Acceptable topics are as variable as people's opinions.
Carefully selecting acceptable topics for public conversation offers you a profound opportunity to learn valuable lessons in awareness and communication. Conceptions of what qualifies as an acceptable conversation topic vary greatly between different social groups, ethnicities, individual experiences, nationalities, religions, genders, situations and belief systems. What is acceptable in one situation might not be acceptable in another. Paying attention to the nuances of each situation will allow you to offer conversation topics with your audience's particular sensitivities in mind.
Failsafe Topics For Most Situations
The most acceptable topic of conversation among almost all people everywhere is themselves. Start conversations by asking questions about the lives of the people you talk to. Ask about dreams and aspirations, hobbies, interests and favorite songs to gain immediate rapport with whomever you talk to in public. People love to discuss their opinions and feelings about almost any topic. Other generally acceptable topics are TV shows, musical interests, family and food likes and dislikes. Politely commenting on positive aspects of people's appearance is another acceptable topic for building rapport.
Dinner Conversation
Acceptable dinner conversation consists of topics selected with the sensitivity of the dining situation in mind. Body fluids, sex and bathroom conversation will not go over well at most dinners. The day's events, literature, family and food are all acceptable dinnertime conversation topics. Topics might vary depending on the circumstances and audience. Talking about sex among your buddies at a dive bar is fine. Doing the same thing at an intimate and quiet fine dining establishment could get you kicked out.
Conversation in a Crowd
You never know who's listening to you when you talk in a crowd. Awareness of what you disclose among a crowd of strangers has many benefits. Blathering without forethought in a crowd can lead to many embarrassing and even dangerous situations. An extreme example would be someone uttering a racial slur among a diverse group of people. Comedian Michael Richards nearly killed his own career and offended countless people by making a racial slur onstage during a public performance. The best things to talk about in a crowd are the surroundings and immediate happenings. Incidentally, you will derive a lot more enjoyment out of your experiences by directing the conversation to the present moment.
Off Limits Topics
Complaining, Illness, death, religion, politics, abortion, boring jobs, your ex's endless faults, murder, war, negative aspects of other people's appearance, negative things about other people, urination and defecation all have the potential to shut down communication, embarrass yourself and others, and aggravate other people. Leave these topics alone until you can talk about them in private or by necessity.
Tuning Into Topic Sensitivity
Focus on your breathing and pay attention to your thoughts. Keep your mind in the same place as your body. By focusing your awareness in these ways, you will be able to clearly observe the subtlety of your surroundings and the people in them. Deliberately chosen topics of conversation build rapport with other people. When you open a conversation to the grimaces of people around you, it is a good time to select a new topic. Redirect uncomfortable conversations back to something pleasant about the present moment. Asking people to talk about themselves and their interests will almost always prove successful.
Acceptable Topics According to Context
Talking about Jesus at a public gathering at your church is fine. Discussing Jesus at the bar with your atheist friends might upset them, especially if its all you ever talk about. Talking about sex at a strip club is completely acceptable, but talking about sex at your grandmother's birthday party at the nursing home is not. Consider the context of each public situation carefully to determine acceptable topics for discussion.
Cultural Variance
Different cultures around the world have different customs for what passes as acceptable conversation in public. Chinese law forbids discussion of the Tiananmen Square Massacre. The Chinese enjoy talking about the weather and current events but generally frown upon discussing Chinese politics with foreign visitors. Discussing work salary or the Algerian War is looked down upon in France but discussing French culture, food and family is fine. While cultural differences can be very complex and difficult to discern, body language, facial expression and hesitation all provide clues to let you know when a topic is off limits and is better abandoned.
Tags: talk about, other people, acceptable conversation, acceptable topic, acceptable topics, conversation topics
