My feeling is, people are afraid to be themselves, so they hide behind a script or a persona. Been there, done that.

I guess some people have no problem just taking off and talking. I have met people l who just pull you into their world, and they tend to go on and on as if you were not there.

Initial conversations resemble interviews or autobiographies because we want to know what appeals to them, what they might find comfortable to talk about or not. It is in my opinion a question of consideration, not some sort of test or history lesson.

Some people you just click with and you find yourself immediately comfortable with them, not sure why but its something I have experienced. Talking then becomes easy.

Conversation is not the easiest art to master. My general MO is to let people tell me whatever they would like, shut up and listen, and then give them a sense that they have been heard. It doesn't always work, but I would estimate that I've got more than a 50/50 strike rate in having meaningful conversations with people. Not pick ups, not hitting on women - just interesting conversations. But that's just me.

Let me check my phone first. brb.