To Me. To You.

It seems to be, that all you see, is violence in movies & sex on TV... Where are those good old fashioned values, in which we used to rely...? Lucky there's a judgmental bastard like me to put you right!

The art of conversation is a simple and effective affair, shareable by all speaking mammals. In the beginning, our vocal chords were fine-tuned for delivering the exact information we wished to convey, such as; "Help, I'm being eaten!" or "Let's go hunting over there today...". As we've developed, so has our language and the way we use it. More so than ever we share what I like to call "non-vital information", otherwise explainable as "things we don't actually need to talk about". Here is a valuable list of conversational do's that I hope will help comfort you through these spontaneous bouts of chuntering.

1. A conversation is not a competition. DO remember to be open-minded and considerate of other people's perspectives. There is no way of "winning".
2. The information you're hearing could be just as important as the information you're sharing. DO remember to listen effectively and act accordingly. Assumptions make for a bad time.
3. The speed at which you process information is much slower than the speed at which you talk. DO remember to slow down to give your partner the optimum experience. Understanding is vital.
4. A conversation is served best at room temperature, face-to-face. DO remember that text messaging and phone calls are a cheap alternative to the real thing. Body language counts for over 70% of all conversational interpretation.
5. A conversation is a two-way street. DO remember to wait your turn. There's nothing worse than trampling on someone's point, even if you do think that what you have to say is more important.

Using these 5 simple rules will not only help you to become more adept at holding a conversation but will also make you a more enjoyable person to converse with. Be aware that not every person you come into contact with will have foreknowledge of these facts and may well require a small strike to the throat. Alternatively, send them here to learn what it is that's annoying you most. Sharing is caring...