Laura- I suspect that your friend has a small problem with 'small talk'. I admit it is something whose intricacies have often flown by me; mocking me as they go. There are several examples of self-help books on this topic. I'd just tell your friend to look through Borders, B&N or other local bookstore and find one - I usually look through them while sipping a cup of coffee. A few suggestions on evaluating credentials are all they'd need from you (usually listed on the back or inside jacket). He/she may just need a few skills on ending conversations- I find that most people get it if you say something more obvious like, "Yikes- look at the time"! or "Sorry- got to run". As to the second question- that's a puzzler for the poly-sci folks, imho. It is akin to the question of why so many people who dislike people decide to go into business- bad judgment is as good a reason as any I'm aware of. :) Tim
_________________________________________________ Timothy O. Shearon, PhD Albertson College of Idaho 2112 Cleveland Blvd. Caldwell, ID 83605 [EMAIL PROTECTED] teaching: History and systems; Intro to Neuropsychology; Child Development; Physiological Psychology; Psychology and Cinema -----Original Message----- From: Laura Valvatne [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, April 27, 2004 10:10 AM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences Subject: "He Talks Too Much" Hello Tipsters, A 60-year-old male who works for the U.S. Department of Agriculture sent me the following letter. I would appreciate any thoughts you have before I reply. "Would you be able to recommend to me some reading material about a couple of topics that I've pondered about for a long time, but haven't come up with any answers. Maybe even a class at the College that would enlighten me. 1- What is it about some folks, both at work and in my personal life, that just plain talk too much. They will even follow me to keep talking, its not lecturing type talk, its just talk about things. Often one topic just drifts in to another. Its usually about their life in some manner, about their kids or their experiences. Is there something I should be doing? Are they looking for some kind of feedback? What in the world causes such things? The folks that I'm referring to seem to have a pretty high view of themselves and their experiences. 2- What causes some folks to be so secretive about things? I realize that there is a view that knowledge is power, and some folks try to use even the simplest piece of information as a means of control, if they think that you might want that information. Why would someone expect an enterprise to be successful if they are at the head of the enterprise and insist upon being secretive about most things?" Thank you for your help, Laura Laura Valvatne, Ph.D. Psychology Shasta College 11555 Old Oregon Trail Redding, CA 96049 530-225-4954 [EMAIL PROTECTED] --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
