From the editor: Protection of the lost art of conversation

This week I had a chat about conversation. Sounds a bit meta. How do you talk about talking? Have you run out of things to actually discuss? Not at all. But sometimes, talking with someone new can feel like something of a highly primed minefield.

I read something a few years ago about how Young People Today (™) find it especially difficult when entering the job market as they have had roughly zero exchanges with strangers on a one-to-one basis. Loads to say on social media. Chat rooms galore to support each other through times of stress or mutual fandom. It’s almost as if the lost art of the letter has returned, much to Jane Austin’s joy, with it’s own Clockwork Orange twist of textspeak and emojis. But actually speaking to someone new face to face has become a terror.

It makes sense. Parents have always told their children not to talk to strangers. Quite a lot of strangers treat children (unfairly) as they would spiders, repeating in a mantra under their breath, “they’re more scare of you, they’re more scared of you…” And the chasm between real world interactions gapes even wider.

And so, this article said, young people are joining the workplace unsure as to how to go up to a customer and ask if they need any help. Too shy to call when they could email. It’s a little crippling for your prospective career plans.

At the end of my chat I realised my tips for conversations are to be friendly, ask questions that don’t accidentally fuse themselves with status answers (What do you do for a living? What’s your favourite book?), listen to where the answers take you, and don’t be afraid to appear the fool. If you don’t ask you don’t learn. And where would the fun be in that?

Victoria Nangle
editorial@thelatest.co.uk