How did I just see this fantastic response?
I really have learned a lot from using that idea of listening and asking good questions. It seems like people a lot of time listen in order to say something back, not even necessarily to respond. By listening to what people have to say with an intention to find questions to ask to deeper your understanding, you move the conversation from being about yourself and your own topics to being about them. The difference is incredible, and can definitely be felt and appreciated by the other people in the conversation.
Plus, it allows such deeper dives into these conversations which are usually a bit more taboo. I was talking with a friend recently about how if we don't talk to children about these 'taboo' subjects they will end up trying to learn about them from whatever resources will let them, and that often leads down some poor paths.
Proper conscious engagement with these topics allows for conscientious decision making!
Thanks for your active engagement in the steemit community @maverickfoo