2010/03/27 Dublin
Tool
Talk
On Wednesday evening I had a talk with an Iraqi civil servant.
The first time I met him was in the early summer of 2008.
Then we had a lovely lunch at the Al-Rasheed Hotel.
There is eroticism hidden in talking to strangers, in hearing them out. But the curiosity that’s necessary to do this, to engage with the other person, is also the basis of friendship.
The person you are listening to is not a tool.
Both the listener and the speaker are tools.
[ Add comment ]
7 comments 
I wonder whether the eroticism you mention, also has to do with the questions the interviewer asks (not ment as a triviality!), because you can't ask without giving anything away of yourself.
I'm thinking about "Both the listener and the speaker are tools." How about the questions?
I'm thinking about "Both the listener and the speaker are tools." How about the questions?
Talking to strangers is always a risky undertaking. There's tension, which, I agree, is also present in eroticism but it's not congruent with it. It's like trying not to look like dinner to a (sometimes fascinating) wild animal.
In general I am sceptical about metaphors, but Juliane B.' worked unsuspectedly charming.
My sincere compliments for it.
My sincere compliments for it.
Juliane
I always suspected you wanted to be my dinner. But with all due respect I count on you as my dessert.Pjötr / Arnon
@ PjötrWell, thank you very much indeed.
@ Arnon
Since it is the fun part of eating and I don't consider myself the one obligated to nourish you I'm perfectly happy with being dessert.
Who took this picture?
The other tool? Or a passer-by?
The other tool? Or a passer-by?
Cryptic blog. Tools for what?
[ Add comment ]
