I've found that the thing about conversations is that the more you know the person you're talking to, the more interesting the conversation is. As another general rule the more you know them, the less you need to say. Does that mean that conversations are more interesting the less that is said? No, that's probably a false correlation. What I do think we can draw from that is that non-verbal conversations can be as good, if not better, then conventional speaking. Two friends separated in a classroom will happily communicate without any form of speech, using only facial expressions and gestures to get their point across - and often successfully.
Unfortunately many people do not, in my opinion, appreciate the value of silence between friends, where to some there may seem to be an awkward absence of conversation. But even in those moments, thoughts are being conveyed, received and responded to. Isn't that in essence a conversation? Does it need words? No, I believe not. Most of what people say when not with an extremely close friend is skirting around touchy subjects in order to adhere to social niceties in any case - maybe 90% of the thoughts remain silent, within the thinkers consciousness but only expressed through subtle body language.
How many times have you guessed what someone was thinking or feeling purely from their body language? I believe that it too is a form of conversation - indeed for many animals that is the only form of communication that they have. The more disengaged from a person you are, the harder it is to discern anything other then what the sender wants, and allows them-self, to send. There is a closeness in face to face conversation that cannot be gained from any other form of communication, and should be valued, more then I think it currently is.
RB
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