I don’t like long-talkers. People who take a long time to explain something annoy me. After all, I’ve always though that the ability to say something profound, using few words, must be a sign of genius. Anyway, I will go to great lengths to avoid places where I know long-talkers are.
That’s king of ironic because you’re going to read this 500-word or so article about long-talkers, and I probably could have explained this in about 150 words.
Let me rephrase that. I don’t like talkers in general. I think people who are the most reticent are often the most interesting. It’s sort of like an artichoke. You have to work at it before you get to the core, which is the best part of the whole thing. I like to practice the “keep your eyes and ears open and your mouth shut” kind of thing. Maybe it’s the Italian in me, but I often get annoyed by tedious or trivial things. Maybe it’s just the human in me.
I like people who know my time is valuable and don’t want to waste too much of it. I’m not trying to be pretentious, but I’m a full-time student at a liberal arts college who also works on campus. In other words, I don’t have a lot of time to talk to you for an unnecessarily long time. As per usual, there are always people out there who want to make their problems yours and mine. The truth is, not a lot of people truly care about others’ problems; they’re just being polite. There is, however, something to be said (or just thought) about the people who truly care. I respect those people.
I guess what I’m saying is that I’m a bottom-line type of person. I want to know the easy facts and what needs to be known; otherwise, leave out the triviality please and thank you.
It’s not my intention to sound like a pompous person, but like I said, I’m busy. I actually really do care about a lot of people. None of us would be here if it weren’t for people – people who care, that is. Everybody has God-given potential – or something of the sort. Everyone should be able to live-up to that potential, but while you’re working on living up to that potential, try not to make it my problem.
In summary: Long talkers, people who feel the need to talk a lot, and people who feel the need to make their problem mine, annoy me. Also, those who are reticent are often the most interesting. I have great respect for those who are able to keep calm, stay sane and be generous to all at the same time.
Fran Leibowitz once said, “Think before you speak. Read before you think.” I couldn’t agree more.
Churchill, rather irreverently I might add, once said, “A good speech should be like a woman’s skirt: Long enough to cover the subject and short enough to create interest.” I also couldn’t agree more – not about the skirt thing – regarding the speech metaphor.
In other words, say what’s necessary and leave all else to the imagination.
