I have a few rules that I try to adhere to while in discussion amongst friends. Don’t discuss money, religion, or politics. Speak in a manner appropriate to your surroundings. Poke fun at yourself before laughing at others.
I don’t discuss politics not because I don’t have an interest, but because people get bent out of shape about it, and in my experience, it’s hard to encourage others to understand your point of view without becoming agitated. While it is important to be informed on the policies, it’s not important to inform others of how you’ll be marking the ballot.
For me, religion falls under the cliche “actions speak louder than words.” On one hand, I do try to live in a proud manner, and follow the rules I learned in Sunday School. On the other, sometimes I fail to follow the rules and feel that if I can’t/don’t practice, I shouldn’t preach.
I prefer to avoid speaking about money because it’s boring. I hated Accounting in college. It has a time and a place, and that time is during tax season, and the place is wherever you do your taxes with whoever does them. If you do your own, you’re out of luck. Feel free to speak with a consultant, but expect to pay a handsome sum. And with good reason: because that is going to be a boring conversation. Discussing the price of things you own is done only to brag, and will only annoy those you’re speaking to. See also: your salary.
One of my pet-peeves is when people speak too loudly or not loudly enough. There is a time for a raised voice, and that time is the 5-10 seconds following a home run, goal, touchdown, or game-winning basket. Or on Sunday morning if you happen to be a Southern Baptist preacher. Don’t yell or whisper into a phone. Whisper in the library. Don’t speak once the previews have started. And lastly, if someone is sitting beside you, don’t yell.
Listen to a set from nearly any comedian and they’re sure to make a joke at their expense. Farley got laughs for being overweight, Leary recognizes he’s an ass. The point is, before you point out another’s shortcomings, you should recognize your own. If you haven’t got something nice to say, don’t say it, or at least say something equally or more discomforting about yourself beforehand. It’s always easier to do it yourself than have someone else do it for you. On a side note, laughing at someone for something they can’t help, a disease, paralysis, etc. is distastful. Laughing with someone because they’re an idiot isn’t.
