Elements of the Hang-out Conversation

[M.D. Holloway]

I was thinking about conversations, particularly the elements of a ‘just hanging-out’ conversation. Seems like most conversations are based on an existing event and then expands. You meet a friend or acquaintance and you begin to discuss a topic of concern or something occurring right then and there. If that topic is exhausted then there is an expansion if time and interest in that person persists. But what about that comfortable gab that occurs when your just hanging out.

They seem to take on the dynamic of:
1) Topic Introduction in the way of a quick story
2) Buy-in or Rebuttal from others
3) Optional Questions
4) One-upmanship
5) Repeat 2,3,4
6) Topic Change

When hanging out, drinking beers et al, the topics always seem to breakdown to the following topics:

- Kids Latest Adventure (Including School, Sports or Trouble)
- Issue With Auto or Home
- Gossip About Friends or Neighbors
- Health Issues
- TV Show or Movie Seen or Interested In
- Something Going on in Town
- Animal or Insect Story
- Work Story

Rarely if ever do people seem to talk politics, history, literature, music, science, or religion – maybe for fear of being stigmatized for being a brainy geek or maybe because the general population is not really interested in these topics.

Which topics do you engage in freely with your hang-out friends?

[stomachmonkey]

We tend to bounce around a lot.

I almost always avoid religion.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Nah, that observation is a load of hooey. Phoo. I think the hang-out conversation is all about deeper placed substance and intrinsic value conversationalism...

(I was just playing the role of #2, "buy-in or rebuttal from others". Now we can move onto #3, "optional questions" so someone help me out here...)

[jyl]

How should health care be reformed
Kids and their curiosities
How are your chickens
Has the economy bottomed
My liver, your liver
What have you eaten lately

[Zef]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

We tend to bounce around a lot.

I almost always avoid religion.

Remove that thing from the bowl, and we just resolve 3/4 of the **** that happen down here.

[Rick V]

Never fails, when a hang out happens at my house, and we are outside, I end up saying, "No you may not borrow my truck, I don't lend out vehicles"

[onewhippedpuppy]

Nothing. At least that's the answer the wife gets. C'mon, we're men, gossip and detail are for the women folk.

[David]

I don't talk religion and try to avoid politics.

I think if you're discussing TV, movies, or some dream you've had it's time to stop talking.

[Quicksilver]

I don't see a check mark for "Sex/Relationships"...


Oh, and"Issue With Auto or Home" doesn't really cover the necessary category of "Cars/Toys".

[WolfeMacleod]

Originally Posted by Quicksilver

I don't see a check mark for "Sex/Relationships"....

Me neither. that should be there.
The one guy I'm with every day (employee and one of my oldest friends) talk a lot about physics and mechanics. He knows jack-all about cars, music, politics, or what's on TV, so we don't talk much about that sort of thing.

[WolfeMacleod]

Originally Posted by Quicksilver

I don't see a check mark for "Sex/Relationships"....

Me neither. that should be there.
The one guy I'm with every day (employee and one of my oldest friends) talk a lot about physics and mechanics. He knows jack-all about cars, music, politics, or what's on TV, so we don't talk much about that sort of thing.

[berettafan]

at work i can talk about anything. but if i could be doing something else it's hard to hold my attention if it doesn't involve an internal combustion engine. or bird hunting. or shotguns (pistols, rifles, etc. just lose me fast). One exception is the guy that is a walking discovery channel program. you know, the guy that knows about something (say HVAC) that i am ignorant of and is able to explain the theory and function of it. That kinda stuff i can listen to all day long.

i avoid gossip because i don't really care what so and so did.

i guess lawn care is kinda interesting if the person talking has a nice lawn.

i know, i'm pretty lame. it's a gift.

[Zeke]

I checked science as one of 3, but I will readily talk about any idea from an engineering, medical or scientific standpoint to just news about a new product.

I won't talk about kids under any circumstances.

[Gogar]

Originally Posted by Quicksilver

I don't see a check mark for "Sex/Relationships"...


Oh, and"Issue With Auto or Home" doesn't really cover the necessary category of "Cars/Toys".

I'm with Quicksilver.

[nota]

SPORTS

thats the main guy talk thing

[M.D. Holloway]

This is turning into a very insightful social experiment...