Listen or Talk?

[Dee]

Some of us listen to the words people are saying and observe, trying to figure out what the other person is saying, and some of us talk without really listening or taking into consideration the words.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

Lots of people are so self centered that they only care about and want to talk about themselves. Im happy to listen to and engage them. That way I don't have to talk about myself. I'm a private person and I get uncomfortable sharing too much about myself.

 

[Dee]

Lots of people are so self centered that they only care about and want to talk about themselves. Im happy to listen to and engage them. That way I don't have to talk about myself. I'm a private person and I get uncomfortable sharing too much about myself.

I'm kind of the same way. I am not the kind of person to want to talk much unless spoken to, although I have to come out of my shell for work quite a bit. I am much less shy than I was when I was younger, but I am still a very private person who is more of an observer than a talker. I would prefer to listen and think before responding, and that's what I tend to do.

 

[CommanderMadi]

I used to talk a lot without paying attention to what others said. But now its the reverse. I am an all-ears person. I like a lot to listen carefully to people especially those in trouble or in need of advice so I can better help.

 

[~KAGE-008]

Lots of people are so self centered that they only care about and want to talk about themselves. Im happy to listen to and engage them. That way I don't have to talk about myself. I'm a private person and I get uncomfortable sharing too much about myself.

I was going to say this thing.

 

[Bluezone777]

I do a bit of both though I am much more of a listener then a talker as listening comes much more easily to me then talking does. It's just important as to how to do both and how to keep them both in their proper place. Listening is how you learn and talking is how others can learn. Some put too much emphasis on talking which means they learn nothing and therefore have nothing worthwhile to teach as someone who listens too much never shares what they learned and devalues their wisdom simply by never sharing it with others.

 

[DrLeftover]

"I am rather inclined to silence, and whether that be wise or not, it is at least more unusual nowadays to find a man who can hold his tongue than to find one who cannot."

-Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865)


Although, I really do not enjoy listening to other people's mindless chatter either. I've had plenty of it. And, not long ago, I upset a friend of mine when, after a day of listening to him blather on about everything meaningless in the universe I posted this:

"Abandoning idle chatter, he abstains from idle chatter. He speaks in season, speaks what is factual, what is in accordance with the goal, the Dhamma, and the Vinaya (Doctrine and Discipline). He speaks words worth treasuring, seasonable, reasonable, circumscribed, and connected with the goal. 'This is how one is made pure in four ways by verbal action.'"

-the Anguttara Nikaya, Chinese Buddhism
X 176

 

[Crys]

I listen. I've encountered some people that only seem to want to talk about themselves to the point I don't even bother saying anything about myself.

 

[passenger]

Predominately listener; not a good chit-chatter. IRL, I guess I'm pretty quiet.