48 Questions to Help You Make an Awkward Conversation Easier / Sudo Null IT News

How many times a week do you have to have meaningless conversations?

on topics that are uninteresting to you or discuss
issues that you have already discussed a thousand times
because you just need to say something?
This usually happens in moments of forced waiting for something, for example, while waiting for a very slowly moving elevator in the company of one’s own colleagues or casual acquaintances during various events. To make boring conversations like this more interesting, it's worth asking people unexpected questions
that make them think, and that can't be answered with a simple yes or no.

The result will most likely be amazing: you will learn a lot of interesting facts about other people that you would never get out of your usual boring conversation. And, as an added bonus, you will become closer to each other. Sometimes this can be really important!

If you are ready for unconventional actions, look through the list of the most successful questions, which is divided into topics for convenience.

Of course, not every one of these questions is appropriate to talk to every person or in every situation, but nevertheless, this list provides a fairly wide selection to avoid awkward silences.

Job

1. If you didn’t work here, what would you most likely be doing now? 2. How did you become ... (job title)? 3. What surprised you most about this job? 4. What is the most ridiculous task your boss has ever given you? 5. What would be more preferable for you: working four days a week for 10 hours or five days for 8? 6. If you had guaranteed success in any position, what would you prefer to do? 7. What was your first job? Did you like her? 8. What is the most valuable piece of professional development advice you have ever received? Which one was the worst?

Running out of topics to talk about? Here are a few more:

Use these fun questions when you just want to create a light atmosphere. There's no need to complicate things. These funny questions will help you avoid empty conversations. They are great for spending free time at work, in the car or at the dinner table.

18. If animals could talk, which animal would be the rudest?

19. If you had to change your name, what new name would you choose? Why?

Serious and funny responses are welcome.

20. If you became a professional athlete, what sport would you excel at?

You can invent your own sport, for example, “championship in talking without swearing.”

21. If you could be in any movie, which movie would you like to be in and what role would you like to play?

You can come up with your own movie and your own characters, or mash up an existing movie and a non-existent character.

22. If you were sitting on a bench in a beautiful forest, who would you want to see next to you on the bench and why?

23. If you could invite four famous people to dinner, who would you choose and why? And where would you go for dinner?

Entertainment

9. Are you reading any interesting book now? I would like some recommendations. What about the show? 10. Are there any apps on your phone that you can't live without? 11. If you could only watch one genre of cinema for the rest of your life, what would you choose? What about musical preferences? 12. Which book did you hate that everyone admired? And vice versa? 13. Do you have any podcast recommendations? 14. Which movie have you watched recently that made you cry? How about laughing out loud? 15. Who would you like to be your partner on the reality show Amazing Race? In our realities, you can ask a similar question about programs like “Fort Boyard” or “The Last Hero”. 16. Who is your Instagram favorite? And vice versa? Oh, you don't have Instagram? Why?

Experiment

Intimacy is formed when people have a genuine interest in each other. At the same time, accepting your partner for who he is. This is a state that is often called “souls touching.”

Agree, it is much more comfortable to be in the company of a person when you can be sincere with him than to communicate with someone, “putting on” a mask and playing the expected role. Is not it?

Psychologist Arthur Aron once asked this question, what exactly helps to form intimacy. Therefore, in 1997, I decided to undertake an experiment, which is known in the world as “36 questions”.

Its essence was that complete strangers had to ask each other a list of questions provided by Arthur.

Students took part, and the couples consisted not only of representatives of the opposite sex. There were significantly fewer men, so some of the girls talked to each other.

The questions were divided into three parts, 12 in each. Time was limited, only 45 minutes for the entire study cycle.

As a result, it turned out that most of the couples participating in the experiment soon started families.

The girls, deprived of a partner of the opposite sex, remained on friendly terms.

This way they not only got to know each other better, but also shared information that sometimes even close relatives are not aware of. For one simple reason – they weren’t interested.

Food

17. If you were told that you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? 18. What is the strangest dish you have ever tried in your life? 19. What is your comfort food? 20. Is there any food that you will never eat? 21. Advise what can be easily and without problems taken to work/school as lunch, but it should not be sandwiches. 22. Where can you eat inexpensively here? 23. Do your family have any culinary secrets or traditional recipes? 24. What is your favorite restaurant/cafe that is not very well known to a wide circle of people?

Interesting topics for conversation

If you want someone to be interested in you, ask interesting questions. Many of these questions have no underlying meaning, and that's okay. Variety is the spice of life.

Use these random questions to push the boundaries of the normal into uncharted territories.

13. If you had to eat the same food for the rest of your life, what would you eat and why?

14. If you could invite any celebrities to your party (even those who are no longer alive), who would you invite?

15. What if there are actually many souls in your body, but you are the most powerful, so you are able to control your body, and the voices you hear in your head are just weak souls talking to you?

16. What if instead of police dogs there were giant police spiders?

Would there be much less crime?

17. If there was no coffee in the world, what would you drink (or eat) in the morning to perk up?

Trips

25. Is there a “heavenly” place to relax somewhere nearby? 26. If you could fly anywhere absolutely free, where would you go? 27. What's the coolest road trip you've ever taken? 28. What trip did you take during your last vacation? What were you doing there? What do you remember? 29. What type of holiday do you prefer - active or relaxing somewhere on a cozy beach? 30. What next trip have you already planned? 31. If you were able to take time off, or had the opportunity to work remotely, where would you go and what would you do? 32. What is your favorite thing to do on the weekend?

Getting to know your partner

One important thing in a relationship is getting to know your partner. This way you can know what to expect from them and can also find out if you are a good fit for each other.

What's your ideal way to spend a holiday?
What makes you not love a person?
Do you consider yourself a confident person? Why or why not?
What are you most proud of?
What would be your best version of yourself?
What life experiences did you miss?
When are you truly “you”?
What musical instrument would you like to play?
What's the best compliment you've ever received?
What age would you like to live to?
Under what circumstances did you quarrel with some of your close friends?
When did an ordinary event or accident completely change the course of your life?
Are you happy/satisfied with those you surround yourself with? Why, why not?
If you could go to any country in the world for one month, where would you go?
What is your favorite memory of someone who is no longer in your life?
How superstitious/superstitious are you?
What has been a recurring theme in your life?
What was your most inappropriate or embarrassing fart?
What do you think happens after death?
What are your top five rules for life?
What is your favorite thing in your/our home?
What book or movie would you like to see for the first time?
If you had a friend who spoke to you the way you speak to yourself, would you keep him as a friend?
What little things do people do that get on your nerves?
What gives meaning to your life?
What would you like to tell people, but can't?
What traits do you find most attractive in people?
What secret have you never told anyone?
What little pleasures do you enjoy the most?
Who is the most annoying person you know?
What's your biggest mistake to date?
What have you struggled with all your life?
What is the most significant change you would like to make in your life?
What do you want from life?
What calms you down the most?
What things do you find disgusting?
What would your ideal life look like?
If you received a salary to follow your dream, what would you do?
What's your most embarrassing story while you were sick?
What friend have you not thought about for a long time?
What's the craziest thing that happened at your job?
Who are you being nice to but secretly don't like?
If money was no object, how would you decorate your/our home without my help?
How well do you read people?
Do you see your future positively?
Who do you want to be like, or who do you look up to most?
What were the healthiest and unhealthiest periods of your life?
What is the worst emotional or mental pain you have experienced?
What do you like most about where we live?
What are you worrying about?
What did you screw up and then tried to hide?
What's the scariest/most creepy place you've ever been?
Do you think the world is getting better or worse? Why?
How do you think society is changing? Will we change with him?
Worst thing people are proud of?
What's the biggest betrayal you've experienced?
What would be the best gift?
What are you afraid of?
What makes you feel super cool/cool?
What would you like your obituary to say?
What takes up too much space in your life?
What is the saddest or happiest realization you have achieved?
What was the hardest lesson you had to learn?
Would you take $3 million if it meant the person you hate most in the world would get $9 million?
What part of you as a person still needs a lot of work?
What words of wisdom are stuck in your head?
How well do you know yourself?
What's your best flaw?
How do you forgive?
Tell me about the time you almost died.
Are you ashamed of what you did in the past? If you feel comfortable talking about it, what was it?
Do you prefer to live in the countryside, in the city or in the metropolis? Why?
What are your fondest memories of a tree/trees?
What sensations are the most pleasant for you?
Are you happy/satisfied with your chosen career path? Or would you like to choose a different career?
What's the most unethical thing you do on a regular basis?
What could be more difficult than it seems?
What job do you think you were born for?
What's the biggest financial mistake you've made?
What makes you lose faith in humanity when you think about it?
What was the most painful thing you heard?

What biases do you think you have?
What internal struggle do you not tell anyone about?
What luxury item do you sometimes treat yourself to?
What do you like to do most when you have time?
What is normal now, but in 100 years will be considered unethical and barbaric?
When do you leave with the intention of being remembered?
If there was an accident that left you unconscious in the emergency room, how long would you want to be in the emergency room?
Do you believe in good and bad luck? What about the things that bring success and failure?
If you had a million dollars to give to charity, what type of charity would you do?
What are many people afraid of, but you are not?
If you could open a business, what type of business would you open?
The thing that automatically makes a person unattractive to you, even if they are physically attractive?
What lie have you believed for an incredibly long time?
What are the three most important turning points in your life?
What animal are you most afraid of?
What scandal happened in your neighborhood or city when you were growing up?
How well do you think you would survive in prison?
What's the most awkward social situation you've been in?
What scares you every day?
When was the last time you cried?
What was the most peaceful, calm and pleasant night you had, after which you got enough sleep?
What's the most dangerous thrill-seeking thing you'd like to do?
What is your biggest regret?
Is it better to trust people or not to trust them? And why?
What are your best and worst qualities?
Who do you miss the most?
What's the hardest life lesson you've learned?
What do you take for granted?
Stressful situation you've ever been in? How did/have you dealt with this?
What's the most ambitious thing you've tried to do?
How often do you change your mind? Or how do you see the world?
What's the biggest opportunity you've been given?
What should people enjoy more because it won't last?
What question do you want people to ask more often?
What's the saddest thing in your life that no one knows about?
What are you most sentimental/sentimental about?
Do people more often look down on you or, on the contrary, look up to you? Why is that?
What question do you most want answered?
What are the characteristics of a superficial person?
What do you look forward to most during the day?
If you could instantly acquire a talent or skill, what would you want to know how to do?
When is your favorite time of day?
What are the best and worst things about the period in history we are living through?
What is the most useful thing in your daily life?
Strange thing that stresses you out more than it should?
When do you really feel in your element?
How likely are you to believe conspiracy theories?
Tell us stories from your youth related to alcohol?
What's the best way to improve yourself?
What was the most productive time in your life? What about the least productive?
What three words best describe you?
How well do you work under high pressure?
What is your weakness?
What are the two most important events in your life?
What's bad for you and you know it, but you still can't get rid of it?
What is the greatest service you have done for someone?
How does your current morning routine compare to your ideal morning routine?
What brings you the most joy?
What are you deliberately ignoring even though you know you should/should address it?
What would you like to be better at?
Is there something you've done wrong over the years, only to find out later that you did it wrong?

Biography

33. Where did you live before? How is that city different from your current place of residence? 34. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? 35. Do you have any hidden talents or unexpected hobbies? 36. What did you like to do in elementary school (outside the school curriculum)? 37. What accessory or item was your “must-have” in childhood/teenage, i.e., growing up? 38. What was the most incredible thing that has ever happened to you? 39. Who was the most significant person, mentor, role model for you? 40. What was the most valuable piece of advice you've ever been given?

Questions about childhood2

What was your biggest fear as a child?
What was your favorite food as a child? What's your favorite dish right now?
What was your favorite treat as a child?
Did you want to change your name as a child? If so, what would you like to be called?
Did you want to have a little brother or sister as a child?
Did you have a favorite lesson at school?
What affectionate name did your parents call you?
Have you ever been to a children's summer camp?
At what age did you start asking to use the potty?
What is your best childhood memory?
What's your worst childhood memory?
How did your parents punish you?

Did your parents often punish you?
Did your parents inspire more fear or love?
Did they sing lullabies to you?
How many toys did you have?
Have you often broken toys?
Was there a toy that you dreamed of, but you never bought it?
Do you still have your childhood toys?
Do you remember your first D grade at school?
Did you like your first teacher?
Was T often capricious at the table?
As a child, which parent was more loving?
Did you have a friend in childhood whom you wanted to follow as an example?
At what age did you learn to read and write?
Did you cry often as a child?
As a child, which adult did you trust the most?
In childhood, did you feel the support of your family, or did they just evaluate and condemn?
Did you want to turn into some kind of animal as a child? In which?
What kind of superhero did you want to become?
What pets did you have? What were their names?
Have you ever had to skip classes?
Have you always told your parents the truth?
Did you have to clean up your school diary?
Who was your favorite Star Wars character?
What were your favorite cartoons?
Have you often been put in a corner?
Did your parents always punish you fairly?

Were you forced to participate in the sports section? Music school?
Have you ever broken a window with a ball?
Did you have a fear of the dark as a child?
Have you ever binged on candy or other treats to the point where your stomach started to hurt?
Have you ever stolen raspberries or apples?
“A terrible secret”: have you ever had to tear off the wings of flies or butterflies?
What was the funniest promise you made to your parents?
Were you afraid of Babayka? Did they scare you with Babayka?
What do you want to become when you grow up?
Have you ever climbed trees?
Who was your sworn enemy?
Who was your best friend?
What was your biggest school mischief?
Have you ever wanted to run away from home?
What are your earliest memories?
Did you study well at school?
Were you a good boy (girl) or a bully?
What's the best birthday you've ever had?
Did your parents organize children's parties for you?
Have you had a lavish birthday celebration?

Miscellaneous

41. If you were entrusted with choosing eight objects that would receive the status of “8 Wonders of the World,” what would you add to this list?
42. What would you put in a time capsule 15 years ago? 43. Which of all the compliments you have received was the strangest? 44. Have you ever thought about “cool” inventions or starting companies that, as it turns out, have already been made or founded? 45. If you could teach any course in college, what subject would you choose? 46. What is something completely out of character for you that you have ever done? 47. What superpower would you like to have? 48. If you could have absolutely any pet, which one would you choose? PS We recommend another useful article on the topic of working on yourself - 30 websites that will make you much more educated

The author of the translation is Vyacheslav Davidenko, founder of TESTutor

7 more topics to talk about

Use these questions at the beginning of a conversation when you want to go beyond the ordinary. After all, sometimes people get bored with typical topics of conversation.

7. If you suddenly woke up during a fire, what three things would you save by running outside?

This question is a great way to find out what things are most important to a person, things that can tell you a lot about them.

8. What would you spend three wishes on?

A classic question that can generate a wide range of answers.

9. If you were given the chance to go to the Moon or Mars, would you go? Why?

10. What if you had to choose between a great romantic relationship that would end in just a year and an average relationship that would last your entire life, which would you choose?

11. If you found a suitcase filled with $1,000,000, what would you do?

This is a fun question because you can discuss where the money could potentially come from that could influence your decisions.

12. If you could easily travel around the world and live anywhere, where would you go permanently (or maybe stay where you are now)? Why?

A person's dream home can say a lot about their personality and tastes, as well as their goals and ambitions.

Afterword

The questions are formulated in such a way that they cannot be given a short and unambiguous answer. Every time a person has to choose, think, analyze and reveal his soul more and more deeply to his interlocutor. Due to this, a special atmosphere is created.

During the interview, participants get to know themselves and their interlocutor better. They have to expose themselves morally, they become vulnerable, they show their weakness. Therefore, the questionnaire is relevant for already established couples. This is an opportunity to look at each other again, to discover something new, observing the reactions, answers, pauses, and emotions of the partner.

Psychologists note that the method is suitable not only for restoring love relationships, but also for working on friendly feelings.