The Last Word

Introduction

I am the worst for it, in almost every form of communication.

The music is "Conversion On A Mobile" by Leon Rosselson, give it a listen, it is brilliant.

This Is Why

I am the worst for it in every conversation, not the excellent Leon Rosselspn song.

You know the phrase "Always Has To Have The Last Word" which is usually applied to arguments and is illustrated so well in Monty Python's "Argument" sketch

This is how a lot of my arguments end if they are not happening to establish a valid position. I don't mind being told I am wrong if I am told why I am wrong and how to take corrective action, but "You are an old, privileged white man" was a recent one:

But this is probably inspired by leaving comments on Vocal stories, on Vocal and Facebook and elsewhere and I try to thank people for their comments (the last word), then they tell me I am welcome, so then I thank them once more and this could go on forever.

My problem is that when someone leaves a comment or thanks me I think am I a bad person for not following up, will they think I am awful? I think the best closer is to leave an emoji like ♥️ or 👍 and that is usually a closer, but if someone else leaves a closing emoji I often reply with a last-word closing emoji, though I do not feel I am incorrigible but you may think I am.

This happens with my text message conversations as well and when the person I am chatting with stops I think "Have I done something wrong?"

I usually haven't and they will have some other thing they have to do, so I just leave a final sentence like "See You Later" or something similar.

Phone calls are slightly different but how many times does what you expect to be a two-minute call turn into a twenty-minute call, and if it is with someone you really like, it often ends in something like:

"Bye, you put the phone down"

"No you put the phone down"

"No you have to put the phone down"

and if you are the one who puts it down you then feel guilty for ending the conversation, or I do. Maybe I am just a little strange and weird because I am unable to finish a conversation properly.

I do find the situation funny as I look at all these extended last-word threads and conversations which ran out of steam a long time before they actually finished.

this post will get some comments and I will thank them. Some of them include observations and then turn into a conversation themselves before eventually ending with a think you or the odd disagreement.

I wrote this for the Humor community and thought how the hell can I even write a hundred words about this situation, but as usual I found tangents to fly off on that were vaguely related.

I wonder what the longest comment conversation on Voca has ever been. I know certain people have written comments that were a story in themselves but I can't remember where they occurred but they were left by Thavien Yliaster and Dr. Jason Benskin.

Conclusion

While this has not been an overly hilarious or humourous ride I hope some of the observations have brought a smile to your face, an dit will be interesting to see if any comment conversations start up here, but it would be good to link pieces where the comments have grown the original story.

Thank you so much for reading.