Conversation has very little to do with intelligence.
Attend any family function or social gathering and you will notice that most "conversations" are all about people waiting impatiently for their turn to talk. Thus:
Joe: " ... her eyes were the window into her soul."
Betty: "I'm thinking of purchasing new windows for the kitchen."
Bill: "I know someone who named his cat, Kitchen. No, wait, it was Ketchup ... "
Nearly all conversation is as mindless as a bird-mating ritual. You don't need to pass an intelligence test to join in, and it might help if you've actually flunked a few.
But, like any mindless ritual, timing is everything. Before you jump in with something as brilliant such as, "Speaking of nuclear fall-out, I found a great dandruff shampoo," make sure you have adjusted to the rhythm and flow of what can be a very subtle and intricate group mambo. You need to get in and out fast. Slow down the tempo by so much as a nanosecond, and suddenly you are the focus of unwanted attention. Do this one too many times and next thing you're the crazy aunt or uncle in the family.
Eventually, you will have to master the ritual, and that will take practice. But sitting out the conversation, on occasion, is not such a bad idea. The trick is to do it in a way that doesn't draw unwanted attention to yourself, where others see you as perfectly at ease. Smile graciously on cue, nod your head on cue. Say thank you when someone hands you some finger food. Enjoy the finger food.
Relax. You're obviously smarter than everyone in the room and on the patio. The trick is not to show it.
Good talking is all about good listening.People love to hear themselves talk. Essentially, they get a buzz out of breathing loudly with their lips moving. Your role is to facilitate their needs. Once you've realized that no one really cares about you, your life is easy. All you have to do is keep the conversation focussed on the other individual. Thus:
If someone happens to divulge that they have a kitten, you don't use this as an opening to prattle on about the fur ball that you used to own ten years ago. Instead, you ask about THEIR kitten.
