Welcome to the Tuesday edition of the Coffee Hour on Street Prophets. This is our communities’ open thread where we can talk about what’s happening in our lives, our thoughts on current events, and anything else that strikes your fancy. Since open thread diaries, such as the Street Prophets Coffee Hour, are really conversations, I thought I’d start the discussion today by talking about conversation.
Let me start off by saying that I am not a good conversationalist and lack a lot of people skills. So reviewing the nature of conversation is a good exercise.
In the classical sense, a conversation is a shared pursuit of truth through dialogue. Through conversation ideas, feelings, and experiences fare developed. A good conversation requires some shared outlook, openness particularly to the ideas and insights of others, a willingness to listen, and a sense of ease.
A long time ago, way back in 44 BCE, Cicero outlined the basic rules of conversation:
Speak clearly
Speak easily but not too much, especially when others want their turn
Do not interrupt
Be courteous
Deal seriously with serious matters and gracefully with lighter ones
Never criticize people behind their backs
Stick to subjects of general interest
Do not talk about yourself
Never lose your temper
Do any of Cicero’s rules apply or make any sense when applied to the conversations here on Daily Kos?
It’s your turn. Let’s have a conversation. And, by the way, what’s for dinner?