Summarize this article in one sentence.
Sometimes awkward silences are the result of an inappropriate comment. If you aren't sure whether the person will appreciate your racy sense of humor, hold off on making the joke until you are confident it will be well received. To find the tone, try pushing the conversation a little bit with a probing comment and see how people respond. For example, if you want to discuss politics, you could say something like, "This has sure been an interesting election." Maybe they'll disclose some of their views and you can get an idea about whether they would appreciate your joke about a candidate or be offended by it. As with any good conversation, the biggest key is to listen. If they respond to your question with a short, flat statement such as "Yep," or "Nope," that might indicate that they aren't very comfortable talking about that particular subject. Instead, talk about something that you know they're interested in. For example, "I heard you won your hockey game the other night. I'd love to hear about it." Pay attention to their body language as well. If they cross their arms or fidget nervously or look down, they might be uncomfortable with the subject. These are valuable clues to tell you to move on to a different topic. If they don't give too much information, maybe they're just shy. Try to probe a little deeper and see if they open up. For example, say you ask, "Did you like that movie?" and they answer, simply, "Nope." Now you can ask them what it was that they didn't like. The plot? The score? It gives you more opportunities to restart the conversation and get to know them better. If you've had a good, multi-topic conversation and hit a wall, take a look back and ask how you ended up talking about cats when you actually started a conversation about local restaurants. You could say something like, "How did we get to cats in a discussion about restaurants?" Maybe the main link between these topics is a common acquaintance that you've been to a movie with recently. This could spark a vivid conversation about movies and TV shows, eventually leading to books or music. This is a natural way to fill a silence. If you mentioned the pouring rain and your new companion expressed concern about his dog getting sick in the cold, wet weather, this is a great way to move the conversation along. Now you can spend some time talking about dogs, which will likely lead to another topic. By finding common ground with the current subject and adding additional relevant information, the conversation will continue. In the event of a long pause, think back to something you already talked about or to previous conversations and go from there. For example, you can fill a silence with, "Last time we talked, you mentioned a new project you were working on. I've been meaning to ask you about it." People love talking about what they like! This is a great way to get to know them better and to change the subject in a positive way in the event of a pause. This will also make future conversations less awkward, as the two of you learn about each other's interests. For example, to talk about their kids, you could ask, "What's new with Carli these days?" You could also ask them about a trip they've taken, such as, "I heard you went to Oregon last month. What did you do there? I've always wanted to visit."
Find the general tone. Listen carefully to your acquaintance and respond accordingly. Find a link between prior conversation topics. Build on previous statements. Ask questions about the person's hobbies and interests.