And speaking of fishbowls...
-bursts out laughing-
Stream just called me on Skype. He was telling me a little about how his work was going, and we'd started discussing a philosophical point of language. He'd put forward an interesting point of view. He often does this. I listen intently, quietly, with more of my attention than most people ever get, and think carefully about what he says. I usually do this, but especially so on Skype where his voice is quiet, and I have to listen closely to hear his words. I don't always say anything in response, because I often don't have anything to add, or I'm still considering the implications and assumptions of the complex idea he's thrown me. Or because I'm concentrating on listening. I thought he was used to this in me. But maybe not.
St: Toz. I'm going to go. Your attention is split, and I demand full attention.
Me: OK. (long pause)
St: Bye then.
Me: Bye. (medium pause, then call disconnects from his end)
He had my full attention (ok, maybe as much as anyone ever gets). I just hadn't said anything for maybe ten seconds. -shrug- But I wasn't fussed. Any sentence that includes the word "demand" is unlikely to create any response in me. And full attention? What-the-freak? He just so does not know me. So if he wanted to go, he could go. Up to him. I thought he might have been waiting for some other response, but I was listening to him too intently to give him more than the straight acknowledgement -grin-. It's ironic that his own behaviour / responses are themselves a limiting factor on my reactions to him, a kind of homeostasis that creates an opposing response to keep the system balanced. And I've been laughing about it since he hung up.
(See? Fishbowl.... :-P)
Stream just called me on Skype. He was telling me a little about how his work was going, and we'd started discussing a philosophical point of language. He'd put forward an interesting point of view. He often does this. I listen intently, quietly, with more of my attention than most people ever get, and think carefully about what he says. I usually do this, but especially so on Skype where his voice is quiet, and I have to listen closely to hear his words. I don't always say anything in response, because I often don't have anything to add, or I'm still considering the implications and assumptions of the complex idea he's thrown me. Or because I'm concentrating on listening. I thought he was used to this in me. But maybe not.
St: Toz. I'm going to go. Your attention is split, and I demand full attention.
Me: OK. (long pause)
St: Bye then.
Me: Bye. (medium pause, then call disconnects from his end)
He had my full attention (ok, maybe as much as anyone ever gets). I just hadn't said anything for maybe ten seconds. -shrug- But I wasn't fussed. Any sentence that includes the word "demand" is unlikely to create any response in me. And full attention? What-the-freak? He just so does not know me. So if he wanted to go, he could go. Up to him. I thought he might have been waiting for some other response, but I was listening to him too intently to give him more than the straight acknowledgement -grin-. It's ironic that his own behaviour / responses are themselves a limiting factor on my reactions to him, a kind of homeostasis that creates an opposing response to keep the system balanced. And I've been laughing about it since he hung up.
(See? Fishbowl.... :-P)