Cheese or philosophy or football, or perhaps all mixed together.

Terminal illnesses and how people can cope better while caring for a loved one with a terminal illness.

That's one hell of a combination!

Oh, I forgot: did you watch the Brazil-Germany game?

Their private fears.

me.

SEX!!! Wouldn't it be great if you didn't have to log onto websites to talk freely with strangers about sex? No embarrassment every time you have a question. No alienation when you're the one with all the GOOD stories. Just a thought...

Nothing..I think people talk enough about just about everything.

ideas

chocolate bars filled with nougat and hazelnuts.

spirituality; love...real love, not just sex; conspriacy; energy; life.........

Ideas. Personal philosophies. Their beliefs. And how they fit it all together...

intellectual/philosophical/social stuff. Things about how people should behave, act, treat others, mistakes people make, or attitudes people have, how to better the world by having the right attitudes and caring about other people. I'm not talking gossip about particular people, I'm talking about problems with behavior and attitudes in general and how things could be better if people were more aware and thought more about their behavior, etc. Same with things like raising kids---what people do and don't do.. Whats the best way to deal with certain things and whatnot.

When they're hurting.

Absolutely nothing. Most people talk too much about something for which they have no knowlegdge.

Their feelings.

How wonderful I am, and how much money they would like to give me.

?

More things will probably come to me later, but right now I'll say possibly psychology stuff and maybe some controversial topix...

I wish people had anything to talk about at all. Seems like in my life I am one who is always doing the talking and I'm sick of it!

Krishna.

I'm always fond of metaphysical talk, but i get plenty of it already and appreciate the diversity.
Oh, cultural-economic-political revisionism.

Me!

Actually, no, I hate it when people talk about me...I don't know, I don't think there really is anything that I wosh people would talk of more.

There's adage that I forget the exact wording to, but it goes something like this:
the worst people talk about people
mediocre people talk about events
the best people talk about ideas

...of course, if you think about it, the person who wrote that is talking about people and is thus the worst kind of person.

I wish people talked more aboput the good aspects of a person's nature rather than concentrating on the bad ones.

Sometimes talking about when you're hurting isn't helped when you find out the hard way it can be used against you.

That's true But there's always someone to talk to that won't hurt you - you just have to find them.......

Intelligent things, such as;

Oooh! Hair color that lasts... uh, nail polish that doesn't chip! Self-cleaning dishes so we don't have to do them... hmmm, let me see, uh nails that don't break, yeah - I'd like that.... Who has the cutest butt in Hollywood (girls or guys) and who divorced who as well as who just gave birth to an alien!! That about covers it.

Now, for the rest of you; anything and everything except all of the kind of things mentioned above...

Yep! That's about right Oscar! Some questions are really dumb!!

I answered before checking who created the survey - funny, huh?
I can write anything here... she has me filtered anyway (so she said, after I came to your defense!).

I don't. I wish they'd shut up and think. chatter chatter chatter.

I loved it when you came to my defense.
I think you're cool!!!

Aw! Come to Mama! *hug*

(I can understand Spanish, it is similar to French and what she was writing to you was real nasty, so I did the same in your defense - but in French!)

yeah, and movies, and who got a boob job, and the latest office gossip...

Justice, fairness, laws, rules, norms.
The future, imaginative creative stuff, invention.

ideas and thoughts, you never here that. people only talk about it when they are sitting with someone at 4 am. People always act like robots to time and a schedule. I think its cool to hear what people think about. They would be a lot more interesting and not like everyone else. it sets yourself apart

I don't talk about my imaginative creative stuff enough, or inventive ideas. I talk about social norms waaaaaaaaay too much, though I'd love to hear other people talk about norms and laws without me feeling compelled to respond.

So, is this not a good time to make fun of your Buttons-phobia then?

The survey should be more about what you wish people didn't talk so much about!

I hate when you are talking about something intellegent, and a person's responds by relating what you are saying to something dumb, that you can't relate to. Example: You are talking about how teenagers want to get boob jobs when they aren't even done developing yet. Your position and intent is to talk about society and standards, and the state of youth, and how innocence is lost too early, that sort of thing. A person responds by (seriously) saying "Did you know Pat wants to get a breast reduction?" Now Pat, being a fully grown adult, has absolutely nothing to do with what you are talking about. I wish people wouldn't drop it down any, unless they are being silly/making a joke.

Sometimes people take the intellect of the conversation down a notch, by lacking the ability to understand from an intellegent perspective. You might be talking about real life and someone says "You mean like in (insert name of fiction movie here)" I'm talking about real life, not fabricated script. There's a difference.

So many times, my conversations with people come to a grinding halt because of the irrelevant stuff that comes out of them. yeeps.

Not really. I knocked a whole pot of them over today. Ick. I had to get my brother to pick them up for me!

Not everyone has a knack for speaking in abstract theory. Pat's breast reduction may be the only breast surgery they've 'witnessed'. You probably wouldnt't wouldn't have complained as much if someone compared an experience to a jungian archetype. Movies provide a common vocabulary. You can describe a person as psychopathic, the'll ask 'like Hanibal?', and you can reply 'No, more like the Joker.'. Sometimes movies like the matrix are all some of us have to illustrate our reality to others without getting into lengthy descriptions.
You make a good point. I'm merely suggesting that using common devices isn't necessarily dumming the conversation down. Besides, Pat's real life, not a theoretical fabricated script. Think globally, act locally. It could be their value system (or focus, word association, and interests), and not their intelligence that has swayed the conversation.

I kinda was able to translate online, but I couldn't get exactly what was said. I got a good enough idea of what both of you said though and I knew you were being nice

I hear ya...
Some people you just have to talk with...you can't avoid them. I swear, if another co-worker talks to me about some freakin' ailment of theirs, I'll scream!!

Yeah, to YOU but not to her!!

me!

OK, but I can't relate if I have never seen the movie before. Characters personalities can never be as developed as a real person. With real people, you can examine motives, personalities, tastes, etc. You can't do that with a character, because they are too limited in personality. They aren't real.

Not everyone has a knack for abstract theory, but I wish more did. It's uncomfortable to be speaking in 'generals' and someone comes up with a specific, tries to solve a dillemma in a specific that doesn't address anything else covered in the bigger picture. They say "give me an example" and I give an example that leaves out other possibilities. They answer to that example, leaving other things unaddressed.

As for Pat's breast reduction: I know she is real. What bothered me is that the conversation was about youth and influences and such. Pat, being a grown adult, really had nothing to do with the jist of the conversation. She was a sidetrack that threw off the whole conversation.

You didn't have to explain the Pat digression. I'm an abstract theorist too.
One thing that happens to me a lot in conversation is that we end up following a thread of digression from material i offered for a background understanding to the point I never get around to illustrating. I like SC because no one has a chance to cut me off and sway the conversation before I get around to my real topic.

same here. I like online conversations for that same reason. I have had that happen to me before. I offer background understanding material too, with the intent to lead into a specific point that never gets made. I've even had that happen with one sentence. I say one thing and when I pause, another person digresses and I never get to expand on my sentence.

Things they secretly enjoy but are too embarrassed to talk about/share with others.

Who is her Irene ?

spirituality

Change.
I wish people talked more about changing toward progression in all of: technology, space exploration, science (specifically of the mind and its capabilities), the experience of self and spirituality.
Maybe we'd pick up the pace if we opened discussion about these more. I'd like to see more advancement in each of these areas.
When I was little, I dreamed of a world where we "knew" that if huge groups of people held hands and thought of specific things together, they'd happen instantly.
I guess I brought that up as a representation. Then, it must have been the mental picture of the changes I would like to see in those things I listed.

I heard that happening yesterday on the phone a number of times (the digression I was sometimes leading you into and farther away from your original point).
I usually try to stay "considerate" to a conversation though - I sometimes interject with questions too often because a recent tube taught me that I need to stop playing all-intelligent...that if I say, "and what is dosimetry?" or "who's Alice Bailey?" I tend to learn more.
So, I have to say, some of the trailing off you two experience should be classified as unintentional, innocent, and ignorance-driven by the 'innocent' party.
Hm. Does that bring things closer to Joalis's original frustration: "dumming the conversation down"? Or...no? I dunno. (haha)

(I'm butting in a bit, but you might be interested in the above. I was liking the conversation between you and Kristal.)

I have sometimes (not always) viewed the trailing off as a deliberate attempt by the other person to not have to think deeply. Some people say outright "this is too deep for me" or "this is beyond me" and I totally completely respect that. The conversation ends, but only because of sincere honesty on the part of the other person, and not because of a failed attempt to keep it going with a simpler train of thought. Hey- there's nothing, I mean ABSOLUTELY nothing wrong with asking questions. I like that too. I guess I grew frustrated with movie questions, because I heard them so often, it was noticable. "You mean like in..." "You mean like when (fictional character I never heard of) did such-n-such?" Ummmmmmm I never saw that movie. If I ask them to describe the character, it would more likely take the conversation off track than to bring the other person closer to what I mean.

Science, technology and the future... People's ideas... yay!

I forget a lot of my ideas before writing them down. dagnabbit.

So, let's all hold hands and think of cheesecake. Please?

Today I spent 3 hours working on a card game. a heroes and villians type of thing. Now I kinda want to put it on hold and make a futuristic invention card game. Ideas. It would be open ended. no winning or losing. I think I'll have to write a list of categories. Anyone want to help me compile one? Medicine, technology, environmental science. um...

I'm impressed by how many people came up with "ideas". Pretty darn cool!
List: Psychology, careers of the 23d century, institutions, aerospace, nuclear fission, magnetic fields, celestial bodies, somebody stop me.

Who are you referring to? Are you with people helping you come up with stuff?
Yay I found a name for my heroes card game, that's not been used yet. "The Pretty Patrol" It's not a perfect name, but it's a kid's game, where all the heroes are girls. so it fits.

As for the Ideas one: I'm not far on that at all. I have a list of categories that's not complete yet. I haven't got any kind of structure to it. Hmmm... It's late. I'm tired. I feel like I'm in the talk to yourself survey.

OHHHHHHHH never mind. I know what you mean... how many people said "ideas" in response to the survey.

I must remember to look at the big picture... i must remember to look at the big picture.... i must remember to look at the big picture....

I could discern plenty of junctures where you chose to listen. It's become a bit easier for me to make that choice. The important information usually comes from a higher plane. When I'm on that plane, I listen, otherwise I mostly talk except as necessary to enjoy myself or bond with others in an understanding of their psyche.

Which are the most interesting and the most boring past lives you've had?

The most intense life I've ever experienced in meditation was that of christ. I don't claim that as a prior incarnation of mine though. I'll list all the incarnations I recall: Last life was Amy, a short lived lonely backwoods alabama wife fond of elvis. A socialite flapper. A military officer / factory designer. An east european travelling rabbi type / wood carver. and a castle engineer. I don't know much about any of them, and since my current life has aspects of all of those, I'd have to say this is the best yet. The rabbi and backwoods gal had the loneliest lives. I suppose one of those army engineers was most interesting. I identify with some of leonardo da vinci, max heindl, and joan of arc but i have other theories on partaking of past lives besides actual reincarnation. I only have the vaguest remaining impressions of these lives. Amy is the only one I really remember the personality experience of.
wonder what else you're going to ask in this mood of yours.

I was going to ask something about how paranoid anteaters were on your lowest plane...but has my overwhelming urge to tease you annoyed you?

not as much as it entertained me. wonder what brought it on though.
To part paths here, I almost married a gal who's sister was dylan's secretary for a decade. My friend had a $5000 wedding kimono (her prized possession) that once belonged to dylan. They locked her in a cage with a with a rottweiler once with the explanation that it was some sort of test. It doesn't surprise me, knowing his lyrics. I liked some of us his stuff, but I'd be quite leary of making any sort of hero out of him. I had a housemate once who was sold on dylan being a near deity. Back in the late 80'she was playing the latest album, drinking jack daniels, and asking me if I understood the lyrics. The album would replay, and he1d ask me the same questions, then the album would replay and he'd ask me the same questions. I went to bed, ignoring what sounded like the risk of furnishings fallinsg from the wall, and in the morning discovered that people can vomit black. I put a locking switch on the turntable portion of my stereo to discourage drunks from using my records. He disappeared the day rent was due. That 'age of enlightenment' had many dark forces too; folks like the doors and pink floyd were a departure from mediocrity, but not into the light. Who am I to talk though. I was a punk rocker back in high school. At least I knew what songs not to take seriously. Now, I don't really want to even listen to music I can't take seriously.
On my lowest plane, the anteaters have neuroses about deadly poison ants, and contemplate being screwed on the feed chain.

Aren't they neurotic that Dylan may release another "Planet Waves" sometime?

I don't think my anteaters are familiar with dylan yet, but i could teach them. I'd rather they be familiar with Morrisons wavelength though. Someday they will preside over galaxies, but I haven't even got them grokking Seuss yet.

POLICE

Well, start us out then. It's no specialty of mine, so you have the floor.

*folds hands, bounces in seat a bit, then settles, thinks "police" ok*

The eager throngs gather round the podium? I'm suspecting a no-show. dang, i wanted to keep half a ticket stub as a souvenir.

I'd rather talk about self-appointed rule/norm enforcers. They are more interesting, because they have no jurisdiction or authority, just oblivious self-righteousness.

Relationships. Relating to God, each other, people of different cultures, friends, family, and so on.

Happy things - not disasterous things

sex

butter as a lubricant

fear

fish

sex

Politics and religion.

Honesty is such a lonely word

Honesty is communication, which never gets lonelier than a mirror. I find, on planes still populated by individuals, where telepathy is almost the norm, that nothing but pure honesty is a refreshing heart warmer.