Snowflake Day 3: Guess Who's Coming To Dinner

[tielan]

So the interesting question is whether you presume that the people you're inviting would be interested in talking to you over a dinner that you hosted.

Do you have to invite extroverts who will naturally fill the room with conversation, etc? Or else the obliviously garrulous who will natter on, because the people whose opinion you're interested in won't actually talk to you?

Let's just say I've had enough people who I connected with on social media, but when it came to f2f interactions, meals were a bust. 60-90 minutes of awkwardly stilted conversation and either we never spoke again online or off, or we never met in person again and never referenced it.

Basically, dinner parties hinge on having "the race that knows Joseph" or else having people who can fake courtesy and interaction sufficiently smoothly that if the talk doesn't flow it at least doesn't lapse into awful silence.

I do wonder a little if the tendency to reach for the phone to check social media is one way of lubricating interactions that have far too much potential to break under silence. That's not an excuse, mind you, just a thought.

People I'd like to invite for dinner because I'd be interested in what they might talk about:

The fictional group includes: Teyla Emmagan about the worlds she's travelled through in the Pegasus galaxy, Elizabeth Weir about diplomatic stuff, Maria Hill & Pepper Potts about managing the Avengers, Gwen of Camelot because servants see everything, Raleigh Becket because he'd have seen and done a lot in and out of the Jaeger program, and Heimdall from the MCU although getting him to talk would probably be difficult at best. Bill Adama would have a lot to talk about,

Real life? Actually, I'd probably invite a bunch of politicians. Julia Gillard, Kristina Keneally, Jacinta Ardern, Hillary Clinton, Kamala Harris to start off. And Michelle Obama because, hello, Michelle Obama. Oh, I'd add the two ladies from Pantsuit Politics because they'd just ask the BEST QUESTIONS. Maybe toss in Annabelle Crabbe and Leigh Sales for an Australian perspective? And I'd add a friend who does a similar kind of 'commentary on politics' but from a Christian/faith perspective. Just for the local flavour and to see what kind of questions she'd ask...

Poeple I'd like to invite for dinner because they'd be entertaining and collectively a damn good show:

Fictionally: Tony Stark, Rodney McKay, Daniel Jackson (look, I'd throw Daniel in there just to watch him rolls his eyes repeatedly at both Rodney and Tony), Thor, Valkyrie, Kara Thrace (might have to seat these two at opposite ends with Thor midway between them or there's likely to be mass property destruction). I feel like the entertainment needs more snarkitude, so I'd add Dr. Evil, and, you know, I think I'll toss Barney Stinson and Spike in there. Nothing like some snark and bite to get things going.

Real life? Uh, probably the RL group above. *shrug* Maybe add Obama, John Dickson (Australian Christian, really good at thoughtful questions), Jason Kander, Stacy Abrams... Actually, wait, today, tonight, I'd put Stacy Abrams at the table and just tell all the guys to shut up and listen. XD

Comments

[deird1]

"the race that knows Joseph"

Nice to see this expression. :)

I agree with several of your suggestions.

[tielan]

It's such an apt descriptor! Thank you Miss Cornelia!

[deird1]

I'm quite fond of Rilla's version: "so nice and race-of-Josephy".

[alexseanchai]

Daniel, yes!

[paulamcg]

Thank you for sharing a very thoughtful and comprehensive response to the challenge! ♥

[sjh2009]

I love your selection of people and the reasons behind your choices, it should make for very interesting dinner conversation. I hadn't even thought of policitians but you've chosen a great selection of string and influential women.

[tsuki_no_bara]

i've heard of possibly half the politicians you mention (took me a minute to remember why julia gillard's name was familiar, but i got there eventually), and while i'd love to attend a dinner party with them, i have no idea what i'd say. other than "you're amazing, can i shake your hand?" also possibly "we're not worthy!" to stacey abrams.... (and "uh, so, what's your ao3 account?" because apparently she's read spn fic?) mostly i'd just want to hear them talk to other people.

oh man, i bet maria hill and pepper potts have stories.

[beatrice_otter]

I'd love to sit in on any of these conversations!