I spent 5 years in College to learn about Communication.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

I can give technical and artisan advice on communication, however, when I try to start a conversation, I more or less place foot in mouth and end up sounding like a nit wit! What can be done? Any advice?

[geardaddy]

1. Collage?

;)

Are you more of an introvert? Do you communicate better through writing? A lot of introverts have trouble with expressing themselve verbally (orally).

[Lady Freedom Returns]

3. Surprised that the spell check did not catch that.

Thank you.

As for being an introvert, the Carl Gustav Jung's test said I was an extrovert.

[OriginalGeek]

4. Spell check let you keep it because it is a word

just not the word you wanted :-).

As to your original problem, and I can say this because I have MUCH experience, don't get too caught up in trying to start a conversation.

I mean, in some cases you have to because you need information that someone else has.

But it took me a long time to learn that when I walk up to a group and they are talking, I can just listen for a while. There's no law that says my opinion on the subject needs to be heard or even should be heard and especially as soon as I get there. Just listen for a while and you may get asked or you may hear something that gives you a good jumping off point but just listen first.

I don;t mean walk up to strangers and stand there creepily staring. Smile and nod and listen. I have found that when I just keep my mouth shut, someone else becomes the loud, weird one and I can eventually slip into the conversation on better terms...

Now if I could just teach myself to do that online as well...

[freshwest]

2. Practice making a fool of yourself with friends. Less stress. I'm even crazier in person than here.

[rrneck]

5. I will refer you to an unrecognized sage of our time...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uepFO4psgKE