Better a Witty Fool...

Than a foolish wit. Or so Shakespeare wrote. He also wrote a line for Polonius saying, "Since brevity is the soul of wit, I'll be brief." Unfortunately, that line drips with irony since Polonius is not brief. At all.

As my mind went over various conversations I've had in the last couple of days, as well as paying attention to the dialogue in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and a couple of Jane Austin movies I watched, I realized that the art of conversing (or as my previous students might say, "conversating") is on the decline. I've been preaching to my students to enhance their vocabulary to create better sentences, but what they're actually saying to each other isn't getting better. Yes, this country is getting duller - proved by conversation styles.

Case in point: I've got a great boyfriend, but I don't enjoy talking on the phone with him. We can hold quite good conversations in person, but not over the phone. On the other hand, I have a former friend with whom I could (and did) talk on the phone for hours. Our conversations were filled with random Shakespeare quotes, teasing, mocking, sarcasm, witty bon mots, epic descriptions, inside jokes, and thoughtful questions. Whatever I feel about that person now, I can look back fondly on our conversations. They were fun. They were enjoyable. They kept me on my seat and my wits sharp. I don't get a lot of that lately, but it could be because I teach high school and I'm in grad school so I don't spend a lot of quality time with my friends. Lately, however, I do with one of my cast members - I enjoy talking to him because it's like a game and we're both trying to be the winner. Conversations need to be more like that. My best friend is another fun conversationalist - challenging, sprightly, sly, and witty.

I'm listening to a conversation now - it's so bland! Conversations today seem to be more about gossip, and telling stories, rather than challenging each other with what they say.

I challenge you: eavesdrop. Eavesdrop often. Don't judge the content of the conversation, but judge the style.

And approach a conversation as you would a duel - with cunning, practice, and desire- and may the best person win.

Cheers!