Cilantro wrote:
There's nothing people love more than talking about themselves, so ask questions or comment on what they've said and turn the topic to them.
Stargazer43 wrote:
As someone said, the best way to keep a conversation going is to ask a question. It depends on how well you know the person as to what you ask though. If it's a friend you don't know very well, ask about some aspect of their life you'd like to know more about. If it's someone you talk to daily, talk about things that have happened in your life since the last time you spoke, or ask about details of their life that may have happened since you last spoke. Topics in the news, or local events, also make great topics. Below are a few conversation jolter ideas...the topics aren't important but the general concept is:
"You're into rock music, right? Are you planning to see the ____ concert later this month?"
"I tried this really great restaurant last night, _____. Have you been there?"
"You're interested in basket-weaving too? I LOVE weaving! What style of weaves are your favorite??"
I do both of the things above and they seem to work very well. If it's someone I know well, I will often already know things about them such as:
- Their favorite interests
- Favorite activities
- Where they are working or going to school
- Family, relationships and pets.
- Things that we have in common (like mutual friends, mutual interests/actvities etc.)
If I don't know someone well or if I don't know any of these things, I ask about these things so that I will get some information about what to ask about in the future (so later on, I can say "How is school going?" or "How's your boyfriend doing?"). I focus on these aspects of the person once I know what they like to talk about.
Don't focus too much on yourself: give the other person a chance to share things. One thing many people with AS do is focus on themselves or what they like way too much and not consider that the other person has things to share too.
30 Nov 2013, 12:50 am
