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I think sitting in silence is more intimate than constant chatter. If there is a feeling of awkwardness, probably you're not ready to have that kind of connection to the person you are with.
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I think the awkwardness comes from not knowing what the other peson/people are thinking. When engaging in conversation, you are aware of the thoughts and feelings the others are having. When you're silent you can't tell if the other person is uncomfortable or satisfied with the silence. You can even feel that you've offended or said something to make them quiet. Also, silence in often associated with not being in a good mood, and we don't want to project that when it's not the case.
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Silence is only awkward when you think it's present because of a lack of something. The irony of it, comes in the form that silence can just as easily denote how comfortable you are with a person- but that form normally requires a bit more time before it manifests itself.
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With people you know it's fine. With people you just know or merely know of, the other person would just be staring at whatever you are doing, even your tiniest movements?! (creepy) or they'd be doing some other stuffs like pretending to use their cellphone for a long time (rude). Therefore, awkward.
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The more you know a person, the less awkward silence is.
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The more you know a person, the less awkward silence is.
But that is a very good question! xD
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With most people I know I can just comfortably sit in silence. I like that we're close enough for it to be so pleasant =]
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"Uncomfortable silences. Why do we feel it's necessary to yak about bullshit in order to be comfortable?...That's when you know you've found somebody special. When you can just shut the **** up for a minute and comfortably enjoy the silence."
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"Uncomfortable silences. Why do we feel it's necessary to yak about bullshit in order to be comfortable?...That's when you know you've found somebody special. When you can just shut the **** up for a minute and comfortably enjoy the silence."
–Mia in Pulp Fiction
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I think silence is awkward because it shows that people have nothing to say to each other making it appear like they either don't enjoy each other's company or they don't have many common interests etc. It make one question the entire relationship whether it be a friendship or romance or whatever.
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In silence,it's harder to suppress all the thoughts and emotions inside our heads. Even when alone,a lot of people (including myself) turn on the tv or radio,just to have a mindless background sound to distract from what is going on inside.
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In silence,it's harder to suppress all the thoughts and emotions inside our heads. Even when alone,a lot of people (including myself) turn on the tv or radio,just to have a mindless background sound to distract from what is going on inside.
Personally,I hate silent moments that now and then happen in a conversation and only with the closest of my friends can I be comfortable in silence. It's just that it always feels like I am not being good enough in conversing if I let it be quiet for a second.
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because we have been taught to talk to others and reserve silence for when we are alone. that's why until you're kind of comfortable with someone and understand the conversational expectations silence just seems rude and therefore akward
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it's awkward because we have forgotten what to do with silence. Our moments our filled with verbal brainstorming, television white noise, and constant communication through technology. Silence allows us to listen to ....us. To not have a motive or a goal but to just listen. We have forgotten.
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I don't find silence awkward unless the other person is jeering or staring at me. Sometimes silence is necessary for things to sink in or mellow out.
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I don't find silence awkward unless the other person is jeering or staring at me. Sometimes silence is necessary for things to sink in or mellow out.
I guess sometimes we feel silence is awkward because it cuts into the flow of the conversation or whatever is happening. Kind of like when your sitting in a crowded cafeteria, and all of a sudden things go really quiet for no reason, and everyone just stares around moonfaced.
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I find silence relaxing. When you can find someone whom you can share silence with and not feel awkward, it's the best feeling ever. Some may find silence awkward because of this social network induced society we live in. People have developed the need to talk about something all the time and when there's nothing to be said, their brains convince them that they are uncomfortable.
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I think people find silence awkward because they are unsure of what to do with it. It is something most people are not comfortable with and think they need to do something about it.
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I think people find silence awkward because they are unsure of what to do with it. It is something most people are not comfortable with and think they need to do something about it.
There are 2 different kinds of silence; when in the company of others and silence when by ourselves.
Silence when in the company of others can be tricky. What does the silence mean? Am I boring? It can be especially hard when the conversation slows and there is silence and one is unsure as to what happens next. Is the conversation finished? Have I run out of things to say? Are we not connecting like I think you should? I think people judge themselves and worry that others will judge them for the silence.
I also think silence allows people to hear their own thoughts/self judgements/fears, which maybe they don't want to. This can be especially true when one is alone. Most people try to fill the silence by surrounding themselves with people, music, tv etc..
It can take courage to hold silence and allow it to be, instead of trying to fill/avoid it.
A friend once told me that silence can give space/room, for the things that want/need to be said, a chance to surface. From my experience this has been true when in the company of others and when in my own company. I think it is so important to learn to pause in the silence, however awkward it might feel.
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In my opinion, silence, or any situation really, is only as awkward as you let it be. I'm more than fine with a few pauses in a conversation to just think, but people often tell me I'm pretty awkward so who knows haha
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