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Sneha Saggurthi 2/15/15 FYS 101 Short paper 1

Confronting the Complexity of Conversation

I was up to my neck in my roommates dirty tissues, dirty dishes, and dirty habits. Her piles of trash and dirty clothing was weighing down on my last nerve. I sat her down and had just began to calmly explain to her that I simply cannot keep living in such horrid conditions when a large bellow escaped her mouth and quickly transformed into a demonic verbal attack as I was slain by her aggressive vocables and her, not surprisingly, dirty mouth. That was the last conversation we’ve ever had. According to Merrian-Webster, conversation is defined as an “oral exchange of sentiments, observations, opinions, or ideas.”(Merrian-Webster) Although this definition seems fairly simple, conversation itself is a complex practice that takes several factors into account, such as mode of communication, topic of conversation, the participants, etc. Therefore, conversation is a practice where it’s outcome is strictly dependent on the contributions put into it. Initially, the thought of conversation affects one at an pathos level. To me, it brings with it a heap of dreadful and apprehensive doom. Usually my breathing shortens and sharpens as an elephant of anxiety takes it’s seat on my chest. My palms moisten with sweat as memories of humiliation surface on the ocean of thoughts crashing around in my head. A dark shadow looms

over my head, much like the cloud that once loomed over Eeyore the donkey, as my turn to speak approaches. And why does the thought of conversation bring about such a negative sensation? Experience. Throughout my brief but experienced life, my worst memories seem to take root in past conversations, whether that be gossip leading to girl drama, or a chat leading to humiliation, and both leading to bullying. I believe that many people have the same dilemma as I do. For

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