Prometheus Group Activity
The Value of Conversation
We often label ourselves as either introverts or extroverts. For those who identify as introverts, avoiding unnecessary conversation can feel justifiable — after all, small talk doesn’t always align with our personality. But that belief overlooks an important truth:
- Respect requires communication. Everyone, regardless of personality type, shares the responsibility to engage in face-to-face conversation in ways that make others feel comfortable and valued.
- Avoiding conversation can be self-serving. Choosing not to develop this skill devalues the people you naturally encounter in daily life.
Some of the best conversations aren’t loud or flashy — they’re thoughtful, measured, and genuine.
- Good conversation isn’t performance. It’s not about being funny or entertaining.
- It’s a shared exchange. Conversation means giving and taking, listening and speaking, offering eye contact, and pausing thoughtfully.
- It’s about valuing others. Engaging sincerely communicates that another person’s thoughts are worth your time and attention — ensuring they don’t feel dismissed after sharing something meaningful.
For this reason, we’ll often take time in class for small group discussions.
- Use these moments intentionally.
- Practice listening well and responding with respect.
- Show through your words and demeanor that you recognize the value of every person in the conversation.
We tend to label ourselves as either introverts or extraverts, and we’re self-proclaimed introverts, excusing ourselves from unnecessary conversations seems justifiable. We say that because small talk doesn’t coincide with our personality, we aren’t obligated to do it.
However, this simply isn’t true. Everyone, out of respect for his fellow man, is responsible for learning to converse face-to-face in a way that makes the other person or people feel comfortable. Bowing out of developing the skill of talking is self-serving to be sure, and is also devaluing of people you encounter naturally just in the daily act of living.
Some of the most refreshing conversation is reserved, thoughtful, and measured, and learning to talk personably and respectfully doesn’t mean you should be loud, funny, and entertaining. Conversation isn’t a stage show with one performer and one observer. It’s giving and taking, listening and speaking, paying attention and giving someone the gift of your serious consideration, interested eye-contact, and deliberate pause. It’s considering another person worth your time and attention, and responding to that person so he isn’t left feeling shortchanged after offering an idea that he could just as well have kept to himself.
For that reason, we will often take time in class for small group discussions. Use this time deliberately to practice listening to one another and responding in a way that communicates respect and demonstrates an understanding of the value of another human being.
Form groups according to instructor directions.
Discuss the terms below and categorize them as either admirable qualities or shameful qualities. Determine as a group the criteria for your assessment of the terms. How do you know whether a behavior is praiseworthy or reprehensible?
Responses