Lost Arts

Conversations.  Looking people in the eye.  Intentional commentary.  Purposeful thought.  Responses that display an active ear.  Listening.   Have we lost the art of being a conversationalist? 

I would argue many have.  I recently went to an event to welcome a new President to a large, public sector organization.  Fanfare.  Snacks and wine.  The President working the room.  Went well.  Meaningful conversations.  Listened.  Mutual interests shared.  Well-wishes expressed.  I went to another more recently.  Hello and a quick exit to something else.  No eye contact.  Odd comments.  No depth of conversation.  I also think people are not as well-versed in a variety of subjects.  Do Democrats only know what is in the New York Times?  GOP’ers and the WSJ?   Younger folks - do they know the classics (by that I mean the Stones).   What about movies, books, sports, culture, and not just the Netflix binge?  History?  Civics? Local affairs?