Silence is golden.

If you were to try to have a conversation with me in person and I did not know you well, you would find I have little to say. Even with people I do know well, I find it difficult to get a word in when the group consists of three or more. I am least silent when I am conversing with only one additional person.

I don't have any particular reasons for being a generally silent person. It simply seems to be the way I am wired. But I find that my silence contributes to excellent listening skills, and I have a received a fair number of compliments on my quality as a listener.

If there is a reason other than natural personality for my silence, you might think of my discovery that arguing does little to nothing to change the mind of someone else who disagrees. There was a time when I felt I needed to make my beliefs known to more of an extent than I do now, but that was before I realized that other people have their own beliefs, and it is unlikely they plan to exchange them.

So I would suggest that when the topic of discussion is an issue that your discussion mate disagrees with you on and is under no circumstances going to change her mind, that is the time to be silent. Even if she might change her mind, you could find that it is ethically difficult to attempt to force a change of view, depending on what the issue is.

If you are conversing with people who feel as you do about the topic, that would be the time to enjoy a discussion that lasts well into the early morning hours if need be.

But of course I am someone who frowns on conflict, and someone else who does not mind it will probably disagree with me. Understandably, he and I would avoid the topic of conflict in a discussion we might have.

very well said... and i relate

the thread title reminds me of the Faintly Macabre story in norton justers "phantom tollbooth"

"brevity is the soul of wit."
"An ill-chosen word is the fool's messenger"
"Speak fitly or be silent wisely"

Confucius from The Analects
XIV.29: The Master said, "The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions."

Proverbs 17:28
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

Mark Twain
It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.

The Twain quote is also sometimes attributed to quite a few other recognizeables.

I read somewhere once that being critical is okay, as long as it's in the other person's best interest. If you say something to someone that is in no way beneficial to them or the situation, then it's probably best to keep your mouth shut.

I have always loved this quote.

When the conversants start repeating themselves or other who hold similar opinions its time to close a thread.

<Wonders if Didymos is old enough to remember who sang this song.

Most of what I listen to is a generation old, but I am a young buck. What's the song?

Silence is Golden

You're young. I'm an old geezer. should not expect you to know this one. It was Frankie Valle and the four seasons. A group back in the sixties. A little useless info of which I possess quite a bit of.

I know Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, but not that track. I'll have to check it out.

Hey

My little contribution,

Listen, listen, listen, very, very, very, carefully. Then think, think, think, and think, ,again

Only then must we let our jaws wag