Comments on: To challenge and be challenged in conversation http://www.chrishardie.com/blog/2008/01/to-challenge-and-be-challenged-in-conversation.html Personal Blog for James Christopher Hardie Tue, 02 Dec 2008 20:08:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Keith Gardner http://www.chrishardie.com/blog/2008/01/to-challenge-and-be-challenged-in-conversation.html#comment-72738 Keith Gardner Sat, 02 Feb 2008 23:26:59 +0000 http://www.chrishardie.com/weblog/archives/2008/01/to-challenge-and-be-challenged-in-conversation.html#comment-72738 I like your perspective on a lot of this stuff, Chris. But I do disagree with you regarding interruptions. It's funny that you say that if you're interrupting, you feel like you're exchanging monologues. I see it as entirely the other way around. Since I first encountered you today via links regarding telephony, I know that you've experienced speakerphone conference calls with half-duplex service. In that environment, you *can't* interrupt the person on the other end in many cases, unless you can somehow manage to out-shout them. It becomes unbearable. There needs to be natural give and take in a genuine conversation, an ebb and flow, in order to really be communicating effectively. I find nothing more frustrating than someone soapboxing so that any time you try to slip a word in edgewise, they accuse you of interrupting them. It's not the way to come to an understanding. Of course if by interrupting you are referring to not only breaking in but taking over, then yes, I am with you there. It is utterly frustrating not to be able - eventually - to get out what you are trying to say. But to have to be patient while someone interjects comments or clarifications along the path, I don't have a problem with that. I like your perspective on a lot of this stuff, Chris. But I do disagree with you regarding interruptions. It's funny that you say that if you're interrupting, you feel like you're exchanging monologues. I see it as entirely the other way around.

Since I first encountered you today via links regarding telephony, I know that you've experienced speakerphone conference calls with half-duplex service. In that environment, you *can't* interrupt the person on the other end in many cases, unless you can somehow manage to out-shout them. It becomes unbearable. There needs to be natural give and take in a genuine conversation, an ebb and flow, in order to really be communicating effectively. I find nothing more frustrating than someone soapboxing so that any time you try to slip a word in edgewise, they accuse you of interrupting them. It's not the way to come to an understanding.

Of course if by interrupting you are referring to not only breaking in but taking over, then yes, I am with you there. It is utterly frustrating not to be able - eventually - to get out what you are trying to say. But to have to be patient while someone interjects comments or clarifications along the path, I don't have a problem with that.

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