of the time he's full of shit and doesn't know what he's talking about.

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Never date anyone who doesn't make your dick hard.

GuttersnipeXL

In the spirit of Uncle Phil posts...I'dlike to submit these lyrics ...In the immortal words of RUN DMC ...You Talk To Much


Shut up!!!

You talk too much...
You talk too much...
You talk too much...
You talk too much...

Hey! You over there, I know about your kind
You're like the Independent Network News on Channel 9
Everywhere that you go, no matter where you at
I said you talk about this, and you talk about that
When the cat took your tongue, I say you took it right back
Your mouth is so big, one bite would kill a Big Mac

You talk too much You never shut up
I said you talk too much Homeboy you never shut up

You talk about people, you don't even know
And you talk about places, you NEVER go
You talk about your girl, from head to toe
I said your mouth's moving fast, and your brain's moving slow

You talk too much You never shut up!!
I said you talk too much Homeboy you never shut up

You're the instigator, the orator of the town
You're the worst when you converse, just a big mouth clown
You talk when you're awake, I heard you talk when you sleep
Has anyone ever told you, that talk is cheap

You talk too much You never shut, up!!
I said you talk too much Homeboy you never SHUT UP!!!

Talking is the one thing, that you can do best
You told the cavity creeps, to watch out for Crest
You never have the story, right and exact
And then you always try to bore me, with your yakkity yak

You talk too much And then you never shut up
I said you talk too much Homeboy you never SHUT UP!!!

Everyday you are out fighting someone in the street
And you're always fighting someone you know ya can't beat
Then you wonder how, you got in this mess
Just think of what you said, then take a guess

You talk too much You never shut up!
I said you talk too much Homeboy you never SHUT UP!!!

You're always spreading rumors, whether bad or good
You're the damn Walter Cronkite of the neighborhood
The Barbara Walters, and the Howard Cosell
You always come around, with a story to tell

You talk too much And then you never shut up
I said you talk too much Homeboy you never SHUT UP!!!

Said it's everybody's business that you love to mind
And talkin to you, is like dropping a dime
You're spreading the word, like it is your job
You should be a stool pigeon, who works for the mob

You talk too much And you never shut up
I said you talk too much Homeboy you never shut up!

A big blabbermouth, that's what you are
If you were a talk show host, you'd be a star
I said your mouth is big, size extra large
And when you open it, it's like my garage

You talk too much And then you never shut up
I said you talk too much Homeboy you never shut up

You always like to gossip, just like a girl
You talk so damn much, it's outta this world
When you're reincarnated, in your second life
You won't be a man, you'll be a nagging wife

You talk too much Then you never shut up
He said you talk too much Homeboy you never SHUT UP!!!

SHUT UP!!!
SHUT UP!!!

Twenty-five hours, eight days a week
Thirteen months outta year, is when you speak
I'm tired of listening to the garbage you talk
Why don't you find a short pier, and take a long walk

You talk too much Then you never shut up!
I said you talk too much Homeboy you never SHUT UP!!!
You talk too much You could be, out of breath
You talk too much Man you naggin me to death
You talk too much Tired of hearing you speak
You talk too much Eight days a week
You talk too much Then you never shut up
I said you talk too much Why don't you ever SHUT UP!!!
You talk too much Then you never shut up!
I said you talk too much Homeboy you never SHUT UP!!!

Yeah, that sums it for me.

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When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro. HST

eple

A famous Norwegian Author once said "When communication becomes absolute, all communication will end". Maybe we are getting close to that scenario.

tinfoil

Yes. People talk too much. Done.

Seriosly though, very rarely do I ever get engaged in a conversation that I wish to participate in for more than 5 minutes, yet so many people (wife, mother-in-law, sister-in-law... there's a pattern here) continue to elaborate.

TOO MANY WORDS.

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Mango

George Thorogood

You talk too much, you talk too much
I can't believe the things that you say everyday
If you keep on talking baby
You know you're bound to drive me away

Now you get on the telephone with your girlfriend
Your conversation baby ain't got no end
Yakety-yakety-yakety-yak all the time
You keep on talking baby drive me out of my mind
You talk too much
I can't believe the things that you say everyday
If you keep on talking baby
You know you're bound to drive me away

Well I laid out in the afternoon I start to nappin'
You walk into the room with them jaws a-flappin'
You keep that motormouth moving morning, noon and night
You keep on talking baby make my head turn white
You talk too much
I can't believe the things that you say everyday
If you keep on talking baby
You know you're bound just to drive me away

I think you're trying to put me through some kind of test
I'm begging you baby won't you give it a rest
You talk about people that you don't even know
Keep it up baby I'm gonna pick up and blow
You talk too much
I can't believe the things that you say everyday
If you keep on talking baby
You know you're bound to drive me away

Don't get me wrong baby I don't mean to complain
But if you keep on talking you're gonna drive me insane
You keep on talking all around the clock
I'm begging you baby won't you please stop
You talk too much
I can't believe the things that you say everyday
If you keep on talking baby
You know you're bound to drive me away

guthmund

I find that I type more here than I say in the real world....

I'm a listener and I rarely join in the conversation unless I'm directly spoken to or are knowledgable in the subject discussed.

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No signature. None. Seriously.

spectre

I'm tend to do the same.

__________________
"Fuck these chains
No goddamn slave
I will be different" ~ Machine Head

sillygirl

People do talk too much. Myself included at times... although I've noticed that recently I've begun listening more and talking less.

God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason.

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Anyone can be passionate, but it takes real lovers to be silly-Rose Franken
....absence makes me miss him more...

floonine

I like to consider myself a listener, especially with my girlfriend who's english skills aren't as developed as mine are (she's japanese). I have to spend more time than usual listening to what she is trying to say sometimes, but I don't have any problems doing so. Of course, thinking that I am a good listener and being one are two different things.

I think we talk too much in general, or at least Americans do anyway, but I think a lot of that is trying to keep from insulting someone in a very sensitive era. It would be easier to just say "that dress makes you look fat" instead of saying "I don't know honey, you can wear whatever you want and I will still love you. However, if you are worried about how the dress fits you specifically, I would say that you own articles of clothing that better accent your body's natural beauty."

That's a little bit of an exaggeration, but its possible, and if someone saw through the over-elaborate, then they would probably want to listen to the other person less often.
If everyone acted like that, I don't think I could blame anyone for not caring to listen.

Maybe its because we take oral communication for granted. Maybe we should all just shut up and try getting along without talking for a decade or two... I think if we would impathize a little more as a society, we could probably get more accomplished in less time... Maybe that's just me.

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mr_burns

All throughout my life, i;ve always known people who I wished I could just spin the scroll whell really fast and be done with my conversation. On of the reasons the internet is so effective is that you can single out just the things you need and ignore all the "chit-chat"

WhoaitsZ

okay. i have a lot to say about this!

all apologizes for using the same ole' disability bit. i speak for what and who I am.

as a person who goes up and down on a fuckin turn of a dime, i definatly talk way too fucking much when i feel good or am pissed.

i get adrenaline rushes due to oxygen rushes and such and christ almighty i get on my own goddamned nerves. and if i get thoroughly pissed i can rant well too all of this is mainly said in chat, though.


otherwise, i am mostly the "listener". i have been a rock and shoulder for more people than i can count. i normally don't mind because they need a friend.

however if it's someone who is just talking to talk more than four or five minutes..... i wanna duct tape their mouth... and nose.

i try to remember at all times that people go through so much junk and i try to listen respectively. one of our biggest flaws and failures as human beings is we shut people off. sometimes what we consider 'chit chat' can be very important to another person. brushing people off is a very unwise idea.

i have a few rules since i live at home, too. I pay a good price for rent to live here and when i wake up i hate people trying to talk to me unless it is a girl i like (go figure) or it's imporant. if my mom comes into talk wih my aide i tell them to leave. period. i explained long ago i'm not being rude but i feel like shit, yawl have three hours to speak, when i get up i don't want people talking around me.

the last rule i've made and will probably never enforce is being 'the buddy' or 'brother' to the ladies. it may sound rude if i say 'sorry i'm not going to hear this'. I think it's rude to not give a person the time of day unless you need someone to whine to.

so.... all ya gorgeous gals who wanna use me. fuck off like i told a friend of mine not long ago that i'm just sick of this shit. wanna friend? great. wanna crutch? fuck off dude

god i talk too much!

rogue49

umm...I've NEVER been accused of that.

Coolidge

I think that people listen until their agenda is disrupted. Then, they chose not to listen because it is easier to ingore than to address.

That's just me...