Sometimes there’s a lull in those passing conversations in which the speakers involved experience a moment of hesitation, painfully highlighted by a scream of silence in the midst of mundane sounds.
This moment is inevitable, no matter how fluently the speakers were talking before. It is as certain as death itself, and despite having experienced it time and time again, it always is as sudden and surprising as ever. It could last anywhere between a jiffy and a full two seconds, but it is always equally uncomfortable — especially if you’re maintaining eye contact. There is nothing left to say.
This is the moment when a person can truly come to know you. This species of “awkward turtle” can be the defining moment in your relationship. It’s as if all the planets in orbit have stopped in a hush of anticipation. It all depends on how you handle the precious time that follows in the tête-à-tête.
Choices: Shall you terminate the conversation, forgoing the risk of any further embarrassment? Or would it be prudent to introduce a new topic of discussion? Decide carefully: This moment could result in equal amounts of joy or regret, so sift out the bad stuff.
Then, the moment will end, the conversation will cease, and you are left with your own tormenting thoughts to assess your performance. This is a process of self-appraisal. This is the process we try to avoid by using technology to give us a chance to organize our thoughts and keep us from being put on the spot. It’s why we text, use Twitter, Facebook, etc.
This situation is not unique to college students, but is something that is experienced by everybody who puts themselves out there. Imagine how awkward it is for celebrities and diplomats, people with the added burden of maintaining their self-image.
What’s worse is when people premeditate on what route to take when the moment occurs, memorizing a few lines in case of an emergency. This risks the embarrassment of using the same line on the same person twice. And, for some reason, there is a greater likelihood of saying foolish things in these moments, during which the other person measures your sanity.
The irony is that people often draw these phrases from television — something entirely removed from reality. This only makes things worse. Anything is preferable to TV talk. You know what I mean: people imitating the snarky attitude of Gossip Girl, or bursting into song like on Glee, or even pretending to be a part of the cast of Jersey Shore.
Maybe they don’t take it that far, but taking your social cues from television is unoriginal and tacky. What is more, people who talk like they’re in the leading role of a sitcom come off as obnoxious and insincere. What’s next, background laughter? TV is an imitation of real conversation, not the opposite.
