The Bore, the Boor, the Boar

September 11, 2007 by fbk.

It is ever a mystery to me that a bore doesn’t know he’s a bore.  There is an old saying, “God gave you two ears and only one mouth.”  One should listen more than one talks.  But the bore never seems to notice that he’s the only one talking, or that he walks over what anyone else tries to say.  I believe the first quote was of Jewish origins.  A Chinese quote goes, “The wind doesn’t blow all day.  (And neither should you.)”  Another bit of wisdom for the common bore, or even the boorish bore: “Knowing something is not a license to tell it to everyone you meet.”

I have eaten dinner tonight, once again, with the Alpha Bore.  This is a man who thinks it only proper for him to be 95% of the conversation in every conversation.  Whatever subject comes up, he has a story that relates it back to one of his pet subjects.  The only time he wasn’t dominating the conversation was when he went to the lavatory, and for all I know, he might have had a conversation there.  The other gentleman we were with can also be a bore, although he is a minor leaguer compared to the Alpha Bore.  Even he could barely get a word in edgewise.  Both of these are intelligent men.  But they seem not to have off buttons.  Maybe it is that they can’t abide silence?

I like pauses in conversations.  I like companionable silences.   More and more as I get older, I find I don’t really have a need to talk.  I’d rather watch people at other tables.  I don’t mind a true conversation with back and forth between all parties.   But I have seldom regretted silence.

I shall not go to dinner with the Alpha Bore again.  Life is too short for that.  I shall seek quieter company…

…those who can abide a pause and silence.

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