Starting discussions

[Mastadi]

I hope that you, dear smogonites will help me with this real life problem

Well, I'm quite a shy guy, but I believe I can discuss quite well. If I get a good chat going, I can chat for hours. The problem is... well, I just don't really know how to start talking about stuff. For example, let's say music. I like music and have quite a few friends who also like similiar genres to mine, so potentially we could talk about it.
However, I just don't know how to start talking about stuff, be it music, sports or any other subject, unless recently something important has happened about it. So, any hints about that?

 

[jamespicone]

Try saying something potentially divisive and inflammatory within earshot of several people interested in the subject. It helps if you actually half-agree with the statement in question, so that you can defend it. The conversation will quickly move on.

For example, say you wanted to have an argument about religion. You could, within earshot of a number of people you know are evangelistic Christians, and a few atheists, say something like "Hey, whaddaya know, looks like Jesus never even existed in the first place!". Instant argument.

 

[Cabman]

not sure he wants to start arguments James, but i had the same problem, all i used to do was join in already started conversations because i was fine once the talking started. After a while of that i noticed how other people started conversations and used those techniques, i generally try to open with a joke because that's me, not like a knock knock joke but one relating to a recent action such as the food they're eating or the music they are listening to, it helps break the ice.

 

[kd24]

make up a story to get people interested and then reel em in with your discussion. people are like fish, they will become instantly interested in anything that sparkles (the story).

Once you make up a story (be it something about how _band's_ cd broke down and now you are pissed off, or if you choose to say how a teacher almost gave you detention for nothing if you want to discuss school), make sure that it is not a big deal and not something that can come back to you. If you tell people that you played Dwayne Wade in a 1 on 1 game because he was doing it for charity to try and get a basketball discussion going, it probably will come back and bite you in the arse. My friend did this exact thing a while ago and it got a discussion started about basketball, but then another guy checked and it turned out that he was lying. You definitely dont want to be identified as a big liar because no one wants to have a discussion with a liar.

tl;dr: make up stories or even use real interesting ones to get people talking but if you make up a story make sure it is a lil white lie that no one will care about in the future and not a "im a huge fucking liar" lie.

 

[Flashstorm1]

I have a similar problem, and I really hate not being able to start discussions. However, I have found out that sometimes it helps to be the listener instead of the speaker, as you can also participate in discussions but a bit more directly since you're not the one leading the conversation. If you do insist on starting conversations with people, you have to make sure it's something interesting that will grab people's attention. In my school, football is a very popular topic along with gossip, but personally, I'm against gossip so I don't recommend that. Just start talking about something that you feel comfortable talking about and you should be fine.

Also, if anyone could offer tips on how to keep a conversation going (not starting one), I would appreciate it myself. I always seem to have problems responding to conversations because I honestly do not know how to respond because I am not familiar with the subject. It really sucks, I know, so I'm hoping to get some help here.