Do you prefer to engage in casual conversations...or serious ones?

Question

...and why?

Answer 1

If I were forced to choose I'd have to say serious, although by "serious" I don't mean "depressing, maudlin, life-sucking, gloomy" conversations about someone's "issues". That's not a conversation. That kind of thing is usually "someone talks/someone listens" or else "someone gives advice/someone listens".

I like conversations of substance on any topic. The reason I prefer that type of conversation is that is makes the people involved think, challenges them, and may offer each party new ideas to include in their own thinking and/or offers some new understanding about something/someone.

When I was a kid my girlfriends' mother had a little post-card up on something in her kitchen. It said, "Small minds talk about people. Average minds talk about things. Great minds talk about ideas." It has such impact on me I vowed then and there not to engage in the kind of petty talk about people that young girls often do. I kind of ignored the other two statements because they didn't seem to apply to me when I was ten years old.

Whether or not I have a "great" mind or not remains to be seen, but I have found that the most interesting and fun conversations are usually about ideas; and while I very much enjoy the casual conversation as well, I find that the conversation about ideas is the most rewarding. There's only such much to be said about the vacation in the Bahamas or the new drapes as far as I'm concerned, but there is usually no limit other than time constraints when it comes to conversations about ideas.

Answer 2

Serious ones. Not necessarily ones that are sad serious......but ones that are "in depth" serious. Casual conversations let me know that it is just a casual friendship. There are people I know who do not feel I'm capable of carrying on an intellectual conversation so they always keep it light and just discuss the weather or work. Interestingly enough........I tried to break out into a conversation of depth with these people and they always look at their watches and say, "Ohhh look at the time.....gotta go!" So maybe they aren't as deep as they would have me believe. *shrugs*

But the perfect conversation is the one that starts off casually. It moves to laughter. Laughter comes when you find a common ground superficially that allows you to feel comfortable and see things around you for the humor they give. But once the comfort and laughter come....it makes it feel natural to wade out into deeper waters. I enjoy this because you can see the true elements of one's personality come out. It doesn't mean that I have to always agree with their views. It doesn't mean I have to ethically follow them. It means I get to learn a bit more about who they are inside. I really do enjoy getting to know people from the inside out. I suppose that is why I enjoy this venue.

So of course the casual conversations keep us socially engaged. But the deeper, more serious ones help to define us. I'll take them any day!

Answer 3

Neither. Casual conversations are a total waste of time, and serious conversations suck because you always end up getting into an argument with the other person. I hate talking to people.

Answer 4

I really don't like small talk because it usually results from people feeling the need to say something without having anything to talk about. In such a situation, I think collecting my thoughts is much better use of my time and energy. On the other hand, I really do like in-depth, topic focused conversation. I think it is great mental exercise, an oppurtunity for learning and a window into the innner working of someone else's mind. I think the purpose of communication is transmission of knowledge and ideas. If that doesn't happen, the conversation is usually a waste of time.

Answer 5

Casual conversations.
Some people take serious conversations too serious. I don't like to take the chance of crying or getting angry, which comes with some serious conversations.

Answer 6

I like serious conversations the best. I don't know what to say really if it's a very casual conversation. you can only talk about the weather for so long.....

Answer 7

casual is cool, but I like serious ones when I am stoned. I remember more details that way,and it freaks some people out that a stoner knows what he's talking about.

Answer 8

casual.

most serious i've come across are uneducated, self indulgent, trite and dreadful.

so far. i tend to avoid serious conversations...

there's serious topic but i enjoy the serious topic as a casual conversation from casual people who aren't out to prove their intellectuality or who get angry about things they talk about.

Answer 9

Serious conversations exercise the mind.

Answer 10

Casual.

I have always preferred jeans to dresses.