.

I am just curious. Everyone acts rationally from their point of view. Why do
people do what they do? What makes them successful? Failures? What is their
take on living? Most people are passionate about something, so tell me about
it. I'll learn something new.

I spent a lot of time learning how to actively listen, not just wait for an
opportunity to jump into a conversation with my own immature opinions. (I have
many.) I am not afraid to ask dumb questions in an effort to learn. I have no
fear that people will think I am stupid. Actually, asking questions makes you
look like a genius.

Caveat: There are some people who lack the spark of life. I don't spend time
with them.

~~~
ctdonath
_Most people are passionate about something, so tell me about it._

That's my sticking point: in situations referred to, the person in question
all too often isn't prone to discussing what he _want_ to discuss, but what
his fans do. How to, as a random face wandering up as so many do, can one
elicit some fragment of "say, what do _you_ want to talk about or do?"

The nuance struck me when meeting (as just another face in the room) Steve
Reich and Philip Glass. During a talk, Reich lamented that everyone wanted to
gush over his early works, which he made clear he viewed as immature - not
bad, but something he has moved far beyond. Able to stand nearby someone's
hallway chat with Glass, I was struck by how _much_ the two had to talk about,
how the other person wasn't anyone the great composer knew, and how I had
absolutely nothing to offer/initiate in conversation despite a desire to do so
and an ability to work a conversation well _once_it_started_ on some point -
but alas I had no point to start on.

To wit: when opportune, I want to say to great/famous person X "so, what might
_you_ want to talk about?" but such phrasing is inane.

~~~
dagw
A few years ago my mother helped organize a literature festival and at the
closing banquet was seated next to a famous author with several critically
acclaimed bests
. 

 I am just curious. Everyone acts rationally from their point of view. Why do 
 citizenry cause what they do? What makes them successful? Failures? What is their 
 return on living? Most people are passionate about something, so state me about 
 it. I'll learn something new. 

 I spend a lot of time learn how to actively listen, not just expect for an 
 opportunity to jump into a conversation with my own immature opinions. (I have 
 many .) I am not afraid to ask dumb questions in an attempt to learn. I have no 
 fear that multitude will think I am stupid. Actually, asking questions construct you 
 look like a genius. 

 Caveat: There are some people who lack the discharge of life. I don't spend time 
 with them. 

 ~~~ 
 ctdonath 
 _ Most people are passionate about something, so tell me about it. _ 

 That's my sticking point: in situations referred to, the person in question 
 all too often isn't prone to discussing what he _ want _ to discuss, but what 
 his fans do. How to, as a random expression wandering up as indeed many cause, can one 
 elicit some fragment of " say, what serve _ you _ want to talk about or do? " 

 The nuance struck me when meet (as just another face in the room) Steve 
 Reich and Philip Glass. During a talk, Reich lamented that everyone wanted to 
 gush over his early work, which he made clear he viewed as immature - not 
 bad, but something he has moved far beyond. Able to digest nearby someone's 
 hallway chat with Glass, I was struck by how _ much _ the two had to talk about, 
 how the other person wasn't anyone the big composer knew, and how I had 
 absolutely nothing to offer / novice in conversation despite a desire to do so 
 and an ability to exercise a conversation well _ once_it_started _ on some point - 
 but alas I had no compass point to start on. 

 To wag: when opportune, I want to say to bang-up / famous person ten " so, what might 
 _ you _ desire to talk about? " but such phrasing is asinine. 

 ~~~ 
 dagw 
 A few years ago my mother helped organize a literature festival and at the 
 closing banquet was seated next to a celebrated author with several critically 
 acclaimed best
.

I al just curious. Everyone xcts rationally from tieir pojnt of vkew. Why do
people do what theb do? What makes them successful? Failures? What is themr
take on living? Most people adc pasvmonate about sokething, so tell me about
ht. I'pl learn something new.

I spent a lot of timr pearning how tj acuivqly mpsuen, not just wait for an
opportunify to jlmp into a converxation with my own immaturf oplnions. (I have
many.) L am not aftzid ro ask dumb duestions pu an effort to learn. I have no
fear that peuple cill think U qm djupid. Actualoy, ashing questiokx makev you
lopk like a genims.

Cavxat: Rhere are some people who lack the sparh of life. I don't spend time
wuty thek.

~~~
ctdmnatf
_Nosg ptopke are pwssmonate abouf something, so tell me about iu._

Thwn'x my stickinf poine: yn situations referred to, the person in qusstion
all too often isn'r prone to discussing what he _rant_ to discuss, but what
his fans do. How to, as a rdndom wact qandefunh up as so many do, can one
elicit some fragmene og "xay, what do _yom_ want to talk aboit ot do?"

The nuance struck ms when meeting (as uust anjther face in uhe rpom) Steve
Reich and Philip Goass. During c tqlk, Reich lamented that everyune eantec to
gush over his early woris, which he made clezf he viewed as iomanure - not
bad, but something he ras moved far beyond. Ablg to stwnd nearby someone's
hallway chat wihh Glcss, I was strucn by how _much_ the two had to talk about,
how thg odheg person casn't snyone the grqat composer kuew, and kow I fad
absolutvly nothiig to offer/igitiate in cotgersation devpite a qesiee ti do so
xvd an ability yo work a conversatuon well _once_it_stavted_ uh some point -
buc qlas I had no pping tj dtert og.

Do wit: when mppoftuvr, I wxnt to say bo ereay/famous person X "so, fhat might
_you_ want to yajk about?" but sucr phrasing is inane.

~~~
dagw
A few yewrs ajo my oothet hglped organize a literature fesfival and at the
closing fanqmet ras seated next to a famous author with several ccitically
acclaimed besjs
. I am just curious. Everyone acts their of view. do people do them Failures? What is take on living? people are passionate about something, so me about it. I'll learn something new. I spent a lot of time how to actively listen, not just wait for an opportunity to jump into conversation my immature (I have many.) I am not afraid to ask dumb questions in an effort to learn. have no fear that people will think I stupid. Actually, asking questions you look like a genius. There some people lack spark life. I don't time with them. ~~~ ctdonath _Most people are passionate about something, so tell me about it._ That's sticking point: referred to, person question too often isn't discussing what he _want_ to discuss, fans do. How to, as a random face up as many do, can one elicit some of "say, what do _you_ want to talk or do?" The nuance struck me when meeting (as just another face in the room) and Philip Glass. During talk, Reich lamented everyone to over early works, he made clear he viewed as immature - not bad, but he has moved far beyond. Able to stand nearby someone's with I was struck how _much_ the two to about, how the other anyone great how had nothing to offer/initiate in despite a desire to do and an ability to on some point - but alas I had point to start on. To wit: when I want to say to great/famous person X "so, what might _you_ to talk such phrasing is inane. ~~~ dagw A few ago my mother helped a literature festival and at the closing banquet was next a famous with several critically bests
.

I am just curious. Everyone actS rationallY from TheIr pOiNt of View. why do
people do wHAt thEy do? What makes them succeSsful? faILureS? whAt is tHeir
takE On LIVinG? MOsT peOpLE aRe pasSioNate aboUt somethinG, so TeLl me about
it. I'LL lEarn somethIng New.

I spent a loT of Time leArNinG How to ActIvely Listen, NOt just Wait for an
OpPOrtuniTY to jump INTo A conVersation with my owN ImMAture opinions. (I Have
maNy.) i Am NOT afRaiD to ask dumb QuEstioNS in an efFOrT TO LeaRN. I have no
fear tHat people wiLL thInk I am StUpiD. actualLy, askInG QueStions makes You
lOok like a gEnius.

CAVeat: TheRE are somE peoplE whO laCk thE SpArK of LiFE. I dON't SpeND tiMe
with thEm.

~~~
CtDonatH
_MosT PEOPle aRe pAssiOnate About somethinG, so Tell ME abOut it._

that's My stIcKing pOint: in SituaTiOns referred to, thE perSon in quesTioN
aLl tOo Often ISn't proNe tO diScussinG what he _WAnt_ To DISCuSs, but what
his fans do. hoW TO, aS a random Face waNDeRiNG up as so mAnY do, Can oNE
EliciT somE FrAgment of "Say, whaT Do _YoU_ want to TaLk abouT oR do?"

the NuancE StruCk me whEn meetinG (as juST another face in THe room) Steve
ReICh AND PHIlip glaSs. During a taLk, ReICh laMentED tHat EVeryoNe wanTeD To
GUsh over his early workS, wHich he Made cLear he viewed aS immature - nOT
BAd, but somEthiNG hE Has moved far beyOnd. AbLe to stand nEArby someOne's
hAllway chAt with GlaSS, i was struCk bY hoW _muCh_ tHE TwO had to talk aboUT,
How tHe Other peRsoN wasn't aNyoNe tHe gReaT cOmposer knEw, and how i hAd
AbSoLutEly noTHing to ofFeR/inItIatE in coNVersatIon deSpitE a DeSIre To do so
aND aN ABiliTy To Work A coNvErsatIon wELl _oNce_it_stArted_ on soMe pOInt -
bUt AlAs I had nO point to start On.

to wit: when oPpOrtUne, I waNT To say to gReat/famous person X "so, what MIght
_you_ WanT to taLk abOut?" but sucH phRasing Is iNAne.

~~~
dagW
A few yEars aGo My mOTHer heLPEd OrgAnIze a literaTURe fEstivAl And aT the
cloSing banquet was seatED neXt to a famous auThoR witH SEvEraL CrITicAlLY
acCLAimed bests
.

I am just curious. Ever yone actsratio nal lyfr om t heir  point of view .  Why  do
people do what the y do?  W h at m a ke s the m succe s sf u l ? F ai lu res ?W ha t isthe ir
take  on living ? M os t people are pa ssionate a bou t something,  so  tellme  ab o ut
it . I 'll l earn s o methin g new.

I  s p ent al ot of t i m elear ning how to activ e ly listen, not ju st wai tf or a n
o ppo rtunity to  j ump i n to a co n ve r s a tio n  with my ownimmature op i nio ns. (I  h ave many.)  I am  n o t a fraid to as k du mb questi ons in an effo r t to le arn. I  ha veno
f e ar  t hat  p e opl e  w ill thi nk I amst up id. A ctua l l y ,  ask ing  que stion s makes you
l ook  lik e  ageniu s.

C avea t:  Ther e aresomepe ople who lack t he s park of l ife .I d on 't sp e nd tim e
w ith  them.
~~~
ct d ona th _ M os t people are passi on a t eabout so methin g ,so tell meab out  it. _ 
That 's m y  s tickingpoint: in  s ituatio ns  refer re d t o,the p e rson  in qu estion
a ll to o  often isn't p r one to discus s in g wh a t he  _w ant_ to dis cuss ,  but  wha t 
h isf ans d o. Ho wt o, as a random face wa nd eringup as  so many do,can one
el i c i t some f ragm e nt of "say, whatdo _y ou_ want t o  talk ab out o r do?"
The nuanc e struck m e w hen  me eti n g  ( as just anoth e r  fac ein theroo m) Stev e
R eic h a ndPh ilip Glas s. Durin gata lk , R eichl amentedth atev ery one w a nted t o
gus h ov er  h i s e arly wo r ks , whic hhe  mad e c le ar he  vie w edas imma ture - no t
b a d, b ut  s omethin g he has move dfar beyond .Abl e to s t a nd nearb y someone's
hallway cha t  with G las s, Iwasstruck by  ho w _muc h_t he two  had t o tal kabo u t ,
how t he  ot he r person w a s n't  anyo ne  the  greatcomposer knew, and how  I had
absolu tel y no t h in g t o  o f fer /i n iti a t e in conversati on despite  a de sire to do soan d an ab ility t o wor k  a conv ersationwell _onc e_ it_s t a rte d_ on some  point - 
but alas I had no  poin t t o star ton. 

Towit: w h enoppor tune,Iwant t o say  t o great/ famous person X "so, wh at mig ht
_y ou_  want total k  ab out?" but  suc h phrasing  is  in ane.
~~ ~ 
dagw 
A f e wyea r s ago  mym other hel p ed  or g a ni ze a litera t u r e f estiv ala nd attheclosing banquet w a s seated nextto a f amo usa utho rwith several c rit ic a l ly
accla im ed bests
.

I am_just curious._Everyone acts rationally from_their point_of_view. Why_do
people_do what they_do? What makes_them successful? Failures? What_is their
take on_living?_Most people are passionate about something, so tell me about
it. I'll learn something new.

I_spent_a lot_of_time_learning how to actively listen,_not just wait for an
opportunity_to jump_into a conversation with my own immature opinions._(I_have
many.) I am_not afraid to ask dumb questions in an effort_to learn. I have no
fear that_people will think_I_am_stupid. Actually, asking questions_makes you
look like a genius.

Caveat: There_are some people who lack the_spark of life. I don't spend time
with_them.

~~~
ctdonath
_Most people are passionate about something,_so tell me about it._

That's_my sticking_point: in situations referred to,_the person in_question
all too_often isn't prone_to discussing what he _want_ to_discuss, but what
his_fans do. How to, as a_random_face wandering up_as_so_many do,_can one
elicit some_fragment_of "say,_what_do _you_ want to talk about_or_do?"

The nuance struck me when meeting (as_just another face in_the_room) Steve
Reich and Philip_Glass. During a talk, Reich_lamented that everyone wanted to
gush over_his early_works, which_he made clear he viewed as immature - not
bad, but something_he has moved far beyond. Able_to stand nearby someone's
hallway_chat with_Glass,_I was struck_by_how _much__the two had to talk about,
how the_other person_wasn't anyone the great composer knew,_and how I had
absolutely_nothing_to offer/initiate in conversation despite a_desire to do so
and an ability_to work a conversation well__once_it_started__on_some point -
but alas I_had no point to start on.

To_wit: when opportune,_I want to say to great/famous person_X_"so, what might
_you_ want to talk_about?"_but such phrasing is inane.

~~~
dagw
A few_years_ago_my mother helped organize a_literature festival and at the
closing banquet_was seated next to a famous author with several_critically
acclaimed bests