we talk too much

oh, not here on CS. Generally.

Money may be the root of all evil but it is only when we talk about it that people get really het up. If you don't know, you can't get annoyed.

To understand all is to forgive all - but we don't want to understand all. We want to believe what we believe, and talk others into our beliefs, and to get very angry indeed when the others won't listen, or persist in arguing.

I live now in a country where I don't yet speak the language. It's surprisingly peaceful. By the time I had lived this long - 3 months - in Scotland I was caught up in several separate long-running feuds in the neighbourhood and nervously trying to avoid taking sides, being ordered to join things like Home Watch, and backing away at speed from politically-indignant individuals with multiple opinions.

Here, no-one tries to talk to me about politics or issues. I greet people, remark how cold it is, we go on our way smiling. My Spanish builders have given up repeating themselves endlessly in the hope I will suddenly start understanding and instead we get by on a handful of words and a lot of vigorous mime. Ditto when I look up the Spanish phrase I need and go to the DIY shop on the corner. The very voluble duenna in my street who grabs everyone who passes and talks at them for 20 minutes just nods, smiles and pats my dog (which she calls wa-wa).

My neighbour speaks several languages and translates when mime is simply not enough, but for the rest no feelings are offended by things said, because there is not enough vocabulary to offend.

I am beginning to think I should never learn Spanish. I like this peace and quiet!

We talk too much.