By Daniel Rigney
Conversations, like living organisms, are susceptible to a variety of communicable diseases. Conversational pathologies may include the following:
Constant Interruptus occurs when one is cut off repeatedly in mid- …. And is … And is rarely allowed to complete … an entire thought. This condition is especially bothersome when a communicant wants to share a thought that can’t be expressed in a single short sentence. If you have the misfortune to be in conversation with a speaker exhibiting symptoms of C.I., try talking really fast. Or in short sentences. Shorter the better. Andavoidtryingtoexpresscomplexideas.
Tape Loop Syndrome is commonly observed among those who think almost entirely in clichés. That would be all of us. For instance, consider some of the common catchwords and phrases that constitute much of our national political discourse. Social conservatism is a tape loop featuring words like “heritage,” “tradition” and “moral authority.” Libertarianism requires its speaker to utter the words “freedom” and “liberty” at every possible “opportunity.” The liberal or progressive tape loop also requires frequent repetition of the word “freedom,” but in association with words such as “equality,” “peace,” and “social justice.”
Not all tape loops are political. Some people can't seem to stop talking about, say, information technology, or sports, or their religious certitudes, or your personal shortcomings. The recurring themes in a tape loop reflect the obsessions of the speaker. These may vary considerably from one speaker to the next, and they frequently belabor subjects you have absolutely no interest in.
A closely related syndrome, Editorial Compulsion (see also Sermonic Compulsion), refers to a speaker’s inability to resist the impulse to offer unsolicited political (or religious) opinions. Where I live, for instance, one can scarcely tune in a radio talk show without hearing a free editorial on the myth of global warming or the menace of secularism. A real estate agent will launch gratuitously into a disquisition on the perils of “Obamacare.” A dentist will tell a free joke belittling blonde women, or reinforcing traditional stereotypes of some ethnic group other than his or her own.
Liberal variants of this compulsion are reported on the upper west side of Manhattan, in or near major university campuses, and in the article you are now reading.
The Talk/Listening Ratio is a statistical measure of the number of words a person contributes to a given conversation relative to the number of words others contribute. A very low T/L ratio may indicate that a speaker is shy and reserved. A highly-elevated T/L ratio, on the other hand, may suggest that the speaker is a self-centered asshat.
Edgewise Dysfunction is the inability to get a word in edgewise, particularly in conversations with speakers whose T/L ratios are significantly elevated, and who may also exhibit symptoms of Constant Interruptus, Tape Loop Syndrome, and Editorial Compulsion.
People who can’t seem to get a word in edgewise may seek an outlet for the expression of their thwarted thoughts in private journals, or in public weblogs, or “blogs,” such as this one.
Conversations, like living organisms, are susceptible to a variety of communicable diseases. Conversational pathologies may include the following:
Constant Interruptus occurs when one is cut off repeatedly in mid- …. And is … And is rarely allowed to complete … an entire thought. This condition is especially bothersome when a communicant wants to share a thought that can’t be expressed in a single short sentence. If you have the misfortune to be in conversation with a speaker exhibiting symptoms of C.I., try talking really fast. Or in short sentences. Shorter the better. Andavoidtryingtoexpresscomplexideas.
Tape Loop Syndrome is commonly observed among those who think almost entirely in clichés. That would be all of us. For instance, consider some of the common catchwords and phrases that constitute much of our national political discourse. Social conservatism is a tape loop featuring words like “heritage,” “tradition” and “moral authority.” Libertarianism requires its speaker to utter the words “freedom” and “liberty” at every possible “opportunity.” The liberal or progressive tape loop also requires frequent repetition of the word “freedom,” but in association with words such as “equality,” “peace,” and “social justice.”
Not all tape loops are political. Some people can't seem to stop talking about, say, information technology, or sports, or their religious certitudes, or your personal shortcomings. The recurring themes in a tape loop reflect the obsessions of the speaker. These may vary considerably from one speaker to the next, and they frequently belabor subjects you have absolutely no interest in.
A closely related syndrome, Editorial Compulsion (see also Sermonic Compulsion), refers to a speaker’s inability to resist the impulse to offer unsolicited political (or religious) opinions. Where I live, for instance, one can scarcely tune in a radio talk show without hearing a free editorial on the myth of global warming or the menace of secularism. A real estate agent will launch gratuitously into a disquisition on the perils of “Obamacare.” A dentist will tell a free joke belittling blonde women, or reinforcing traditional stereotypes of some ethnic group other than his or her own.
Liberal variants of this compulsion are reported on the upper west side of Manhattan, in or near major university campuses, and in the article you are now reading.
The Talk/Listening Ratio is a statistical measure of the number of words a person contributes to a given conversation relative to the number of words others contribute. A very low T/L ratio may indicate that a speaker is shy and reserved. A highly-elevated T/L ratio, on the other hand, may suggest that the speaker is a self-centered asshat.
Edgewise Dysfunction is the inability to get a word in edgewise, particularly in conversations with speakers whose T/L ratios are significantly elevated, and who may also exhibit symptoms of Constant Interruptus, Tape Loop Syndrome, and Editorial Compulsion.
People who can’t seem to get a word in edgewise may seek an outlet for the expression of their thwarted thoughts in private journals, or in public weblogs, or “blogs,” such as this one.
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