This is the Opinions, a show that brings you a mix of voices from New York Times opinion.
You've heard the news.
Here's what to make of it.
Would you rather have your hairline 1 inch from your eyebrow
or your gums start a centimeter from the bottom of your teeth?
My name is Annie Rose Strasser and I'm the executive producer of Opinion Audio,
which means that I listen basically all day to other people's conversations.
And I like to think about starting good conversations in my personal life too.
So we are headed into holiday party season when you have to find something new to talk
about with the person you talk to at work every day.
How are you good?
Or you have to see family who you haven't seen in a long time and you're like, oh God again.
Or, or the worst when you have people who don't know each other, who you are,
the connecting point between and you have to figure out a way to make all of them talk to each other.
All difficult situations that can be solved with a good conversation starter.
Conversation starters definitely get a bad rap.
I think it's because it sounds like a corny sort of self helpy terminology, but in fact, if you break it apart,
what we're talking about is like starting a conversation which is such a meaningful and important thing to do.
And I think really good conversation starters give you a lot of connection
and understanding of another person and empathy.