Safe Topics

It is hard to find safe topics for conversations. I'm like most people. I try to talk about positive things that we have in common. But, there aren't any topics that are 100% safe no matter who you are talking to. When I started thinking about this blog post, I had a list:

Pets
Kids
The Beach
Weather

They generally work for most people. However:

1. people like me aren't pet people and don't think your pet is your kid. We're glad you love your pet, but, it's not your child.

2. Kids work between parents and sometimes grandparents. However, some people just don't like kids. Know your audience on this topic.

3. Even if you're "a pool person not a beach person" like me, the beach isn't usually a bad topic. But, bad things can happen on a beach. This might not be a good topic for someone who has been through or seen a shark attack, for example.

4. The weather doesn't seem like something controversial. After all, doesn't everyone agree we have gotten too much snow, it's been raining for too long, we badly need rain, or it's way too hot? Its not about the obvious things. But weather does influence our lives. If the weather is anxiety provoking, it's not a safe topic. Some weather conversations can be anxiety provoking. Example, we have 6ft of snow on the ground already, what are we going to do with the three we are supposed to get tonight?!?!?

These are still mostly safe topics. A lot of these examples are rare. But, I said I was looking for a topic that is 100% safe for 100% of the people. There isn't one.

What makes a topic a bad topic are experiences and opinions formed by the individual. What is generally safe for most people, can make others uncomfortable. Comfort for everyone is important in a positive conversation. So changing uncomfortable topics and sticking to what you know you have in common are the best bet.

I think it's easier to stick with safe topics when you know the person you are conversing with. At minimum, on an acquaintance level. When you have never talked to the person before, these are the topics we tend to stick with.

I wish there was something that was 100% safe for 100% of the population. Because we are more likely to respect each other when we have some things in common. "Ice breaker" topics are boring and cliché. Once we get past the part of the conversation everyone has had many times in their lives, you start learning something about the other person. That's the good part!

Bottom line, we need more generic "ice breaker" safe topics!!!