flemmings: (sanzou)
flemmings ([personal profile] flemmings) wrote2015-06-22 07:54 pm

The Dumb Woman

Someone at work has been trying to have conversations with me. I only just realized it today when she asked, as she tends to, 'Have you seen any of the Jurassic Park movies?' To which I naturally answered 'No.' I don't watch movies, and never American blockbusters. (Too loud and too violent for my quivering sensibilities.) Then it occurred to me that this was a lead-in. 'Did you go see the latest one?' And she had, and would have liked to talk about it with me if I'd seen it too. But I hadn't, and this is why no one can have a conversation with me.

Well, not no one, obviously. But I can't join in conversations that revolve around movies, TV shows, and music. And I can't talk at work anyway, because my eye and attention is always on the kids. (Of course I think other people's attention should be there too, an attitude I've had a hard time getting over.)

But mostly there's those four rules of proportionate response: is it kind? is it necessary? is it true? and above all, does it improve on the silence? And of course, by me very little improves on silence.

[identity profile] petronia.livejournal.com 2015-06-23 05:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Suggest them some books or manga! Eventually someone will take you up on one. XD

[identity profile] flemmings.livejournal.com 2015-06-24 12:04 am (UTC)(link)
No. They will look at me very strangely indeed, I assure you. Besides, all my fave manga are in Japanese. Frustrating all round.

(You're half-right, but the staff I can talk steampunk to is already very conversible, on account of reading steampunk, if you follow.)