How do you maintain a fluid conversation with people who give one word/sentence response?

[Jaron29]

They sure cartainly are a bunch of prosaic morons to chat with. Are any of you able to sustain a chat with individuals who repeatedly respond in such a manner? Or do you just walk away from the conversation altogether.

[Pennytingly]

Depends what answers they are giving.. If it's short sentences that's ok, it is 'text' speaking after all, it's not meant to be used as talking in paragraphs.

If she replies saying 'ok', 'k', 'haha' etc I'd usually ask her if she's ok or I would just stop texting and wait for her to text me..

If she sends one word answers like okay;), hahaha;) but like adds an emoticon it usually mean they still wanna talk, they just don't know how to carry on the conversation so it's up to you to continue it or let it die out... That's what its like with girls I talk to haha

[Jaron29]

Yeah, you said it quite accurately dude. Emoticons do play a big role in conversation through text huh. Without it, one can seem rude, but with it, one can seem innocently clueless with just no idea how to respond.

[Pennytingly]

Yep they definitely do. It's kind of sad when you think about it haha but yeah I'd tend to use a least 1 emoticon per message to seem 'fun' and 'interested' lol

[Plato]

My mentor Socrates used to use the Hellenistic approach with persons who once claimed that they possessed knowledge. It involved taking small statements and measuring them for consistency. Towards the most part of the Socratic irony, it does not matter if the recipient talks much or little as the argument will narrow to more particular details as it progresses, so one word responses are all that is needed to answer yes/no questions.

[abundantlyrich]

I say to them "you're a bad robot" and the response is "wha da faq? Did u just say? I'm human".

"No, you're a robot, you just stand and stare at me all the time."

After confronting them, they start malfunctioning and i run away before they do something psychotic.

[Jaron29]

Now that is an unwonted way to deal with such people, I guess I would try what you did next time. (:

But what about online chatting?

[abundantlyrich]

Just ask them if they're really shy or gay? That will shake up a response from them. They immediately defend themselves

[Jaron29]

Alright, so insult them in their face, that should work, thanks. (:

[mario1321]

Hilarious

[Jaron29]

Yeah, it is! Lol, but if it works, why not then. (:
Since they are so emotionally aloof, hurting them with trenchant words can make them bother enough to rebut my insult.

[abundantlyrich]

You could say it jokingly. Or say something really controversial.. Like.

guess I've just had sex with a hot chick yesterday...

oh i was just pullin your leg though

[dragonfly6516]

One word answers is usually a sign that they're either not interested in talking to you, or that they don't want to let you get close. You either need to gain their trust, switch to a topic they are comfortable with, or walk away.

[WhiteSteve]

I'm trying to teach my girlfriend to be MORE like that. Not everything deserves a ten minute conversation. "Silence is golden, Lloyd. *Silence*... is fucking...*GOLDEN*"

[Jaron29]

I ain't asking for a verbose response dude, but more like one with some level of verve expressed in more than 1 word or sentence. And teaching your gf that silence is fucking golden, then by all means, do it. You don't want her to talk much to you, it's your fucking problem man, it concerns your gf and you only. I and some others over here value effective communication.

[WhiteSteve]

I was just joking around, bro, it's kind of what I do here. In seriousness, it's tough to draw a terse person into a conversation. I kind of just accept it and move on. Some people just aren't good conversationalists.

[Jaron29]

Then I'm sincerely sorry man, lol. I get defensive when I encounter rancid language used. No hard feelings?

Well, I guess so, moving on from it sounds very much like the logical thing to do.

[WhiteSteve]

No sweat, buddy, we're cool. Sorry if the language offended you, it was a quote from the TV show Entourage.

[emzy-89]

I end up asking questions and not even listen to the answers because i'm thinking of other things to ask to keep the convo going. lol. It's painful.

[Jaron29]

It sure is! Haha. It really sucks that some can get lazy to the extent of not even wanting to put in the slightest scintilla of effort into the conversation.

[GrowStrong]

lol. not a lot u can do mate. maybe ask them questions so they have to open up more

[Jaron29]

Haha, well, I don't want to sound like an interview. But yeah, I guess you are right, there ain't a lot one can do but to keep probing.

[Yellowbone]

The most appropriate thing to do is end the conversation. But if you wanna be risky & push it... ask a question with every response on your end.

[Anonymous]

That's a sign that they do not wish to have a conversation. So continuing it is kind of just as socially awkward as one word answers.

[Jaron29]

Nope, incorrect, as this person requested for people to chat with, due to boredom. But the first response I received is already a one word reply/sentence reply, and so was those that followed after it.

[Opinion Owner]

Maybe they started a chat with someone else first and could only handle one convo at a time?

[Jazmirose]

That means that person isn't interested, so move one. Unless that person's personality is blunt then you have two choices: find some time to deal with it or second, leave.

[Jaron29]

I have found my solution from another which is to simply insult him/her with a biting remark. This should get him or her to respond with some enthusiasm and anger. Lol.

[Keyspirits]

It means they aren't comfortable in talken to u and opening theirself up yet. Keep talken and spend time with them and one day, u will be amaze.

[decemberxblue]

Those people aren't interested in conversing.

[moistycakes]

You don't.

[Jaron29]

I am guessing that you mean to say walk away from the conversation, right?

[moistycakes]

Yep. Let them come to you if they want to talk more, if they initiate conversation he/she wants to talk to you, if they don't, well.. If they do, then ask them questions that require more than a few words and talk about common interests or something they're passionate about.