OPINIONS

My friend Daniel met a guy named Chuck at a party, and began a conversation about their mutual admiration of a Picasso painting hanging on the host’s wall. They discussed this painting for a moment, then moved to the Wyeth painting hanging nearby.

Daniel said, “You know, I understand that Wyeth is one of the most popular artists of his time.”

Chuck nodded, then said, “I heard that a new Picasso drawing has surfaced recently, and it’s expected to bring over a million dollars at auction.”

Daniel nodded acknowledgment, then drew Chuck’s attention to the Matisse over the fireplace. “He was really good, wasn’t he? You know, Matisse was a draftsman, a print maker, and a sculptor, but he’s known primarily as a painter. His paintings average several million dollars now.”

Chuck nodded. “I suppose. But did you know that Picasso used several different models for his paintings?”

Daniel said, “You’re right. And speaking of models, have you seen the latest Victoria’s Secret show? There were several gorgeous models in it this year.”

Chuck shook his head. “No,” he said, turning back to the Picasso. “You know, Picasso was Spanish, not Mexican, as many people believe.”

Daniel frowned, and said, “Right. So, what do you think about the accusations of spying that Mexico’s president is bringing against the U.S.?”

Chuck shrugged, then pointed back at the Picasso and said, “Picasso introduced Cubism to modern art.”

Daniel smiled, nodded his head and walked away.

Isn’t it true that the most interesting people to talk with are those who have more than just one or two opinions? Even talking with someone who has a great sense of humor, or a large number of acquaintances, can’t compare with holding a conversation with someone who has done his homework on a bunch of different topics.

For instance, a man who has studied the statistics of football games and players may know everything there is to know, and have many interesting opinions, about football but, when the talk turns to politics or music, that man often has little to add to the conversation. Whereas, someone who considers himself a liberal, enjoys reading great literature, knows all the latest rock songs and their singers, has traveled some and knows a little about each country he’s visited, will be the much more enjoyable conversationalist.

Dan enjoyed conversing with Chuck at first, but soon learned that the man had little in the way of interesting opinions. So he moved on to Jen and Marc who, besides the fact that they disliked Picasso, knew quite a bit about the great Impressionist painters and made for a fascinating hour’s chat.

If you’d like to know how to be a good conversationalist, one of the best ways is to ask questions. “What is your country of origin,” might open a conversation with a person with an accent. Or, “Do you have a favorite music star,” can open the door to chatting about music. You might ask more personal things, depending on how much time you have. Questions such as “Do you play any sports?” or “What is your favorite sports team?” can open the way to a masculine line of discussion.

You might want a more general line such as “What do you like to do in your spare time?” or “What is your favorite fast food restaurant?” Maybe “What do you usually eat for breakfast?” or “Do you like to cook?” can be interesting topics.

Possibly something a little more specific might be preferable, such as “If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?” “Where was the last place you traveled to?” or “If you had the chance to start any business, what would it be?” Any of these might lead into some very interesting discussions.

For a little more fun, maybe ask “Would you rather go a week without your phone or a week without your toothbrush?” or “If you could send a message to the whole world, what would it be?” Another possibility: “If you had to pick a new name for yourself, what name would you pick?” “What is one weird thing about you?” or “Why did your parents give you the name ______?”

Another way to approach an interesting discussion is to share something about yourself. “I’m the third of 22 children,” might lead to a talk about parenting, or about sibling rivalry. “My father climbed Mount Kilimanjaro when he was only 12,” or “I’ve just spent two weeks in a sleep factory,” could open the way to getting to know one another. You never really know where an interesting conversation might lead you.