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Tip 222: Tickle people's creative fancy. |
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If you know someone has special expertise in your topic or your topic is of general interest, toss out a project/problem that you "might" do/solve someday: "I'm thinking of re-covering all the windows in my house. Got any ideas?" or "I'm toying with the idea of writing a book for my grandchildrensort of a legacy. What kinds of things do you think I should include?" or "I'm planning a roast for an upcoming retirement luncheon. Got any gags or appropriate one-liners?" Asking for their input can compliment them and give them an enjoyable creative workout. |
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Tip 223: Pique others' curiosity with an incomplete comment. |
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Choose a subject that people will have some interest in, even though they may lack knowledge about it, and toss out a half-baked but intriguing observation. Try something like: "I'm planning to sell everything I own within six months" or "Kids are smarter than their years these days" or "I just saw Kim racing up 14 flights of stairs." "Give me a moment to calm down. I'm considering murder at the moment." "TeenagersI've come to the conclusion that they're not real people.'' Such will spur them to ask you to elaborate, and you're into a new topic. If it doesn't work and they show no interest or miss the cue, shake your head as if still intrigued by a past conversation and then move on to something else. |
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Tip 224: Avoid questions that lead people on when you have no interest in their answers. |
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I call this the you-talk-while-I-look-around-and-see-what-else-is-happening ploy. "Tell me what you think about the state of communism today?" "You read a lot, don't you? Tell me about some of the books you like to read." That kind of question puts the other person on the spot to take the conversational ball while knowing you're going to tune out. This dishonest baiting question makes the other person feel downright foolish. |
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Tip 225: Don't state the obvious. |
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When you toss out a question/observation/comment such as "Times have changed, haven't they?" you'll probably get no response at all. It's not that the subject is too complex, but just the opposite. The topic is too mundane or monotonous to elicit a response. |
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