health
Readers reply: Why does silence feel so horribly awkward?
The long-running series in which readers answer other readers’ questions on subjects ranging from trivial flights of fancy to profound scientific and philosophical concepts
TL;DR
- Some people find silence uncomfortable and fill it with chit-chat to avoid existential voids.
- Others, particularly quiet individuals, cherish silence for reflection and personal comfort.
- Upbringing and constant exposure to noise can make silence unnerving.
- Silence can be a place to confront one's character, which may be uncomfortable for some.
- Social rules for silence suggest it's fine with people you know well or do not plan to know.
- For strangers you must interact with, bland conversation topics are recommended.
- With strangers who appear scared or stressed, a brief, non-answer-requiring comment is suggested.
- Silence alone aids concentration, but silence in social situations can be awkward.
- The difficulty in making small talk suggests a desire for connection that is perceived as absent in silence.
- One reader mentions Alexi Lalas and his co-hosts potentially preferring silence during coverage.