The Concise Guide to Sounding Smart at Parties
Chapter One
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The War Conversation
The sadly useful thing about the war conversation is that there’s always some kind of bloodshed going on somewhere in the world, and so it's easy to bring up. Though military history has been traditionally a guy topic, these days it's quite likely that in a room full of people of either sex someone will have served or at least had a sibling, significant other, or “ex” who did. Certainly, if you’re attending any armed forces related affair, familiarizing yourself with a few topics in the war conversation will help you win friends and get people talking. However, be mindful that you are likely to find a handful of Experts (see the Appendix, Who’s Who at the Party) in the crowd who will give you a run for your military money. So once things are rolling, consider where to take the talk next. Generally, military buffs tend to like video games, sports, action flicks (war movies), and politics. It’s worth noting, if you're dealing with people in the actual military, it’s a good rule of thumb to stay clear of criti ... read full excerpt from The Concise Guide to Sounding Smart at Parties ebook
