Why is it that trying to get to know people can be so hard sometimes?
You'd think I'd be good at it by now, right? It's not like I haven't had enough practice. I (just like everyone else) have had my entire lifetime to perfect the art of getting to know new people. I may not have perfected it yet, but I am able to recognize that gaining a mutual understanding with someone takes time and effort from all parties. Unfortunately, that fact doesn't seem to be common knowledge among most of the people I've been trying to get to know lately, and as much as I might try, getting to know each other is a two way street.
I spent a large part of my day today trying to get to know the people around me (both online and in my daily life) and getting no sort of depth out of their responses. This is exceptionally frustrating and disappointing for me. The lack of follow up questions, interest, and effort makes me feel as if I'm the only one trying. The responses to my attempts at driving a conversation were noncommittal and dissinterested at best, to a degree that more than once left me wondering if the person I was talking to was even interested in speaking to me anymore. And these dissinterested people supposedly want to spend more time with me or even (in some cases) submit to me? It just doesn't make sense to me.
Maybe my view on the importance of getting to know and communicate with people is just different than most?
Am I old fashioned in the fact that I want to get to know someone before juampig into any form of relationship with them, even if it is just a friendship?
Am I the odd one out?
Maybe.
