Awkward Silence

Awkward silence, is…

Awkward.

You when just four short seconds of nothingness becomes an eternity of agony? It leaves both members of the conversation feeling uncomfortable as they bask in the abyss of nothingness racking their brains for words to break the silence.

It can happen on a first date, after a bad joke, or when you simply run out of words to say. In these moments, often-avoided subjects become the hot topic.

“Crazy weather isn’t it?”

“So, um, how’s life?”

Or, my personal favorite, “So who are you voting for?”

We all seek to steer clear of these situations, yet at one time or another we all suffer from moments of awkward silence. It happens to some of us more than others, but the good news is that there are a few tips and tricks you can use to attack the silence. Let us shed some light.

Listed below are three things to start and stop doing when voicing your political opinions. With the presidential election coming up, we challenge you to see how many awkward silences you can “attack.” So go ahead, tell them what you think!

1. START: Doing your research.

You can’t just blame your dislike of a candidate on their haircut, the color of their tie, or “just because.” We must have substance to our arguments if we want to successfully voice our opinion and avoid awkward silence. Look at each candidate’s website for their platforms, ideas, and approach. Watch debates. Ask others about their opinion and see how it lines up with your personal beliefs. Get educated.

STOP: Assumptions, stereotypes, and bandwagoning.

Find the facts, not fictional ideas or stereotypes, about each candidate. Listen to the opinions of others but avoid bias or generalization. Do not decide to vote, or not vote, for someone simply because that is what your mom, coworker, or BFF is doing. Vote for a candidate because they most closely support your beliefs.

2. START: Making your opinion count.

Be heard. You have a voice and it matters! Don’t be silent. The best way to make your opinion count is by voting. Your voice has power. Plus, those “I voted” stickers are pretty sweet and you wouldn’t want to miss out on that! But really, vote!

STOP: Saying that your vote doesn’t matter.

A wise person once said, “Bad politicians are elected by good people who don’t vote.” There is a lot of truth to that. You have the opportunity to make a difference that will influence you and society as a whole. According to USA Today, Obama won the 2012 election because he won the 18-29 year old vote by 5 million voters. If voting started at age 30, Romney would have won. Your vote matters.

3. START: Listening.

Conversation is a two way street, not a one way. Listening is key. Engage in discussions with others to hear and learn from their ideas and opinions. If you don’t listen you will eventually struggle to keep the conversation going and awkward silence is sure to strike.

STOP: Talking… Wait, what?

You may think it seems strange to stop talking in order to avoid awkward silence. Talking is a necessary part of voicing your opinion and in keeping with the flow of conversation, but don’t just talk for the sake of talking. Make sure you listen to others and are willing and open to opinions contrary to yours. Don’t belittle the ideas of others.

These steps specifically target how to avoid awkward silence in political dialog, but they can carry over into all aspects of conversation as well. Remember, don’t just break the silence, break it well!

http://college.usatoday.com/2015/09/25/why-college-students-arent-voting/