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This is why I come to HN..to find articles like this. This defies what you learn at school, because I have been taught numerous times, to nod and stfu when you'
by hamhamed 10y ago
This is why I come to HN..to find articles like this. This defies what you learn at school, because I have been taught numerous times, to nod and stfu when you're holding a convo.
Always interrupt if you have something constructive to say in a casual/business conversation (unless you're in a debate), that's how you gain trust and credibility.
- adrianratnapala 10y agoThis depends on the person talking. In work situations I have dealt with some (rare) people who will just talk over you if you try to politely insert a suggestion or a question. Very occasionally, the right response is to interrupt them impolitely. Much more often the best thing is to let them finish. It's an almost passive-aggressive solution, but sometimes it's the best you can do.
- hamhamed 10y agoOf course, too much of anything is bad. At the end of the day to be a good listener, you need to listen.
- taneq 10y agoI distinguish 'interject' (ie. to quickly add in your two bits' worth and then allow the speaker to resume) from 'interrupt' (ie. to talk over them and keep talking, often on a different topic).
- Practicality 10y agoYes, the social difference is tremendous. Few people mind if you interject. But if you truly interrupt you're just sidetracking the conversation, that doesn't really help.
- ulucs 10y agoI'd just like to interject for a moment. What you’re referring to as listening, is in fact, listening/interjecting, or as I’ve recently taken to calling it, listening plus interjecting. Listening is not a favorable method unto itself, but rather another free component of a fully functioning talking system made useful by the functional eardrums, wave properties of matter and the composition of the atmosphere comprising a full conversation as defined by the societal standards. (you can ban me now. I won't regret this)
- throwanem 10y ago> Always interrupt if you have something constructive to say... This is dangerous advice. Being perceived as someone who frequently interrupts is socially detrimental. As another commenter said, save it for when someone really makes it necessary, and converse with grace at all other times.
- simbalion 10y agoNonsense, sometimes people don't know when to stop talking, and it's more dangerous to let them continue. In those situations having the courage to interupt, and the knowledge to do it diplomatically, is important.
- Cyph0n 10y agoI agree with you, but the original commenter said that you should always interrupt if you have something "constructive" to say. The problem is that one person's constructive input is another's waste of time.
- hammock 10y agoWouldn't that be how you establish yourself as a know-it-all? (I haven't read the article yet)
- simbalion 10y agoYou might know it all. If someone actually knows everything, one would be a fool to mock them for it. Never look a gift horse in the mouth. People label others with hostile things like "know-it-all" as a way of dealing with their own inferiority complexes.