Conversation starters — Jason Preston

My friend Jeremy can hold a conversation with literally anyone. It’s a pretty impressive talent.

When you break it down, he basically has a long list of opinions that are guarnateed to get a rise out of people. It’s fascinating to watch. The man could get King Kong to discuss Asian trade relations over afternoon tea.

I’ve been working on keeping a list of conversation starters, for those five or six minutes where you’re required to talk to people who you really have nothing to say to:

“Is the song ‘push it’ really about childbirth?”
“Who would win in a fight, Chuck Lidell or you with a chainsaw?”
“In all honesty, what are your thoughts on cat juggling?”

I think the list still needs some work, though. I tried one of them the other day when I was getting a haircut. There are certain experiments you should avoid trying with people who hold sharp scissors to your head.

Fortunately King Kong ran off with the barber before anything bad happened. What are your conversation starters?