JoshuaZ comments on Mitigating Social Awkwardness - Less Wrong

27 Post author: Cayenne 01 May 2011 12:54AM

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Comment author: JoshuaZ 01 May 2011 05:05:37AM 1 point [-]

Note that sometimes people don't reply when they have heard someone not because they think the comment is valueless but simply because they don't have any immediate, obviously relevant reply to make.

Comment author: Alicorn 01 May 2011 06:09:27AM 1 point [-]

I would hope that people who don't reply for this reason would at least look at me and purse their lips or go "hm" or shrug or something.

Comment author: Raemon 01 May 2011 06:24:42AM 1 point [-]

I've had a similar problem talking on the phone with friends. Many of my friends prefer to remain completely quiet unless they actually have something to say. I prefer an occasional "yeah, uh huh" just to make sure that the person is still listening or that the call hasn't been dropped." After talking for a few minutes without an audible response, I sometimes say "hey, would you mind grunting on occasion so I know the call hasn't been dropped?"

I don't know if it's socially optimal but it seems to work. (I only do this with friends who reasonably "get" me. I probably wouldn't recommend it with people you're not that close with)