Oh no.....something SERIOUS?

The art of genuine interest in other human beings.

There is a rampant plague among folks today. It seems to me that people are regressing so far into themselves that it is hard for them to take genuine interest in the life of another.
Personally, I have encountered people who are so deep in the quagmire of self absorbency that I can COUNT the times they have expressed interest in others.

Interest as defined here: a bona fide curiosity in the doings, and feelings of others, NOT rooted in your own endeavors. An NON- laissez faire approach to how others view things, how they react to things, what they like and dislike etc.

A conversation that goes as follows is NOT a conversation:
Person A- I once did this, and felt this.
Person B- Yea, I did that too and felt this
Person A- Mmm Hmm, when I did that, this happened.
Person B- I think that it did this.......Anyhooo.....I this and I that.

Do you see what is fundamentally wrong with this? There are no questions being asked, there is no legitimate persuit on the part of these folks to delve deeper into the other person. It's like hitting a ball against a wall.
Sometimes I can see (physically) when someone is developing selfish based apathy, and is mulling over what THEY will say next. Eyes glaze, body hunches....etc...


Now dont get me wrong, I am still friends with these folks, (unless it's just so out of hand that they become highly irritating and impossible to hang out with) There have only been a handful of times where I have lost it on someone for this. I value my friends to no end, despite shortcomings, because we all have them, large or small.


I HAVE noticed though, that Women, are alot more interested in the people around them, and are alot more observant.


I have three or four guy friends that are able to show interest and ask questions of others (and I am talking even RANDOM strangers)......one of them however I think is a REAALLLY good faker, in order to get laid (because if he didnt ACT interested, I dont think he'd get much tail if ya know what I mean.


I realize this is kind of a negatively toned blog, so lets switch it up and say.....It's FUN to find out what makes others tick......life is grand, and it's a wonderful feeling to actually absorb what other people think and feel. Try it sometime.

:)