when somebody's telling you about their problem/event/date...do you needthe 20 minute version or the 25 second version?

Depends on why they're telling me...

If it's funny and/or involves sex, then the 20-minute version.

If the words "This happened at work today" are involved, then the 25-second version.

I'm guilty of taking the scenic route. But, I do it in a cute, old-man kinda way...

ThreadBare said:

I tend to use finger puppets...




"So then I'm at this party, right?...And these three guys are talking, and one of them says to me, right, he says to me, he says..."

if my mother in law is telling the story I would dearly just ONCE get the 25 second version, please PLEASE

It depends on who's talking to me

my mom normally tries for the 25sec version but spends 25 mins trying to dedicde if the person was using a blue or a black ink pen to write the offending comment.

ehuffnsd said:

or was it on a thursday or on the tuesday?

ZombieKitten said:

you've talked to her haven't you?

My Mum tries the 25 second, but can stretch it to 25 hours as she tries to "connect" me to the story.

"Did you hear about A?"

"Don't know A"

"She's married to B."

"Don't know B either."

"His brother, C, works in the chip shop"

*shrugs*

"You know him, he used to go out with D."


.....two days later....


"His mother-in-law is Z, you must know her."

"Oh yeah, I do know her."

"well, anyway, A is pregnant."

ehuffnsd said:

well if your mother is my mother in law

then you must be…







my husband!!!

ZombieKitten said:

ehuffnsd said:

oh my god, all the things you now know about me that I only tell strangers on an internet message board

ZombieKitten said:

ehuffnsd said:

so you forgive me?

ZombieKitten said:

for now

ehuffnsd said:

Fury said:

i prefer the 25 second version, and if i have questions i'll ask.

overexplainers make me insane. we really don't need a recap of the big bang and the invention of the wheel in order for me to understand why the cashier was rude to you at taco bell, okay?

OH!

and if you MUST tell an epic story to make your point,

START AT THE BEGINNING

AND WORK YOUR WAY TOWARD THE END

*PLEASE*

unless you write for "lost" or "heroes", chances are that your skills at non-linear storytelling may be perhaps a titch on the wanting side. don't get artsy. don't start your story at chapter 7 and then go back to chapter 2 and then go to the end oh but wait let me tell you chapter 1 and then chapter 5 and 3 and um wait i forget how this story goes....

NOOOO!!!

START AT THE BEGINNING.

WORK YOUR WAY TO THE END.

***THANK YOU.***

mcmeekle said:

A's pregnant? Holy shit!

Byron said:

Finally ...org note

I am often guilty of being a "longer version" person. I am trying to get better at shortening them because I even get sick of telling the story.

Ocean said:

And of course <--- that one seems to always apply

Byron said:

Get the theme song ready

i must admit that i tell epics.

i can remember telling my night of toranodoes story over the course of the entire dinner and it require one bathroom and one smoke break.

Ocean said:

It's running thru my head now lol ...

Byron said:

I that song

Most of my stories are quick, but I've got a few extended remixes I've amassed over the years that I think I do justice to. Storytelling can be an art, you know.