text; un: taka

[retsuden]

[ There has been a great deal of things that Sasuke has learned about in the few weeks he's been here just from talking to new people. All of them have been extremely confusing concepts, like therapy and the idea that people take care of children when they don't have anyone else to take care of them.

Some of these conversations where he's learned things have ended in more questions than answers. He could ask for more clarification from the few he's already made contact with, but the more possible answers he can get, the better. He thinks.

He hopes.

This could be a mistake. ]

How would you suggest someone improve their communication skills?

If your go to response is "talk to people", spare me. I'm only interested in more thorough answers.

Comments

[hearthebell]

People aren't so different, that way. You can count on almost everyone to pursue pleasure and avoid pain, and emotions aren't an exception.

[retsuden]

I suppose that makes some sense. The highly emotional people around me always seem like their feelings come out of nowhere, but I probably just haven't tried to figure it out before.

[hearthebell]

It's possible to poorly manage emotions, or direct them places they were never supposed to go.

It's also possible to manipulate people with emotions.

[retsuden]

Isn't that often frowned upon?

[hearthebell]

And, yet, it's the first thing we learn to do as infants.

Feasibly, by adulthood, we could circumvent malicious attempts to play on our sympathies.

[retsuden]

Isn't manipulating people with emotions often malicious?

[ ... Or maybe it's just when you only surround yourself with villains... ]

[hearthebell]

It isn't always, and I don't think it's even "often."

That's one reason it can seem so subtle, as to go unnoticed when it does occur. But if an extreme emotion truly seems to come from nowhere, it's a very likely tell.

[retsuden]

I see. Maybe I just haven't been observing them closely enough to notice. I will attempt to do so in the future.

[hearthebell]

If you're worried for your safety at any point, it's best not to engage with these sorts.

[retsuden]

Safety isn't usually one of my main concerns.

[hearthebell]

Because you're powerful, or neglectful?

[retsuden]

Both, as I admittedly overestimate my abilities at times.

[hearthebell]

You strike me as someone fairly grounded in most regards. I suppose everyone inevitably possesses a blind spot.

[retsuden]

I've always seen it as best to be aware of our own weaknesses. It's harder for people to exploit them when we accept them for what they are.

[hearthebell]

So long as acceptance isn't synonymous with complacency, I'm inclined to agree.

[retsuden]

Only fools don't aim to change and grow stronger.

[hearthebell]

It sounds almost like you've met a few.

[retsuden]

It's a fairly popular trait where I'm from.

[hearthebell]

That makes it sound wholly intentional, and not merely an unfortunate quirk of a personality. That kind of shameless audacity is a little awe-inspiring.

[retsuden]

Mostly it was just highly annoying. Though maybe that just comes from having to deal with their attitude personally.

[hearthebell]

Nothing kills awe like the drudgery of familiarity.

Boredom is worse drudgery, though. I think I'd rather be annoyed... having not met them, or had that opportunity, of course.

[retsuden]

Boredom came with less headaches. Their inability to change obstructed my reaching my goals.

[ Which we can all agree after the matter was a REALLY GOOD THING. ]

[hearthebell]

Do you think that, generally, vague things are exciting or foreboding?

[retsuden]

Foreboding.

[hearthebell]

Some would have answered that question by insisting that both are possible simultaneously. You err on the side of caution in most matters, I'm sure.