The Downward Spiral of Empathetic Conversations

_{from my iPhone 12 photo collections}

I was browsing Twitter recently and I came across people's complaints on a Twitter post from a popular Internet brand in Nigeria. Most people complained about the price increase and how difficult it was to afford.

I felt bad; if I were the owner of the company, seeing those responses would make me feel bad and decide to lower the price slightly.

The thing that baffled me the most was the social media handlers of this company.

They were most likely using AI-generated or automated conversations; instead of responding to these people individually, attempting to relate to their plight, responding compassionately, and so on, but they continued to respond with automated responses.

Talk Is Not Cheap afterall

The art of meaningful conversation is gradually becoming extinct. It occurs not only in business settings, but also in everyday situations.

Unless it is two lovers who are drunk in love, most conversations are meant to be formal, to follow a script, and sometimes people do their best to stay in character.

Since I lost my only sibling, it is been difficult for me to pick up the phone and talk to random people, and I am tired of the soulless methodology used in some types of conversations. It is almost possible to predict what they will say, how they will say it, and why.

Stranger Things Happens In Phone Conversations

Today I received a call from an unfamiliar number. So I picked up the phone and waited for the person to speak and possibly introduce themselves, and when they didn't, I decided to hang up because I did not have the energy.

Apparently this person knows my name, but based on how they spoke, I am confident I have never seen or known them.

However, I was unwilling to engage in fruitless conversations, and before I hung up, I could hear the person on the other end saying some unpleasant things about me.

It was exactly what I needed to never answer that phone call from this person again.

100% Predictability

I mean, if I had engaged in that conversation, I could almost hear them saying things like "how are you" and I am expected to say fine, then they will ask you if you know who was talking, and if you can not guess, they will probably call something you would not like, then they will go ahead and say "oh I heard about your brother's death, never mind, you will be fine"

then they will go ahead and talk about what they want, or why they were calling, and since this was the main conversation it might last for a while.

Throughout the call, you are expected to smile, laugh, and answer strange questions while remaining in character until the end of the call.

Apparently, I was not prepared for cosmetics conversations.

It's just soulless

It is exhausting to constantly answer the "how are you?" question, and if I was truly okay, I would probably say "I am fine" but since I am usually not, I would rather avoid the conversation entirely.

Nowadays, doctors and therapists are probably the only people who truly know us. They know your medical history, and they are probably the only ones with whom you can have realistic conversations, cry in front of them, or express your fears.

Of course, you can do this with God in prayer, but most realistic conversations among people are shallow and lack depth.

Stay Insane Sane Always

We are mostly in character, perfectly suited to whatever environment we find ourselves in. It is just like going to the bank to apply for a loan.

I meant you can not be moody in front of the bank manager. You must smile so that they do not suspect you of being depressed or suicidal, and you must say what they want you to hear in order for them to give you the money.

Coming out of character is what makes people weird, different, or mentally ill. When a person is crying in front of a crowd of a few hundred people, they will undoubtedly be perceived as strange and out of place.

Unfortunately, life happens, and we begin to question the essence of everything, such as why we study conversations to pass job interviews, read from books at funerals, and recite Facebook quotes to console someone in pain.

Why we believe that social media care is the best type of care, and how we can say things without any of them really hitting home with us.

Personally, I am tired of being in character, so I avoid the conversations. This may send an unpleasant silent message, but there is never a time when being realistic is enjoyable.

Interested in some more of my works

Is it Easy To Make Money?

Nigeria: A Unique Business Market & Industry

Virtual Bank Apps In Nigeria: An Experience Of Gamification

How To Find The Next "BIG" Meme Coin

Personal Finance: Achieving Intentional "Saving" Goals

Playing The Survival Game: Human Nature In Introspection

"Un-PAYING" The Debt You Owe

Interested in some more of my works

Is it Easy To Make Money?

Nigeria: A Unique Business Market & Industry

Virtual Bank Apps In Nigeria: An Experience Of Gamification

How To Find The Next "BIG" Meme Coin

Personal Finance: Achieving Intentional "Saving" Goals

Playing The Survival Game: Human Nature In Introspection

"Un-PAYING" The Debt You Owe