Active Listening
Note: This topic was mentioned during the call but not discussed in depth.
Active listening is a key component of curiosity as social practice, particularly emphasized by LP1 (Louise).
Louise's Emphasis
"And remember the answer!!!"
This simple reminder captures something essential:
- Asking questions isn't enough
- You must listen to answers
- You must remember what you learned
- You must follow up over time
Components of Active Listening
Beyond just hearing:
- Attention - being fully present
- Understanding - grasping what's said
- Remembering - retaining information
- Following up - referring back in future conversations
- Caring - treating the answer as valuable
Connection to Etymology
From Etymology of Curiosity:
"To be curious is to care enough to pay attention."
Listening is how we pay attention to what curiosity reveals.
Without Active Listening
Gil Friend's stories of one-way conversations:
- People asked Gil questions
- Gil answered
- But did they listen?
- Did they remember?
- Did they care?
Asking without listening is performative curiosity.
Jerry's List
"What happened to listening? To discourse? To critical thinking? To civility?"
Listening as foundational to:
- Discourse
- Understanding
- Connection
- Learning
In Social Practice
Pete Kaminski's social curiosity practice requires:
- Asking questions (the practice)
- Listening to answers (the essential part)
- Remembering and following up (the proof of care)
Making It Real
How to practice active listening:
- Put away distractions
- Look at the person
- Don't plan your next statement while they talk
- Ask follow-up questions
- Remember for next conversation
- Show you remember
Related Themes
- Curiosity as Social Practice
- Genuine vs Performative Curiosity
- Etymology of Curiosity
- Care and Attention