‘Questions, Questions’ was a problem-solving programme on BBC Radio 4. Stewart Henderson the Presenter addressed the intriguing and seemingly imponderable questions posed by everyday life….
“If there are two rainbows in the sky, does the second one have the colours in reverse order?If so, why?”
“Why does the bread always fall to the floor butter side down?”
Since I don’t eat buttered bread I paid little heed to the answer for that question, so don’t ask me.November 08 was the last time I heard the programme and at my age memory plays tricks.Don’t tell Elly that it is selective defective!
Now we all have questions.Not like Captain Boyles “What is the Stars?”Or to give the proper quotation “I ofen looked up at the sky an’ assed meself the question - what is the moon, what is the stars?” - Captain Boyle, Act I of Juno and the Paycock by Sean O’Casey.
My question is:‘Why do people say “How are you?” when they meet someone, and do they really want to know or listen to the answer’?
On Friday I introduced you to three fine young men that I know of from the world of blogging and podcasting. One of them was
Cian MacMahon a fifth year student who podcasts as a hobby and so far has succeeded in finding two sponsors to cover his hosting expenses.Cian is a handsome young man with a crystal clear voice and excellent diction and I predict he will go places in the not to distant future.
Cian asked to interview me for a Podcast and the fruit of his labour is now available.
So make a coffee put your feet up and go pay a visit to View from the Quad where you can listen to the golden voice of Cian. In fact Mr Woss et al might learn a thing or two about how to conduct an interview with patience, good manners and preparation from this fine young fellow.
Sometimes it is by choice yet on occasions it is because I am drawn into a situation or life of another person. Part of the problem is that I am more of a listener than a talker. I have always loved voices and accents. Give me Anthony Hopkins or Richard Burton and the knees go a wobbling!
Being a people person I love back stories and learning what brings people to the place in life they now inhabit. For some it is pure happenstance, while for others it is a series of unfortunate or unexpected events. Sometimes the road seems level, coloured by flowers of joy and contentment, yet for others the path is rocky and rough causing many a stumble or fall along the way.
I don’t like to see any of my friends struggling and the ‘mother’ in me wants to help. Of course my idea of help may seem like interference to somebody else. Removed from a situation we all see things differently. It is a privilege to be asked for advice and it is all the more rewarding when it is accepted, and the person is able to deal with and move on from the problem.
There is one thing sure and that is I will not be bribed. Any information entrusted to me in confidence will not be passed on.
I have no professional training, yet over the years I have listened and talked to many people from different walks of life. Only once have I failed, and failed badly in my book. The person in question at times phoned me two and three times a day. I made myself available whenever they wanted to talk. They wanted to talk and asked my advice, but for every suggestion I made they found an obstacle. These conversations went on over two years. At times they heard but didn’t listen, eventually I realised that the depressed mood was affecting me and the person in question had become so used to wallowing that it had become a way of life. They refused to seek professional help.
I stepped back. I had to. If I let the birds of depression land on my shoulders who would be there to help me? Was I selfish? Did I do wrong?
Today while trying to follow the goings-on at Creative Camp in Kilkenny via Twitter and Jaiku, well I need to keep a beady eye on the Toyboys, I found this via seanabc onTwitter:
Dario asked if I listened to a Podcast he takes part in. It is the ‘Jefferson Davis & Friends Podcast’. The other participants are Brianf and Grandad.Dario is a first yearUniversity student at UCD in Dublin.Like all eighteen year-olds he is in a hurry to experience NOW all that the life of an adult holds.Dario hand on heart I can tell you that no adult has been able to do so.If it were possible to learn all there is to learn in your short life so far, think how boring the next 80 years might prove.
Yes, I have listened to your Podcast and did understand what you were saying.I have the patience to let my ears acclimatise to the sound of the various accents in a Podcast.Did you ever wonder why I spoke so slowly when making a Podcast?It is to allow folk who are unused to the sound of my voice to hear each word.If you speak at normal conversation speed it may not come over, across the airwaves.
Conn Ó Muíneacháin of Edgecast media:>was the official Pod-caster at the IrishBusinessWomen.comconference last weekend in Westport, Ireland.Terry Prone of Carr Communications was a speaker and she gives food for thought to all of us who seek to communicate.Terry is my vintage and she believes in what she does, and this means she gives a convincing message without us realising.You can link to it at (24MB, 41:14, MP3),
I have to admit that I was dependant on my voice to communicate all my working life.Folk heard me speak and sometimes never met me.
On one occasion a gentleman came into the office and I happened to be the first person he spoke to.I asked if I could help him.He said that he had an appointment with one of our director’s.I addressed him by name and said that he was expected, and to take a seat while I informed the director of his arrival.He called me back and said “I have never met you before; in fact I have never visited this office.How did you know my name?”I smiled and again addressed him by name saying “I speak to you on a regular basis by phone”.
At times I have difficulty putting a name to a person’s face.If I close my eyes and listen to them the name usually comes to me.
By the way Grandad’s voice was not how I imagined it at all.He sounds far to young to be a Grandad!
I suppose one of these days I will have to think of a subject to Podcast about.
