Touchiest and/or Most Depressing Topic To Talk About At Parties

[Ptarmigan]

There are things you do not talk about at the dinner table. You know, politics, money, religion, and sex. This rule well applies at parties, weddings, etc. What is the touchiest and/or most depressing topic you can talk about at a party?

For me, they are:
World Trade Center/September 11, 2001
Natural Disasters, especially really bad ones like Hurricane Katrina or Tropical Cyclone Nargis
Joseph Stalin/Adolf Hitler

[rich_t]

There are things you do not talk about at the dinner table. You know, politics, money, religion, and sex. This rule well applies at parties, weddings, etc. What is the touchiest and/or most depressing topic you can talk about at a party?

For me, they are:
World Trade Center/September 11, 2001
Natural Disasters, especially really bad ones like Hurricane Katrina or Tropical Cyclone Nargis
Joseph Stalin/Adolf Hitler

I don't have a problem with discussing any of the examples you posted.

[Chris_]

A grown man pretending to be a bird who hates rabbits on the internet?  I imagine that might be an uncomfortable topic.

[Ptarmigan]

I don't have a problem with discussing any of the examples you posted.

I will admit I have talked about the September 11th terrorist attack, more specifically the World Trade Center at parties a lot due to the fact that I like New York a lot. What really gets to me sometimes is that some people have a nervous smile or laugh on their face. I take real offense at it because 3,000 people died and the World Trade Center is destroyed. Sometimes I do a reality check on myself, "What the hell am I doing? This is the worst attack on America." 

[Chris_]

"Is my deodorant working?"

"My doctor said my ringworm should clear up in a week or 2."

"What do you mean that ugly, ball-busting bulldyke is your wife?"

"****ing Chlamydia, who would have thunk it?"

[Ptarmigan]

A grown man pretending to be a bird who hates rabbits on the internet?  I imagine that might be an uncomfortable topic.

Not really touchy for me.

[Duke Nukum]

At a party, I try to avoid people who aren't there to have fun.  Unless it is like a pity party or something.

[Miss Mia]

Depression and/or my alcoholic mother.

Two subjects that aren't pleasant when brought up. 



Those aren't usually brought up though, cause I'm a happy drunk.   

[Chris_]

A grown man pretending to be a bird who hates rabbits on the internet?  I imagine that might be an uncomfortable topic.

Not really touchy for me.

Touchy?  Maybe not.  Stupid?  Definitely.

[Ptarmigan]

At a party, I try to avoid people who aren't there to have fun.  Unless it is like a pity party or something.

I have a lot of fun at parties despite it all.

[Chris_]

Depression and/or my alcoholic mother.

Two subjects that aren't pleasant when brought up. 



Those aren't usually brought up though, cause I'm a happy drunk.   

 

[Chris_]

I know at my sister's wedding rehearsal dinner, everyone was pretty much wasted on the potent margaritas provided by the caterer, and things did get WAY out of hand.

Since my parents are divorced, it got rather awkward when my drunk as hell father started in on a discussion regarding my deceased stepfather (died of a heart attack).    My sis and I may have been tipsy ourselves, but with our mom there, we were PISSED OFF! 

[Duke Nukum]

A grown man pretending to be a bird who hates rabbits on the internet?  I imagine that might be an uncomfortable topic.

Dude, I don't think he's pretending.  Some birds can talk so I assume some can type.  It's just another form of mimicry.

And while I have never seen a rabbit-hating bird, I have seen crows chasing after squirrels.  One time it reminded me of that scene in North by Northwest where the crop duster was chasing after Carey Grant.

So the idea seems plausible to me.  I mean it is the Internets after all and "here," reality is what one can get away with.

[Miss Mia]

Depression and/or my alcoholic mother.

Two subjects that aren't pleasant when brought up. 



Those aren't usually brought up though, cause I'm a happy drunk.   

 

Though two weeks ago this guy at the usual Saturday night drunkfest, the downstairs neighbor came up.  He got a 30 minute lecture after he told me he wasn't registered to vote.

[Chris_]

A grown man pretending to be a bird who hates rabbits on the internet?  I imagine that might be an uncomfortable topic.

Dude, I don't think he's pretending.  Some birds can talk so I assume some can type.  It's just another form of mimicry.

And while I have never seen a rabbit-hating bird, I have seen crows chasing after squirrels.  One time it reminded me of that scene in North by Northwest where the crop duster was chasing after Carey Grant.

So the idea seems plausible to me.  I mean it is the Internets after all and "here," reality is what one can get away with.

[Duke Nukum]

A grown man pretending to be a bird who hates rabbits on the internet?  I imagine that might be an uncomfortable topic.

Dude, I don't think he's pretending.  Some birds can talk so I assume some can type.  It's just another form of mimicry.

And while I have never seen a rabbit-hating bird, I have seen crows chasing after squirrels.  One time it reminded me of that scene in North by Northwest where the crop duster was chasing after Carey Grant.

So the idea seems plausible to me.  I mean it is the Internets after all and "here," reality is what one can get away with.

Just so, just so.

[rich_t]

I don't have a problem with discussing any of the examples you posted.

I will admit I have talked about the September 11th terrorist attack, more specifically the World Trade Center at parties a lot due to the fact that I like New York a lot. What really gets to me sometimes is that some people have a nervous smile or laugh on their face. I take real offense at it because 3,000 people died and the World Trade Center is destroyed. Sometimes I do a reality check on myself, "What the hell am I doing? This is the worst attack on America." 

But in what context did you talk about it?  Did you bring it up "out of the blue" or was in merely part of a progressing conversation that ended up on that topic?

Circumstances matter.

[djones520]

It all depends on who i'm at the party with.  If i'm with good friends, no subject is taboo.  If i'm with relative strangers, I'll probably avoid fire starters like politices, religion, stuff like that.

[Chris_]

Depression and/or my alcoholic mother.

Two subjects that aren't pleasant when brought up. 



Those aren't usually brought up though, cause I'm a happy drunk.   

 

Though two weeks ago this guy at the usual Saturday night drunkfest, the downstairs neighbor came up.  He got a 30 minute lecture after he told me he wasn't registered to vote.

I dunno, whenever I hear about someone who isn't registered to vote, my first reaction is usually "Thank God".   

[Miss Mia]

I dunno, whenever I hear about someone who isn't registered to vote, my first reaction is "Thank God". 

Yeah, I definitely should have gone that route with this one too.  Don't worry, I doubt my lecture changed his mind.  He thought I was flirting with him and after he went in to go to the bathroom, I immediately hooked on to a single guy there and said "we're dating."  LOL

[Ptarmigan]

But in what context did you talk about it?  Did you bring it up "out of the blue" or was in merely part of a progressing conversation that ended up on that topic?

Circumstances matter.

Usually when I talk about New York or sometimes out of the blue. 

[Chris_]

I dunno, whenever I hear about someone who isn't registered to vote, my first reaction is "Thank God". 

Yeah, I definitely should have gone that route with this one too.  Don't worry, I doubt my lecture changed his mind.  He thought I was flirting with him and after he went in to go to the bathroom, I immediately hooked on to a single guy there and said "we're dating."  LOL

oooh, that hurts. 

[Miss Mia]

I dunno, whenever I hear about someone who isn't registered to vote, my first reaction is "Thank God". 

Yeah, I definitely should have gone that route with this one too.  Don't worry, I doubt my lecture changed his mind.  He thought I was flirting with him and after he went in to go to the bathroom, I immediately hooked on to a single guy there and said "we're dating."  LOL

oooh, that hurts. 

I think he ended up being more embarrassed than anything.  He was heavily intoxicated when he came up to the gathering. 

[rich_t]

But in what context did you talk about it?  Did you bring it up "out of the blue" or was in merely part of a progressing conversation that ended up on that topic?

Circumstances matter.

Usually when I talk about New York or just out of the blue. 

If you say so.

[rich_t]

It all depends on who i'm at the party with.  If i'm with good friends, no subject is taboo.  If i'm with relative strangers, I'll probably avoid fire starters like politices, religion, stuff like that.

Good rule of thumb IMO.