# Conversation length **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 12, 2021, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conversation-length/948533 "2021-08-12T17:19:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2021, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conversation-length/948533/1 "2021-08-12T17:19:07Z")
Just saw an interesting psychology article about conversation length. Apparently, when two people talk, both parties are happy with the length of the conversation a mere 2% of the time. Both wish the conversation could go on for longer 10% of the time. Much more commonly, one or both people think the conversation should have been shorter. I would guess Covid has made this much worse, and that this data predates Covid. I would also guess people like to hear themselves talk and are often terrible judges of assuming how much others want to listen. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2021, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conversation-length/948533/2 "2021-08-12T17:37:41Z")
One must wonder, in cases where both parties agreed that the conversation should be longer/shorter, why wasn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2021, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conversation-length/948533/3 "2021-08-12T17:46:18Z")
I’m done. 🤣 ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2021, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conversation-length/948533/4 "2021-08-12T17:53:18Z")
Both people wanted the last word - longer than desired conversation Someone pulled the fire alarm - shorter than desired conversation. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2021, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conversation-length/948533/5 "2021-08-12T20:54:23Z")
The actual study asked people if during the conversation they thought there was an earlier point at which the conversation should have ended. Conversations were probably longer than desired because it is unwise to tell the boss to shut up; and impolite to tell ones friends that they have talked about themselves quite enough, and without quite the personal fluency or wit residing in the perpendicular pronoun. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2021, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conversation-length/948533/6 "2021-08-12T21:02:32Z")
I’d imagine it’s all about power imbalance. The one in the lower position almost always wants a talk to end sooner. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2021, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conversation-length/948533/7 "2021-08-12T22:24:54Z")
Is this gonna be a long thread? mmm ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2021, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conversation-length/948533/8 "2021-08-12T22:36:12Z")
Already is. ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2021, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conversation-length/948533/9 "2021-08-13T13:41:04Z")
Do you have a link to the article? ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2021, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conversation-length/948533/10 "2021-08-13T17:50:28Z")
Why won’t you let a person get a word in edgewise? Jeez!!! ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2021, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conversation-length/948533/11 "2021-08-13T18:00:18Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > Someone pulled the fire alarm - shorter than desired conversation. Oh, like _you_ never pulled the fire alarm just to end a conversation. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2021, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conversation-length/948533/12 "2021-08-13T18:29:45Z")
i cannot find an online link to the brief article in this month’s Psychology Today. So here is an older article of middling relevance. > **[When Should a Conversation End?](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/friendly-interest/201812/when-should-conversation-end)** > > Why people keep talking long after you want them to stop. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2021, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conversation-length/948533/13 "2021-08-13T18:39:11Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > [When Should a Conversation End? | Psychology Today](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/friendly-interest/201812/when-should-conversation-end) From the article: > In a poster at a recent meeting of _Society for Judgment and Decision Making_… I wonder if they ever have an open bat at these get togethers. Imagine the possibilities. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2021, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conversation-length/948533/14 "2021-08-13T18:40:18Z")
“Before the next talk, for the next twenty minutes, all shots are fifty cents”. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2021, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/conversation-length/948533/15 "2021-08-13T19:11:43Z")
It’s always the other guy trying to shorten their conversations with me