Tim, your posts here have always impressed me...You write very well, first of all, and you always respond with insights that are unique and informative.
Wants2fly had great insight into this whole matter. She said....
"For all of us, navigating the waters of self-disclosure is tricky. We have to give back enough to earn trust, but not over disclose too much too soon so that the other person feels uncomfortable. "
That's so true, isn't it!
I have acquaintances who, all they do...no matter what the subject...is talk about themselves. These are mainly coworkers at my school. People just tolerate them for the most part, but still behave politely. On the other hand, I have learned that to try to engage in any kind of "meaningful" conversation with most of my acquaintances ends in my feeling foolish and too "self-disclosing." So...over many years of conditioning to this, I've learned to keep the conversations light, brief, and go about my business.
With the few close friends I have, I can engage in conversations without feeling self-conscious, but otherwise I keep the walls up.
The forum here is one of those places where I feel free to post comments and initiallize subjects which would be too risky in my daily life.
Patty