How do you carry on a conversation?

Silence is Golden. We have a friend that suffers from verbal diarrhea, she never stops talking, if anyone else manages to get a word in she ignores them and carries on. If we go for a walk in the countryside, constant chatter, no wildlife to be seen, I wonder why. Her husband hardly says a word, he has forgotten how to.
Speak when you have something interesting to say, otherwise just listen, you will learn far more.

One of the best ways to prepare is to think of two questions to ask. How, what,have, when, why. In my experience people enjoy being asked for advice, talking about their hobbies, their garden, their house and their family.

If you know the person well, pick on a subject they are failiMiar with. Being recitant is an asset as it allows those who like to talk an opportunity to do so.

For strangers,
Have you seen any good t.v./book/ film lately. I find it so hard to find something to watch,read etc.

What do you think of .. The changes to the high street, Christmas...any neutral subject.

How was your journey, Did it take you long to get here

Of course you may have to be bored by the answers, but I think it's a small price to pay for not feeling uncomfortable.

Take a tip from hairdressers, and ask about holidays, books, garden etc. I aren't the best at any of this, some people I can chat freely with but some I just don't seem to be able to connect with at all.

However it is best to remember the old warning 'It is better to keep one's mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt!'
We have a neighbour who never draws breath, she just talks and talks. She's easy company in a way as her companion needs make no effort at all.

Well - I suppose that if you really feel you have nothing you want to say, then the option of saying nowt is there - you are not obliged to talk - but on the whole people like to be asked about themselves and to feel someone is taking an interest in them and that is always a good place to start.

rubysong, I'm having the same problem!

Help, I can't open any threads this morning. They all give me this weird heading. It says $breakStringTool.fixThreadName($!pm.threadName)