The article is what it is. What we are here for is what we can make of it. And your answer is useful there. "Different strategies for filling the silence": ask

The article is what it is. What we are here for is what we can make of it. And your answer is useful there. "Different strategies for filling the silence": asking or talking. (not quite what you describe) makes sense. One of my problems in there is how to gauge whether there is interest at all. I mean if they walk away, then we know, sure. But I also don't need to spend time in this "conversation" if there was no interest and the other person is merely being polite or narcisstic in answering my questions forever. Nowadays I do feel somewhat ready sometimes to prod outright, something like "what's your interest in this" - but it's not exactly subtle.