Thursday, January 26, 2017

Let’s start the conversation.










Not long ago, within my not-so-distant memory, people used to talk. We’d chat. We’d have discussions. And, curse of curses, hoity-toity folks would dialogue.
Now, we have “conversations.”
We used to be asked for our two cents’ worth. Now, we’re asked to “join the conversation.” Reporters used to conduct interviews. Now, they engage in “conversations” with their subjects. Radio talk show hosts used to take calls. Now, they “invite another voice into the conversation.” Internet discussion groups used to have forums. Now, they have “conversations.” Even arguments and debates and disagreements are “conversations.”
What is it about the word “conversation”? How is it that it has wormed its way into so many places in our language once described by perfectly good, and often more precise, words?
I suspect it’s because the people who use it think it sounds friendlier. And few people can resist warm and fuzzy, even at the expense of clarity.
What do you think? Let’s start the conversation about conversation.


6 comments:

  1. SNS has a lot to do with it, Rod. You can't read expressions or body language via SNS. Arguments tend to be quarrels instead of logical discussions. People who try to be cool and level-headed, using logic as a tool of conversation come off as being hoity-toity or looking down on the other person. Also, it's easier to write words like stupid, moron, addlebrain, along with lots of four-letter words (the ones writers like yourself write as s&%t, and so forth. In person, you can say "I don't agree" without the other person getting up in arms. On SNS, not agreeing is a slap in the other person's face. IMHO

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    1. You may be right, Chuck. I admit ignorance concerning the acronym "SNS" however.

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  2. Rod, I think Chuck struck at the heart of this "conversation dilemma." For the most part, social media doesn't promote discussions or chats. From what I see, it gives rise to a high level of conversational confrontation--often laced with insults, accusations, and threats. An invitation to "join the conversation" smacks of political correctness, a polite way to engage others. I prefer the "here's my two cents" approach.

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    1. Could be, Tom. But my observation is based more on the spoken word than the written word.

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  3. "Conversations" or "my two cents" would be better than the verbal rock throwing on the political internet these days.

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    1. Online commentary does get pretty nasty, David. Perhaps the whole pseudo-friendly "conversation" cliche is an attempt to counter that.

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