Modern conversation seems to be morphing into the art of using others' comments as triggers for one's own monologue. Instead of having the discipline of quieting ourselves in order to comprehend what others are saying, we isolate ourselves into narcissism by placing mirrors onto their heads.
An awareness of this trend may surprise you about how little we actually relate to each other. Rather, we use others to relate to ourselves.
I have tried probably too hard to not be this person. As a result, i've had literally hundreds of people tell me I'm a great listener. I don't order food at my usual haunts, they just make it. Letting people talk, and actually hearing and giving one flying fuck, is more impactful than I ever imagined.
I'm pretty sure in real life it happens that in a coming together somebody has a spark and tells a story in 5 minutes. This is in no way different.
Everyone, let's be sure we stick to the real business of HN: gossip about companies which were started for no reason other than to get sold, fighting over the brands of fetishized personal electronics, hagiographies of people like Steve Jobs and Edward Snowden, flamewars about women in tech, and preening about how we personally are the top 1% of software engineers and only hire people like ourselves.
Otherwise, someone might feel saddened.