Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!caip!topaz!husc6!h-sc4!primer_2 From: primer_2@h-sc4.harvard.edu (jeremy primer) Newsgroups: net.social Subject: Re: Electronic Relationships Message-ID: <183@husc6.HARVARD.EDU> Date: Sat, 16-Aug-86 16:13:37 EDT Article-I.D.: husc6.183 Posted: Sat Aug 16 16:13:37 1986 Date-Received: Sun, 17-Aug-86 09:29:39 EDT References: <140@uwmacc.UUCP> <1034@tekig5.UUCP> <552@mecc.UUCP> Sender: news@husc6.HARVARD.EDU Reply-To: primer@h-sc4.harvard.edu (jeremy primer) Distribution: na Organization: Harvard Math Department Lines: 27 Summary: boring attitude In article <552@mecc.UUCP> sewilco@mecc.UUCP (Scot E. Wilcoxon) writes: > >Conversation requires a subject to talk about. Electronic communication >often either centers around at least one subject, or (particularly in >real-time CB-type conferences) until a subject is brought up the people >are doing other things not visible to each other. If you meet in person >with a subject in mind, conversation begins more easily. Some of the most interesting conversations involve no particular subject at all. This includes conversations between strangers. >Any adolescents listening? You'll find the same awkwardness during some >dates, particularly if you don't stumble across topics of mutual interest. >Similarly, I prefer to host parties of at least three couples, to increase >the chances of several topics wandering around the rooms. I do also >prepare by remembering recent movies and news items of popular interest, in >case small talk is needed to get things rolling again. This is hopelessly boring and safe, and almost guarantees that nothing will happen at the party that hasn't already happened before. You sure won't find out what anyone's actually thinking about. Count me out. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jeremy Primer primer@h-sc4.harvard.EDU Department of Mathematics primer%h-sc4@harvard.ARPA 1 Oxford Street primer@harvsc4.BITNET Cambridge, MA 02138 ...!harvard!h-sc4!primer