Listening

Listening has become one of the endangered species. I truly believe that listening is dying off. It was once found on every continent of the world, but now, it's only only a few islands of society.

Terrorists blow up people because they can't listen and understand another's perspective. Or maybe, they think no one is listening to them and this is their way of turning up the volume. But that only makes people deaf.

There are some people that attempt to listen but they don't understand the words (although they may speak the same language), and so go their own way without any understanding.

Some people only like to talk. They are not "into listening" to what others have to say. Because mostly they don't care.

The most interesting interchange I've ever witnessed was when someone cut the other person off in mid-sentence. They assumed they knew where the other was going but they took the subject on another tangent. The person wasn't patient enough to wait it out and fully understand the subject. Meanwhile the first person got upset and tried the wrestle the conversation back in their direction. It reminds me of two basketball players yanking the ball away from each other.

Some people just like to argue, so already their listening skills have atrophied. I mean, how could anyone claim to have any listening skills if their objective is to take an opposing view?

Others don't know how to listen. When they see a gap in the conversation, they barge in and take over and take it in their direction. They are like a driver that sees a gap in the traffic and rushes in to take the spot. They are scared of the dark and must have the spotlight centered on them. But a spotlight on an empty soul, still shows emptiness.

I don't claim to be a great listener. Sometimes the subject IS boring and, if I look around, and EVERYONE is bored, I'll jump in and "save the day" with a more lively subject.

Maybe we ought to do what is done when there is a shortage of gas. Odd numbered license plates fill up on odd numbered days, even on even.

Yeah, all those with an odd number of letters in their name can speak on odd numbered days. The others HAVE to listen.

We'll make bumper stickers that say: "Save the words."

I think I might be on to something here.

...dave
A wise old owl sat in an oak, The more he heard, the less he spoke;
The less he spoke, the more he heard; Why aren't we all like that wise old bird?