Random Ramblings of a Reluctant Blogger

To talk, or not to talk. That’s not even a question.
Recently a WhatsApp forward from a school friend group triggered this question in me. Among many well-meaning advice for senior citizens, was one addendum – silence.
Now, that had me thinking. For not long back I had read that talking actually helps. It quoted a scientific study to buttress its claim. Scientific studies, as we all know, is the most fair-weather friend one can ever have.
Not trying to put down these studies, but can’t help mentioning that the results do confirm, more often than not, what their sponsors want. That not being the subject matter here, I will leave it for another day.
Frankly speaking, to talk, or not to talk, isn’t so much a personal wish as a trait. We have all sorts of talkers, the occasional talkers, the constant talkers, the reluctant talkers and the nontalkers. Many a shrink would love to expand on this alone, provided they are paid well in their sessions.
Apart from all these talkers, there is a special breed – those who talk, because they talk.. Talking, for them, isn’t a therapy, nor a chore. It is as natural as breathing. I talk, therefore I am, is their motto.
They do not need an invitation to talk, and if they have ascended the senior citizen throne, they acquire a new life.  For now they have renewed their licence to kill, kill boredom that is what they tell you. However, the beneficiary of their largesse may not comprehend, let alone appreciate their slaying of the enui demon.
There is no topic big enough, no topic small enough. No barricade they cannot scale. No knowledge, nor the lack of it, can be a stumbling block. They can veer past any sticky situation with the deftness and speed of a Formula One driver. Tongue-tied they never are and the only chance of that happening is if the cat literally gets their tongue!
Embarrassed they rarely are. They  ramble on from one topic to another, and to be able to catch their mistakes and point it out requires patience of a sage.  And why will a sage be bothered to correct them?
Being wrong or right is not even an issue with them, because theirs  but to talk and talk. Their best moments are when they are around the silent ones. With no one to interrupt them, it is a field day these talkers dream off.
And what when one talker meets another?. If you are thinking of ego clashes, you are far from mistaken. Given that their brains aren’t wired for assimilation, they both find their own audience and the taking continues. After all, talking isn’t about winning or losing.
Since breaking ice isn’t even an issue with them, they can be termed the soul of a party, but only till the spirits begin to soar. Once that happens all are talkers. (My studies have shown that some talkers actually turn silent once Bacchus gets hold of them. Not a conclusive study though, something to be studied well.)
They come in all shapes, sizes, ages, sexes and are found everywhere. They gamely bear the ‘bore’ nomenclature, knowing well that they are the balance nature provides.
Just imagine a long trip with a reticent, shy and self-conscious group. All one needs is one talker amongst them. And the trip transforms into a memorable one.
To not to talk, then, isn’t even a question.