Questions tagged [conversations]

Questions about having conversations with other people, and how to achieve certain things when having them. This can be covering (or avoiding) certain topics, starting them, keeping them going or bringing them to a close.

Conversations are a key way of communicating between people, and people have them on a daily basis with various people. Whether they happen online, or in person, conversations are a part of everyone's life and a key method of communication.

Conversations can happen either between just 2 people or in larger groups of people. In addition it can happen between strangers, work colleagues, friends and family. In addition the topic of conversations can also vary drastically between people, covering work or just casual chit-chat.

Communication skills can take a while to develop, and often there are various conversation topics that people have difficulty talking about, and this tag is for helping people cover the more difficult conversation topics. In addition it can also be used when seeking for help regarding starting a conversation, keeping it going or even bringing one to an end.

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How do I deal with people trying to convince me to wear makeup?

I don't wear makeup. I have worn it 3 times in my life, and the last time was a really light amount for my wedding 10 years ago. My reasons for not wearing makeup are varied and personal. The main reason is that I don't like the feeling of product…
user6818
181
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12 answers

How can I convey to my technologically inept parents that my IT job is mentally draining

To preface my question, I am an Irish 21 year old male currently on a college work placement. I work Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM as an RPA developer and Business Analyst. I commute by my car approximately 40 minutes each way so this…
Fitzy
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How do I answer the question "why are you vegan?" honestly, without making them resent me?

I am a vegan, only for ethical reasons. It is something I'm very willing to discuss. I have deliberated about it very carefully, for a long time, and have read papers and text books on the philosophy of ethics on my spare time in order to help me…
Bridgeburners
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How can I explain to people that a programmer isn't a computer technician?

In Italy, a lot of people keep thinking that programmers are computer technicians. A programmer does completely different things, and in a company, I'm not the guy who should assemble your computer or change pieces of it. Sometimes I felt it like a…
Marco Salerno
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How to get spouse to empathetically listen to problems instead of offering solutions?

My spouse and I have a recurring problem. I will try to talk about my day, which may include a tough problem that has been frustrating me. Before I've even had a chance to explain what is going on, he will offer solution, which may or may not solve…
Kat
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I'm 24 with a 4-year-old son. How to handle uncomfortable questions from people?

I'm 24 years old and I have a 4 year old son who was conceived by accident. I don't know about other countries but that's definitely not usual in mine (Spain). My son's mother and I broke up about three years ago but we get on well and are…
Ander Juaristi
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How to talk to a girl who's sitting next to me but wearing headphones?

Over the past couple of weeks, there's been this really cute girl who sits near me inside a coffee shop, which has a cozy, "productive" vibe to it -- everyone's doing work on their laptops. I want to start a conversation with this girl, but there's…
D.Hutchinson
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How to avoid explaining science to strangers

So, I was at a Barbeque the other day and a situation occurred that, well, I'm getting tired of. It happens almost every time I meet a new group of people. When you meet someone, eventually you come down to finding out what they do for a living. I'm…
ErosRising
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Meeting someone who used to bully me

When I was at school, I received quite a lot of verbal bullying. This waxed and waned over the years, and generally it was patchy enough that I could put up with it in the long term, even if in the short term I had some miserable days. But there was…
user2390246
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Refusing free goods as a blind person

As a severely visually impaired person, I use a white cane in the public and unfamiliar shops for identification purposes and as a mobility aid. I regularly encounter sellers at bakeries or fast food restaurants who would like to give me my entire,…
99
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8 answers

My best friend has become increasingly xenophobic towards Muslims. What do I do?

My best friend (let's call him Bob for potential answerers) whom I have been friends with since childhood (around 15 years) has become increasingly xenophobic recently. He's a great person and genuinely means no harm (also leans slightly to the left…
98
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How to talk to a one night stand about her potential breast lumps issues?

I'm Brazilian, 23, and I went on a date with a Tinder match yesterday afternoon. At some point things got more intense and as I was fondling her breasts I felt two big lumps on her left one. We've only talked for a week and that was our first date,…
96
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How to respond to someone when they ask how much you earn?

When I'm at social gatherings/parties, people would inquire about my job and, because I'm an app developer, they think I earn substantially more than I do. (Oh, the joy!) They then follow up asking about my job with something along the lines of…
94
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5 answers

How to help a male-presenting person shop for women's clothes?

I'm a new store manager for a women's clothing store and I have been receiving male-presenting customers that are looking for women's clothes for themselves. I want to give them the best, supportive environment I can. I want them to feel safe,…
Nicki Caravella
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How to address a double standard where my religious colleagues consider it OK to discuss religion, but then ask me not to?

I'm working in a small office of about ten employees, all of whom are religious apart from myself. Although I'm open about my atheism and write about it on my blog, I am careful not to discuss religion at work. That is, I will not bring up the…
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