#conversation tips

Thank you, with a protracted vowel sound around the 'an', and the same, heightened protracted vowel sound on the 'o' in you, and a quick cut off around the 'u' sound so it doesn't sound sarcastic

Then, often, you pay them a compliment in return, often to the same degree/significance as yours to them

Such as,

'Hey, I like your jumper'

'Thank you! I like yours, too'

Add a 'too' if it is about the same concept, item, inversed onto their person

Or,

'I like that little flop in your hair'

'Thank you. like how you styled yours. The curls are pretty'

Or,

'Hey, I love your artstyle'

Here, we come to a conundrum, as, unless we are in an art class, we may not know (or visibly see, often important) their art, so this is what we say

'Thank you-,'

And then, something about it to clarify, often WHY they might like certain thing

Say,

'I've been working on it. Glad you like it'

Or,

'I've been practicing colour matching'

Or,

'Interesting that you like (*this style here*). It's one that really fascinates me'

Guaranteed to help smooth conversations, improve your image in other people's perspective, and potentially, gain freinds

From years of research

Bonus tip:

If you want to make eye contact and you are struggling, look into the corner of one of their eyes, or pick an eyebrow to look at. Mimics eye contact very well without actually making it. Do not forget to look away briefly, to say, a cheek or the tip of their ear, on average, every thirty seconds, for a duration of less than half a second, before looking back, if you really want to sell it

ooo yess i would just talk about lessons you have in common, the teachers & ur opinions on them, etc. a great way to start a conversation is by finding something you guys have in common (and if its in school, classes and subjects are a great start!) and start chatting and joking and sharing ur opinions on that! then you can ask them about their hobbies, what books they're reading, sports they play, what their plans are this weekend, etc.

It's good to always have a goal in mind in social interactions, it's an easier way to leave feeling happy. Depending on your goal, you can change your language and attitude to achieve it. If you're trying to change someone's mind, use sympathetic language like 'I understand where you're coming from, I get the concerns about <x>, I just think that the benefits of doing this far outweighs that negative' and find common ground, even if you find their general opinion is completely counter to your own, harmful and entirely incorrect.

You don't have to change people's minds, it's not your responsibility. You are completely entitled to rant at people, or vent to friends, with no regards to language at all, especially if this person is harming you.

But if you want to change someone all the facts and righteousness in the world are worth nothing if the other person isn't willing to hear it. If you treat them like an enemy, they'll defend from anything you have to say and you will both only be frustrated by the end of it.

This is also applicable in heaps of contexts. Friend made terrible cooking? What's your goal? You might not want to eat their bad cooking again, so how about you help them get better at cooking rather than scare them off it? Offer to cook with them next time, talk about what you liked and what could be improved, matching their energy.

Example:

Imagine if a clown went hunting in the Amazon rainforest illegally and gets shot because other hunters thought he was an exotic bird, I think that would be funny

Tiny Radical Acts #012: Ask “Why is that funny?”