are you a " rambler?", or can you stay on topic and keep it brief

I am a rambler. I can talk for an hour about what I had for dinner last night, the shape, the size, the taste, etc, and thern go off topic and talk about other stuff not related to the food and sooner or later people are like.. stop!. what are you even talking about

I do it in emails too:. I will write an email with lots and lots of paragraphs, 90 percent of the email not even partialy related to what it was meant for

what about you

[downandlonely]

oh yeah, I'm a rambler too. I was once told at work to "condense my emails"

[fern46]

Both. I can be brief and to the point when it makes sense like in work situations, but I like to expand when I am exchanging with friends or family. Ramblers are awesome. They tell you so much more than you ask for and they let all the good secrets slip

[winter4me]

I can do both but outside of a structured setting...I ramble on ridiculously...and like fern46 notes, I spill all the stuff I wish I could stuff back in...
When writing some things (for others) I have to write, leave it, edit the next day...

[fern46]

And now this song will be in my head all day

led zeppelin ramble on - Google Search

LOL! Yes, I am. Has anyone here ever noticed that the length of my posts are often longer than anyone else's here? I know it, and sometimes I realize that some people likely skim or even skip my posts. I do sometimes try to go back and edit stuff out, but that is occasionally painful for me to do, because sometimes doing so feels like I'm killing a little part of myself (see note at the bottom). My being able to type fast exacerbates that, too. I have often referred to my typing as "the dance of my fingers on my keyboard". I actually love to dance, and I love to talk. Communication is a form of relief or release for me. I wouldn't say it's like a "vomiting", because that sounds uncomfortable, but it is similar in that when I get it out and any mal feelings often are removed from me, I often feel better or even great. The feel itself of talking, writing, and dancing is marvelous. Practice mindfulness on this and feel of the tongue, fingers, body moving.

I'm pretty high energy and gabby, in general. I often repeat myself or tell the same stories multiple times -- even to myself. When I am some level of manic, pressured speech is almost always present. I can go on and on with my speech becoming disjointed flitting from topic to topic. An adrenaline builds. Adrenaline has it's own kind of pleasure, sometimes even when sparked by things that make me angry. Going back to the "dance" and repetition aspect, the whole rhythm of speech is satisfying for me. I find myself sometimes rhyming words, using similar numbers of syllables in sentences, repeating the same words or phrases over and over again. Sometimes, especially when some form of manic, I use verbal emphasis, word choices (even gibberish), and other language devices in an onomatopoeic way.

When I'm anxious, or if the person I'm talking to says little, I can really go to town with my rambling (story telling, complaints, reviews of things, humorous statements, etc.) If I'm alone and lonely, I definitely talk to myself - even out loud. It's not always even a language, but all kinds of noises, and again, often repeated. "Shkuba shkuba baa baa booo chicka chicka." Sometimes I even catch myself doing this in public. People stare or laugh. I just smile back and/or laugh.

It's not the case that I can never stay on topic. I can, especially if I really set my mind to do so, or edit my writing.

OK, so this post alone is long. I ask myself, "What should I cut out to shorten it?" Again, tough for me, but I know some could be cut.

Note: Though I definitely don't compare myself to any outstanding writers, it is a known fact that writers sometimes hate when editors cut some of their work. Many have heard of David Foster Wallace and his book "Infinite Jest". That book has over 1,000 pages. The editor cut out hundreds more pages before it was published. David Foster Wallace was not happy. He, coincidentally, had bipolar disorder, but anger about extreme editing is common for many writers.

Originally Posted by fern46

And now this song will be in my head all day

led zeppelin ramble on - Google Search

ah those pesky earworms

don't you just love them?. lol

[bpcyclist]

My oldest friend, whom I met at age 4, informed me last weekend that I have become a man of few words.

[fern46]

Originally Posted by raging vortex

ah those pesky earworms

don't you just love them?. lol

I almost always have a song playing in my head. I just assumed that pretty much everyone rolls like that. It is only very recently that I learned that is not the case for most people. It actually came up in therapy as I spoke about needing to control the radio in my head to keep it from looping songs that trigger me. More than one person looked at me as if I were completely insane, but that's ok because insane behavior is what landed me in therapy

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by fern46

And now this song will be in my head all day

led zeppelin ramble on - Google Search

That is exactly what went through my mind, too!

btw, nah...not a rambler. I like to listen more than I like to talk.

[TunedOut]

Originally Posted by raging vortex

are you a " rambler?", or can you stay on topic and keep it brief

Usually, but occassionally, I can actually be succinct.

Originally Posted by raging vortex

ah those pesky earworms

don't you just love them?. lol

[Wild Coyote]

I can go either way. If I am feeling expansive, I am apt to say more. If I am tired, I might ramble, simply because I cannot find the words to state my points succinctly.

BirdDancer, I love your posts! It's like reading Hemingway or some other highly skilled writer. A real treat!
Same goes for reading fern46's entries. A gift to the reader.

A great thread idea! Thank you!

[~Christina]

In general I can normally be good at condensing things, but lately?? Gosh I ramble on far to long, it annoys me.

[Pookyl]

Only when my mood is elevated. Otherwise I’m blunt and to the point.

[Victoria'smom]

You can hardly get me to say a true multi word sentence unless I'm manic.