Banal conversation and pointless chatter are obvious chagrins to everyone. Some have lower threshholds than others but we all have a limit to how much uninteresting crap we can put up with in a day. You've got interaction trappers who come up to you and start talking about whetever comes to mind, office nonsense and such. And really, is there any greater example of this dull, wretched talk than the weather?
The weather gets a bad reputation though, undue for what it is. Our lives are so inundated with media and potential interests that it's a miracle two people can share similar hobbies. We've got nothing in common with each other anymore - even the people who supposedly do! Two people love beer? That's great - good luck getting them to agree on which is incredible and which is crap. Don't get me wrong, this is a great thing, more potential for individuality and independent thought (won't hold my breath for it) and all, but it backfires sometimes.
We're just so damn disconnected. Where does one find a common ground in conversation in a group of relative strangers thrust upon each other so often seen in workplaces? Five people in a group enjoy television, let's say, but one guy hates reality shows, another watches only sports, one nothing but major news, another the history channel, and another prime time sitcoms. Television itself has so many options the common joke has been about who gets to control the remote.
The weather. It's one of the few things that's occuring to every individual in your immediate vicinity in the same way at the same time. It did in the recent past and it will in the near future. It's an experience we actually share, in the very real sense. I saw a great spirit of camaraderie on my street the first storm of the season - neighbors who barely spoke helping each other shovel and push cars that were stuck (like -ahem- my own).
So please, if you see me, point out what kind of day it is.
And then fuck off. :lulz:
Anyway, it was just stirring around my head lately.
it's kinda cold, snow from yesterday is still everywhere. the city has an orange/pink colour at night because of the reflections of the sodium streetlights bouncing back and forth between the snow on the streets and the clouds. it's not bad, when you're inside :)
Quote from: Triple Zero on February 13, 2010, 12:12:39 AM
it's kinda cold, snow from yesterday is still everywhere. the city has an orange/pink colour at night because of the reflections of the sodium streetlights bouncing back and forth between the snow on the streets and the clouds. it's not bad, when you're inside :)
Dutch weather is not my weather, we cannot be friends!
"Think it's gonna rain?"
"...be a rather long dry spell if it doesn't."
I live in San Diego...the weather rarely budgets within +10'F of 70.
ETA: But I know what you mean. That's why I rarely answer "How are you doin'?" with "Fine" like most everyone else. I actually put the person off a weensy bit by answering with an honest "sometimes pretty bad, but right now I'm functioning" or something similar. It puts a jog in the conversation and lets the person know if they're going to inquire about how I'm doing, they're not gonna get a bullshit answer.
It was pleasant and balmy yesterday, and the worms were out and about which is usually a surefire sign of spring, but today it is buttfuck cold. :(
We had a mild winter here, right until a week after groudnhogs day (which was cloudy BTW, fucker must have found a single sunbeam to find his shadow) and since then it has been snowing like nonstop. There are a bunch of little birds who returned from migrating who are pissed about it and loudly express their dissatisfaction every time my roommate and i go out to smoke a cigarette.
Quote from: Jenne on February 15, 2010, 04:46:06 PM
I live in San Diego...the weather rarely budgets within +10'F of 70.
ETA: But I know what you mean. That's why I rarely answer "How are you doin'?" with "Fine" like most everyone else. I actually put the person off a weensy bit by answering with an honest "sometimes pretty bad, but right now I'm functioning" or something similar. It puts a jog in the conversation and lets the person know if they're going to inquire about how I'm doing, they're not gonna get a bullshit answer.
I know someone who uses "I am well and comfortable" habitually. I think she just really is that way quite often, but it's nice how it puts people off because it's not a regular response.
OKM: Dead as yesterday's fish.
Quote from: Doktor Howl on February 15, 2010, 10:26:01 PM
OKM: Dead as yesterday's fish.
Try picking my brain for some "rants". You'll find it's gone as mushy as my attitude these days. No mind for the academic.
Quote from: Kai on February 15, 2010, 10:34:27 PM
Quote from: Doktor Howl on February 15, 2010, 10:26:01 PM
OKM: Dead as yesterday's fish.
Try picking my brain for some "rants". You'll find it's gone as mushy as my attitude these days. No mind for the academic.
Yeah, but the Livejournal crap has started in OKM.
We may as well merge all the boards into one big page, like GLP or FC.
I've been trying to pump my rant gland once a week, spilling the contents here or as a letter in Apple Talk. Missed this one. Something cooking though.
Quote from: Alty on February 16, 2010, 12:26:15 AM
I've been trying to pump my rant gland once a week, spilling the contents here or as a letter in Apple Talk. Missed this one. Something cooking though.
Maybe we could do a twitter-style blog in OKM. That would be pretty fucking edgy, right?
:kingmeh:
So my effort to produce regular content that means something substantial to me is akin to tweeting.
That makes me so angry right now.
Oh look, a storm in a teacup
to OP:
talking about the weather is akin to going to strip club and asking the strippers name. Part of living in a society, we're strangers to each other so we try to connect with each other using anything we may have in common.
Quote from: Alty on February 16, 2010, 12:38:26 AM
So my effort to produce regular content that means something substantial to me is akin to tweeting.
That makes me so angry right now.
As does a "how's the fucking weather thread" in OKM.
And why are you angry? You didn't start this thread...did you?
I re-read the OP and it does belong here.
Somehow people (including myself) mistook his point as being a literal "let's talk about the weather" thread, rather than what I think he meant by it; we isolate ourselves too much, why not create openings for connection with those about us, even if it means banal introductions like "how 'bout that rain today?"
Quote from: Kai on February 15, 2010, 10:21:46 PM
Quote from: Jenne on February 15, 2010, 04:46:06 PM
I live in San Diego...the weather rarely budgets within +10'F of 70.
ETA: But I know what you mean. That's why I rarely answer "How are you doin'?" with "Fine" like most everyone else. I actually put the person off a weensy bit by answering with an honest "sometimes pretty bad, but right now I'm functioning" or something similar. It puts a jog in the conversation and lets the person know if they're going to inquire about how I'm doing, they're not gonna get a bullshit answer.
I know someone who uses "I am well and comfortable" habitually. I think she just really is that way quite often, but it's nice how it puts people off because it's not a regular response.
Exactly. I usually point out, if I don't say something else rather pithy but straight to the point, "better than most, worse than some," or "could be better, could be worse" etc. NEVER FINE.
Plus, as I've shared before, the 12-Step answer for what "FINE" means has stuck in my brain forever (fucked up.insecure.narcisstic.egomaniac), so I don't like to use it period. It's really a non-answer, and tells people "I'm not really going to answer this, so that we're both comfortable in a social setting."
Quote from: Calamity Nigel on February 16, 2010, 12:57:08 AM
I re-read the OP and it does belong here.
Somehow people (including myself) mistook his point as being a literal "let's talk about the weather" thread, rather than what I think he meant by it; we isolate ourselves too much, why not create openings for connection with those about us, even if it means banal introductions like "how 'bout that rain today?"
Exactly. That's how I answered this thread, Kai picked up on it, thankfully. :)
Quote from: Thurnez Isa on February 16, 2010, 12:43:22 AM
to OP:
talking about the weather is akin to going to strip club and asking the strippers name. Part of living in a society, we're strangers to each other so we try to connect with each other using anything we may have in common.
Yeah, and it's also something that's societally "safe." It's the ice-breaker that usually flops, though, because it's so cliched. It gets at something finite, and it really doesn't bring anyone that much closer. But it's polemics, and it's unchangable at the end of the day.
Also, TI, interesting analogy. ;)
Quote from: Jenne on February 16, 2010, 01:44:25 AM
Quote from: Thurnez Isa on February 16, 2010, 12:43:22 AM
to OP:
talking about the weather is akin to going to strip club and asking the strippers name. Part of living in a society, we're strangers to each other so we try to connect with each other using anything we may have in common.
Yeah, and it's also something that's societally "safe." It's the ice-breaker that usually flops, though, because it's so cliched. It gets at something finite, and it really doesn't bring anyone that much closer. But it's polemics, and it's unchangable at the end of the day.
Also, TI, interesting analogy. ;)
It depends, I find relating to people while I am working and serving customers in some way that isn't some horrible pun or mean joke I always feel alien trying to bridge the gap with them and I have gotten pretty good at spinning around the weather question to something interesting
"lovely weather today"
"not a day to be indoors, any plans for it?"
It shifts it and tries to create a personal bond.
It fell flat on its ass at first but working for a while with the public gets you used to that as a question.
I usually don't use ice-breakers. I find them annoying. This causes me some problems, as you might well imagine, because it IS kind of rude, or at least unusual enough to be off-putting.
I don't find it off-putting. Whenever people nervously tiptoe and try to "break the ice" around me, it makes me nervous too. I think it's all down to nonverbal communication.
Quote from: Doktor Howl on February 16, 2010, 01:54:12 AM
I usually don't use ice-breakers. I find them annoying. This causes me some problems, as you might well imagine, because it IS kind of rude, or at least unusual enough to be off-putting.
Just use some with colourful flair
"Ever been sucked by a man who sucks mangoes for a living?"
Quote from: Faust on February 16, 2010, 01:51:18 AM
Quote from: Jenne on February 16, 2010, 01:44:25 AM
Quote from: Thurnez Isa on February 16, 2010, 12:43:22 AM
to OP:
talking about the weather is akin to going to strip club and asking the strippers name. Part of living in a society, we're strangers to each other so we try to connect with each other using anything we may have in common.
Yeah, and it's also something that's societally "safe." It's the ice-breaker that usually flops, though, because it's so cliched. It gets at something finite, and it really doesn't bring anyone that much closer. But it's polemics, and it's unchangable at the end of the day.
Also, TI, interesting analogy. ;)
It depends, I find relating to people while I am working and serving customers in some way that isn't some horrible pun or mean joke I always feel alien trying to bridge the gap with them and I have gotten pretty good at spinning around the weather question to something interesting
"lovely weather today"
"not a day to be indoors, any plans for it?"
It shifts it and tries to create a personal bond.
It fell flat on its ass at first but working for a while with the public gets you used to that as a question.
Aha! That's exactly what I'm talking about (you all realize this is mindcandy for the applied linguist, yeah?). You flipped the script over and inserted your own line, meanwhile keeping an actual on-topic answer that leaves the interlocutor momentarily confused as to several things all at once.
Hence the sort of awkward silence that ensues until they actually figure out they CAN answer. And so they do. But often walk away questioning what just went on...
Quote from: Jenne on February 16, 2010, 01:58:41 AM
Quote from: Faust on February 16, 2010, 01:51:18 AM
Quote from: Jenne on February 16, 2010, 01:44:25 AM
Quote from: Thurnez Isa on February 16, 2010, 12:43:22 AM
to OP:
talking about the weather is akin to going to strip club and asking the strippers name. Part of living in a society, we're strangers to each other so we try to connect with each other using anything we may have in common.
Yeah, and it's also something that's societally "safe." It's the ice-breaker that usually flops, though, because it's so cliched. It gets at something finite, and it really doesn't bring anyone that much closer. But it's polemics, and it's unchangable at the end of the day.
Also, TI, interesting analogy. ;)
It depends, I find relating to people while I am working and serving customers in some way that isn't some horrible pun or mean joke I always feel alien trying to bridge the gap with them and I have gotten pretty good at spinning around the weather question to something interesting
"lovely weather today"
"not a day to be indoors, any plans for it?"
It shifts it and tries to create a personal bond.
It fell flat on its ass at first but working for a while with the public gets you used to that as a question.
Aha! That's exactly what I'm talking about (you all realize this is mindcandy for the applied linguist, yeah?). You flipped the script over and inserted your own line, meanwhile keeping an actual on-topic answer that leaves the interlocutor momentarily confused as to several things all at once.
Hence the sort of awkward silence that ensues until they actually figure out they CAN answer. And so they do. But often walk away questioning what just went on...
with younger people, any mothers or people over fifty would be delighted generally to spend five minutes telling you.
Quote from: Jenne on February 16, 2010, 01:41:58 AM
Quote from: Kai on February 15, 2010, 10:21:46 PM
Quote from: Jenne on February 15, 2010, 04:46:06 PM
I live in San Diego...the weather rarely budgets within +10'F of 70.
ETA: But I know what you mean. That's why I rarely answer "How are you doin'?" with "Fine" like most everyone else. I actually put the person off a weensy bit by answering with an honest "sometimes pretty bad, but right now I'm functioning" or something similar. It puts a jog in the conversation and lets the person know if they're going to inquire about how I'm doing, they're not gonna get a bullshit answer.
I know someone who uses "I am well and comfortable" habitually. I think she just really is that way quite often, but it's nice how it puts people off because it's not a regular response.
Exactly. I usually point out, if I don't say something else rather pithy but straight to the point, "better than most, worse than some," or "could be better, could be worse" etc. NEVER FINE.
Plus, as I've shared before, the 12-Step answer for what "FINE" means has stuck in my brain forever (fucked up.insecure.narcisstic.egomaniac), so I don't like to use it period. It's really a non-answer, and tells people "I'm not really going to answer this, so that we're both comfortable in a social setting."
I tend to answer honestly, which people usually either find charming or disturbing.
Quote from: Faust on February 16, 2010, 01:57:58 AM
Quote from: Doktor Howl on February 16, 2010, 01:54:12 AM
I usually don't use ice-breakers. I find them annoying. This causes me some problems, as you might well imagine, because it IS kind of rude, or at least unusual enough to be off-putting.
Just use some with colourful flair
"Ever been sucked by a man who sucks mangoes for a living?"
Actually, if I'm meeting a woman I'm interested in, I usually say, "Hi, I'm Roger", maybe say something relevant to what's going on around us, and let the conversation develop naturally.
If I'm meeting anyone else, I just say what I'm thinking. This can get kind of funny, sometimes.
Dear Livejournal,
Oh my god worst day ever! I wrote this little piece about how even simple interaction is valuable because it's so frequently avoided at all costs and this guy was all like "bad rant" and I was all like "yeah but at least I tried" except I didn't say that because it was one of those clever things I thought of way later. Ugh I hate it when that happens. Anyway his name is Doctor Howl, which I don't get because I don't think he's really a doctor. I wonder if it's Howl rhyming with bowel or rhyming with bowl like J.K. Rowling is? I should ask him, because who's afraid of Doctor Howl anyway? Nobody.
I don't know sometimes I just feel like I really pour my heart and soul into my writing and it's too much when I get negative feedback. It's like nobody understands me at all. I should write about that as well, maybe I can finally get across when other people start realizing that it's not that I'm all that bad but because they don't know me so they read it wrong. Obviously if they're reading it wrong it's their fault and not my fault for writing it in a way to be misinterpreted.
Well I'm going to end this entry because I have to go start that other piece. I think this is going to be a really really good one, we'll see if it's more satisfying.
Sorry about the comment. Like many others here, I took the last line as an actual question about the weather.
However, I never said "bad rant", and for that you can go fuck yourself.
Quote from: Doktor Howl on February 16, 2010, 08:50:48 PM
Sorry about the comment. Like many others here, I took the last line as an actual question about the weather.
However, I never said "bad rant", and for that you can go fuck yourself.
I know you didn't. I honestly didn't realize it could be taken seriously, so I'm sorry for that. If you'd like I can either remove your name, remove the quotes, or replace it with "garble garble BLARGH."
It's because nobody
understands me. :cry:
Quote from: EoC on February 16, 2010, 09:11:04 PM
Quote from: Doktor Howl on February 16, 2010, 08:50:48 PM
Sorry about the comment. Like many others here, I took the last line as an actual question about the weather.
However, I never said "bad rant", and for that you can go fuck yourself.
I know you didn't. I honestly didn't realize it could be taken seriously, so I'm sorry for that. If you'd like I can either remove your name, remove the quotes, or replace it with "garble garble BLARGH."
It's because nobody understands me. :cry:
Let's go listen to LINKIN PARK. That'll show them! That'll show them
ALL.
Quote from: Doktor Howl on February 16, 2010, 12:47:28 AM
Quote from: Alty on February 16, 2010, 12:38:26 AM
So my effort to produce regular content that means something substantial to me is akin to tweeting.
That makes me so angry right now.
As does a "how's the fucking weather thread" in OKM.
And why are you angry? You didn't start this thread...did you?
Sorry. I took your post to mean something it didn't.