Member-only story
Nobody Hears; Nobody Listens Anyway
The most sought after people in the party say the same things to everybody
I wonder where all the words end up that are said but neither listened to nor heard by the individuals to whom they are directed.
Many more than are heard, I’ll bet.
Mother, a very social woman: head of the PTA, Planned Parenthood, president of the Monmouth University Library Association, cub scout den mother and eventually troop leader, president of the Crescent Beach Association, suffice it to say: if public relations and popularity were to be reflected in educational honors , my mother would have earned a PhD.
Ironically, mother the PhD in public lionization would give me communication hints that seem counterintuitive to the way she appeared to conduct her own conversational life.
“In every social situation, think of something complimentary to say and say it to everybody. Just one thing. the same thing to everybody. That’s just in case on the outside chance they might hear what you’re saying. You don’t want to hurt anyone’s tender sensibilities. Chances are they aren’t listening to you anyway.” she said with wisdom honed on experience; valuable adult finishing school information, not taught in any classroom anywhere.
