My experience: - don't directly address the point of your question / provide a much complex answer (or even worse, a non-answer) to a simple question Thos

My experience: - don't directly address the point of your question / provide a much complex answer (or even worse, a non-answer) to a simple question Those that are savvier have a point they're trying to get across, not addressed by your question. A common tactic is to ignore the question being asked and give the answer to the question you wished you were asked. Most interviewers let this go, so people do it all the time. - don't stay focused to the point of the discussion A lot of people have pet topics that they have knee jerk reactions to. So even if it's not the point, just mentioning the pet topic will make people want to pipe up, even if it's not the point. It's an emotional reaction. Also, I find most people don't really listen. Their head is full of what they're going to say next that they don't have any idea what the main point is. - don't have some level of clarity in their train of thought and speech. Takes practice. Most people don't write enough, as writing is a way of making thought linear and subsequently articulate. - generally over-complicate matters by wandering off to other related subjects and extending the scope of the discussion. Sometimes it's an insecurity thing. If you don't know what's being talked about, one tactic is to change the topic to something you do know about. Generally, it sounds like you (OP) thinks that the reason why people converse is to exchange information, even if it's a technical discussion. There are other reasons, like establishing social status, to socialize, to think aloud, to impress someone else, to influence others to their goal, etc. I think once you know these other motives exist, it makes these behaviors less mysterious.