Nick - What I've Learned So Far

Two people walk into a party.

Guy number one walks in and starts talking to anyone who will listen, about nothing in particular. He doesn't have any cleverly thought out conversation openers. He doesn't ask any good questions, either. Generally he will see somebody, or a group of somebodies, who aren't talking and he will walk up to them and ask their names and maybe what major they are and what dorm they live in.

Meanwhile, guy number two isn't nearly as brazen. He walks in and enjoys the scenery; he looks around at the people present and just smiles watching them all dance around and do stupid things. He likes looking at people talking animatedly, simply because it's novel.

Guy number one walks up to a group of people and chats with them. It becomes pretty clear that they either don't like his personality or else just don't feel like talking with him at the moment. So our guy politely excuses himself from conversation after a little while and walks away with a bitter taste in his mouth.

Guy number two stands around for a little bit, gets a drink and drinks it very slowly so that he has something to do. Then a group of people walk up to him and initiate conversation. He's caught a little bit off guard (after all, why would they be wanting to talk to him?) but he answers their questions politely, if a little bit minimally. The group of people eventually moves on, and guy two stands around. He's grateful that he got to meet those people, but he's a little bit upset with himself. Why couldn't he have been more interesting? He should have been cooler with his responses, he tells himself. Maybe next time.

Back at the ranch, guy number one has found a new group of people to talk to. And they seem pretty cool. Cool enough, in fact, that he forgets all about the earlier groups of people who didn't care to be his friends. And he has fun and meets new people and all is well for guy number one. Eventually the party winds down and guy number one leaves with pretty much everybody else, but he gets some of their numbers on his way out. And even though he probably won't call them much, if at all, he's happy just knowing that he will probably run into them around.

Guy number two sees the party winding down, so he decides to head home. Really, he wonders, what's the big deal? There isn't much to do at these parties anyway. He could have had way more fun had he stayed home and watched a movie with some close friends. He isn't upset or bitter, he simply doesn't understand why people get so much enjoyment out of these things.


-Nick.