Social Butterflies Share Their Quickest Ways To Stop Awkward Silences

Social Butterflies Share Their Quickest Ways To Stop Awkward Silences

Social Butterflies Share Their Quickest Ways To Stop Awkward Silences

[rebelmouse-image 18360172 is_animated_gif= dam=1 expand=1]

Some say silence is golden. Any parent of a young child will tell you silence usually means something is terribly wrong and you're about to spend 45 minutes cleaning it or at least $125 fixing it. The terminally she among us will tell you silence is so. incredibly. awkward.

Much awkward. Very cringe. So you guys can imagine our faces when we stumbled across this magical gem of a reddit thread:

What is your go-to question to kill awkward silence?

Yes, social butterflies! Teach us your fluttery ways! Turns out those social butterflies among us are just as weird as the rest of us, they're just more willing to share the weird aloud. Need proof? Check out the responses they came up with!

If You're Ever In Myanmar

[rebelmouse-image 18360175 is_animated_gif= dam=1 expand=1]

Soooo... think we'll go metric?

(DISCLAIMER: this really only works in the US, Myanmar, and Liberia)

... And To Scorpions, Lobsters Are Mermaids...

[rebelmouse-image 18360176 is_animated_gif= dam=1 expand=1]

I think it was an old shower though but "Do you ever wonder if crabs think fish are flying?"

It ENDS?!?

[rebelmouse-image 18360163 is_animated_gif= dam=1 expand=1]

"When does Ford Truck Month end"

It's Always Something

[rebelmouse-image 18360177 is_animated_gif= dam=1 expand=1]

Have you heard about Pluto?

Great, Now We Want BBQ

[rebelmouse-image 18350808 is_animated_gif= dam=1 expand=1]

"Are you familiar with Murphy's Law?"

"Yeah" or "No"

"It states that whatever can go wrong, will go wrong. Are you familiar with Cole's Law?"

"No...?"

"It's thinly chopped cabbage."

Thankfully Someone Actually Answered This One On Reddit

[rebelmouse-image 18360178 is_animated_gif= dam=1 expand=1]

Do you think you could taxidermy a jellyfish?

Actually This Is Brilliant

[rebelmouse-image 18360179 is_animated_gif= dam=1 expand=1]

"What's the worst movie (or book) you've seen/read?"

Everybody likes gushing about their favorites, but it's even MORE fun to bash something you really hate! Plus, their reasons for hating it are so diverse, as opposed to why someone loves something, which are more or less the same. Kinda like the first line in Anna Karenina: Happy families are all alike, but every unhappy family is unhappy in their own way.

What's Up, Doc?

[rebelmouse-image 18360180 is_animated_gif= dam=1 expand=1]

"Did you ever find Bugs Bunny attractive when he dressed up like a girl bunny?"

Awkward, Uh, Finds A Way

[rebelmouse-image 18360182 is_animated_gif= dam=1 expand=1]

I'm a phlebotomist for a plasma donation center. I always ask how donors' weekends went. One day I asked a young girl and she said, "terrible". Out of habit I accidentally asked why, and she told me that she had caught her boyfriend of 5 years was cheating on her on their anniversary. I didn't know what to say so after what felt like a minute I asked, "so have you seen the new Jurassic Park"? Ever since then that had been my go to.

Edit: she had not seen it.

T.E.D. Talk

[rebelmouse-image 18360183 is_animated_gif= dam=1 expand=1]

I usually run through popular AskReddit questions. My go-to is "If you had to give a TED talk in 5 minutes what topic would you pick and why?" Usually brings out a topic they are passionate about and easy to keep conversation going

Save The Tacos!

[rebelmouse-image 18360184 is_animated_gif= dam=1 expand=1]

If you had [random around of money] and had to spend every single penny by tomorrow, what would you buy?

*The best part of this one was that someone responded with the evilest thing we can think of: *

I would buy all the taco shells at Taco Bell and then stand there listening to customers freak out about Taco Bell not having any taco shells

To The Winchester, Obviously

[rebelmouse-image 18360185 is_animated_gif= dam=1 expand=1]

If zombies attacked right now what's our plan?

Oh, The Drama

[rebelmouse-image 18360186 is_animated_gif= dam=1 expand=1]

In high school drama class a buddy forgot his line and replied awkwardly with, How about them Jays? Has been go to question ever since

If They're Not Indiana Jones Fans, This Is Just Going To Increase The Awkward

[rebelmouse-image 18360187 is_animated_gif= dam=1 expand=1]

I start chanting "kali ma shakti de!" While I slowly make a gripping motion with my hand moving closer to their chest where their heart would be.

A Super Conversation Starter

[rebelmouse-image 18360188 is_animated_gif= dam=1 expand=1]

My go to question has always been "Who's your favorite super hero?" I get all kinds of answers, and people tend to respond fairly well with it. So one day I get a new manager in my building. Guy is pure business. I hadn't had much interaction with him but I had heard he was a real hard ass from the get go. A couple days later I get on an elevator and he's in there. We say a few things back and forth when I do it without realizing. I had gotten comfortable with the conversation and I asked him before I could stop myself. Dude gets the biggest grin on his face before saying "I gotta go with my man, The Dark Knight!"

Whenever someone says their hero I ask how they feel about one of the DC/Marvel counterparts. So I ask how he feels about Iron Man. He tells me that iron man is ok, but he has always been a DC fan. I tell him that's cool and leave it at that. Next day, he finds me in my office and starts showing me pictures on his phone of his batman collection. Comics, movies, action figures, statutes, posters, a couple of lunch boxes, a model car. All kinds of shit. Dude f*cking LOVES batman. Turns into one of the best work friendships I ever had. We talked about comics and whatever new movies were coming out on a near daily basis. Eventually he left, and I haven't heard from him in a couple years, but I know he's out there. Somewhere. Fighting evil. And paperwork. And probably scaring people with how intense he is, because they don't know how his face lights up when he talks about Batman. My girlfriend would probably be jealous of our friendship.

On or In?

[rebelmouse-image 18360189 is_animated_gif= dam=1 expand=1]

If one were to remove the cushions where people? sit on a couch, proceed to lay on the cushionless couch, and finally put the cushions over themselves; would they be IN the couch? A lot of people say that they are still ON the couch - which is bullsh*t when you look at the low amount of effort it takes to be "in" bed.

Thanks, Chandler

[rebelmouse-image 18360190 is_animated_gif= dam=1 expand=1]

I think Chandler Bing had the best.

" So... Ebola... That's gotta suck eh?"

Silence Is Normal

[rebelmouse-image 18349790 is_animated_gif= dam=1 expand=1]

Okay, my job and personal life VERY often put me in "awkward silence" situations. Not to mention I hate small talk and avoid it whenever possible.

Here's my approach.

First, two things:

1. Silence is normal and usually goes unnoticed.

2. Truly connecting with someone requires some vulnerability and curiosity.

For me, silence becomes awkward if there is some pressure or expectation for what the conversation SHOULD be. Maybe it's a first date and I want to connect with the dude or maybe I'm grabbing lunch with my boss and I want to have a good rapport with her.

So when I realize I'm feeling anxious, I take a deep, relaxing breath and exhale all the tension out (yeah, right in front of them!). Taking a deep breath helps calm my nerves. I also remind myself that silence is normal and it's not my job to carry the conversation.

I've noticed that by relaxing my nerves, I can help shift my own energy and hopefully signal to the other person that they should also feel at ease...

Once I relax and feel less pressure, conversation can come more naturally.

I might make a basic observation or ask a basic question ("so how long have you lived here") and listen carefully to the answer. Human beings are fascinating and complex. If you pay attention and care about what someone has to say, you are one step closer to genuinely connecting with them. Less small talk, more real talk. Be curious about who they are and what it's like to live life through their eyes.

Sometimes, the silence might give your companion an opportunity to speak up. Some folks need time to process and open up and, for them, a bit of silence is very welcome. Again, you aren't the only person in the conversation.

I'm an impatient and impulsive person who cares a lot about harmony. So I recognize that my discomfort with silence is my own weird thing. I try to take it as an opportunity to practice patience and listening.

Poop Wars

[rebelmouse-image 18360191 is_animated_gif= dam=1 expand=1]

"After taking a dump, do you wipe standing up or sitting down?"

This has caused large debate among friend groups and most can't believe some do it any way but theirs...

Then Again... Maybe Don't Ask Anything.

[rebelmouse-image 18360192 is_animated_gif= dam=1 expand=1]

Why would I want to kill something as precious as silence.

H/T: Reddit

Teacher standing in front of a classroom
Photo by Taylor Flowe on Unsplash

It's a teacher's job to leave a lasting impression and set a good example for their students.

With this in mind, particularly in this age of viral videos and social media, teachers have to be very careful of what they say during class hours.

Even so, there are very few teachers who haven't said something they've regretted when teaching a class.

Sometimes to control unruly students, other times when they've simply had enough.

Then too, sometimes teachers leave their students baffled and perplexed by what they say in their classroom, well aware of what they were saying.

Always making for a memorable story.

Keep reading...Show less
woman in white crew neck t-shirt sitting on gray sofa
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

As a kid, I never raised alarm bells even when I started to feel sick. My mom got stressed easily and was busy taking care of my younger brother, so I never wanted to be a burden by making her take me to the doctor only to find out nothing was wrong.

However, in fifth grade, my ears started to hurt and I knew something was wrong. I told my mom, she took me to the doctor, and I found out I had an ear infection.

Now, an ear infection isn't serious at all, and it was easily treatable. Still, I learned something from that experience: no one knows your body better than you. You know if and when you're sick and how serious it is, even if you don't now exactly what is wrong.

Redditors can corroborate this. Many of them have experienced symptoms that told them they were sick in some way -- usually with a very serious illness -- and are ready to share those experiences.

Keep reading...Show less
A couple holds hands on a date, candlelit table and two glasses of red wine
Photo by René Ranisch on Unsplash

When in the beginning stages of dating, it's important to know as much as humanly possible.

The element of surprise is no longer a fun aspect of romance.

Ask the small questions. Ask the hard questions.

Interrogate. Grill. Investigate.

Of course, you should do it with a subtle hand instead of an interrogation lamp.

The truth is all we have.

Ask everything.

Keep reading...Show less
Woman letting go of boyfriend's hand
Photo by Everton Vila on Unsplash

As much as we always hop for our dating efforts to be worth it and for every relationship to work out, we all know that some relationships are not destined to work out.

But sometimes relationships end for totally valid reasons, and sometimes the reasons are painful, if not devastating.

Keep reading...Show less