Letter from Scotland
JOHN writes a weekly column for The Edinburgh Reporter online and here he gives us his February view.
What has happened to the art of conversation? Do we do it these days? Or do we just study our smart phones, or sit in front of the TV, or exchange banter at the bar? And do they do it in business, or the arts or politics or international relations? Or do they just exchange abusive tweets?
These are the questions the Royal Society of Edinburgh are asking in its “Year of Conversa- tion 2019”. It begins with a day of conversation on Saturday 16th February. A long list of experts from the worlds of literature, the media, theatre and mental health will be leading discussions on topics such as: conversation in a digital world, children and their conversation, non-verbal communication, what we can and cannot talk about.
The Royal Society has been about conversation since it sprang from the coffee houses of the Enlightenment in 1783. Scientists, medics and writers would gather to debate the issues of the day, present learned papers and generally encourage each other to explore the world around them. So it’s not surprising that it should turn to the art of conversation, particularly now it says.
“At a time when mutual understanding appears threatened, when communities are becoming closed off, we want to demonstrate the power of conversation to reinforce Scotland’s position as a place where people are engaged with each other and with the world.”
And conversation is an art which needs practice. It’s got to mean more than exchanging facts, or even views, about the weather or football. And it’s got to be more than who can crack the best jokes or tell the best story. A conversation may include these entertainments but it should go on to explore an issue or the personalities its participants. And it has to be a shared experience, so everyone round the table takes a turn and gets something from it.
So I think the Royal Society is right to start this conversation about conversation. It may make the world a better place and life a little happier.