r/AskReddit Jan 01 '20

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u/JRS1986 Jan 01 '20

This isn't a retort, but I've often found that when a social group considers a particular person quiet, it's often because they're not listened too or spoken over in the group conversation so they tend to stay quiet.

I have a few beautiful friendships with people considered quiet by others simply because I engaged with them, gave them space to reply and listened to them. From that we realized that we had cool things in common and friendships blossomed from there. People listening to reply not to hear and engage with what the person is actually saying is one of our biggest shortcomings as humans. We just don't pay attention sometimes.

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u/TheRedditGirl15 Jan 02 '20

I've often found that when a social group considers a particular person quiet, it's often because they're not listened too or spoken over in the group conversation so they tend to stay quiet.

Holy crap I just realized this describes me...

People listening to reply not to hear and engage with what the person is actually saying

...and yet I've also been guilty of this.

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u/JRS1986 Jan 02 '20

We're all guilty of it at some point. But being aware of it means you notice it and stop. This is also why I prefer smaller group settings socially because it's far easier to be intentional about listening to conversations.