March 26th, 2025

Brevity Is The Soul Of Wit

Conscious expression is difficult. I tend to over-speak. Maybe it’s because I can’t develop a thought very well as it occurs to me. Maybe it’s because I have a tendency to take over a conversation, a sort of sub-conscious dominace thing. The older I get the more I have become aware of my tendency. No doubt because I possess some self awareness.

I dont sit and analyse conversations as they take place, but I do pay attention to them. When I have said a thing or two and the other person hasn’t, I practice staying quiet for a moment. Sure enough, they will begin to speak. I’m never sure if it’s because they think before they speak or if it’s a conditioned response to fill the void of silence. Either way, I’m happy to hear what they have to say.

Often times in group conversations I notice one person isn’t saying much. I purposely steer the conversation to that person. I don’t do that because I am a nice guy, I do it becasue my father made it a stated goal of his. He does it to be nice. I agree. It feels good too. The hard part is really wanting to know what everyone thinks.

I get tired of my own opinions. Steelmanning another position is healthy. Especially since opinions aren’t facts. I have a proclivity to make other people think the way I think, but I don’t know why, so I often purposely prop up their arguement. I don’t try to do this, it happens naturally.

I believe the best thing to do is to talk less, make the things I say have more meat. I want to be the person listening more and speaking less. The question is can I be that person? Chances are slim. I do change, but so slowly. I’ll probably be close to the end before there is any measureable difference. On the bright side, I should make a decent grandfather.