kossack
Posts: 82
Joined: 8/5/2006 Status: offline
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This is mostly my problem, because the only things that actually interests me are words, lots of words, words about music, or art, or politics or whatever actually excites someone. When a person shares what makes his eyes light up, I get all soft and gushy, and I know that is unusual. So I really do try to help guide someone in a conversation, ask questions, notice details, etc. But I don't feel very good at it. Does anyone have any good tricks? I always end an e-mail with a few questions, but don't know what to do beyond that. Recently, one little kid (OK, 10 years older than me, but clearly a kid) sent an e-mail that boiled down to "wow--intelligent profile..." and I wrote back with 2 pictures, my name, a 'thanks for the nice note" and a couple of questions (what are you looking for, what do you enjoy reading, hobbies--pretty bland--but his profile was maybe 4 sentences long and listed no interests). He was mean: "What am I 'looking' for? For starters, a woman bright enough to write an email that is longer than two lines. A woman who is imaginative. One sophisticated enough to not buy into all this online 'search' and 'looking' nonsense. Your lazy response tells me you are none of those things. Buh bye." I have no concern for this boy (I may have insecurities about many things, but no one can make me feel like I'm not bright--if anything, I wish I were a little less bright), but if it hit him in such a wrong way, it may hit other men, who might actually be interesting, in a more subtle wrong way. So, how do you get a man to talk if he doesn't ask questions or share ideas. (I should note, I never say no to a good old phone call, as long as I don't have to give out my phone number, and generally like to have coffee relatively quickly. I'm not asking for long, drawn out e-mails--just trying to keep a conversation going until he suggests phone or coffee. And speaking of which, do you ever suggest coffee or phone first?)
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