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LordSappington · 01-24-2009, 04:30 PM

I have run into a fairly repetitive social problem. At many of the organized social events I attend, it is heavily populated by law students. I won't go in to why I attend these events; just accept that I need to attend them. I am not a law student. I've been completely unable to engage these people in any meaningful way. I simply can't hold a conversation with them to save my life.

Here are some sample conversations:
Me: Hey, I met you when I crashed the law school happy hour when we had that mutual friend
Her: Yeah, I remember you. You're name is LS.
Me: Great memory, J. Do you talk a lot to mutual friend?
Her: No
Me: Oh, anyhow, I had a weird run-in with the law school. I posted an ad on Craigslist to teach guitar, and your friend L answered. Now I'm teaching her guitar. Isn't that weird?
Her: I don't like L anymore. She's a slut.
Me: I see. So, how is school?
Her: School is going. I'm trying to get an internship for the summer. (turns to another student). How is your internship going? I'm annoyed that Professor Wilkes won't release our grades so I can't get my internship. (guy responds). Yeah, I found that section 7 of contract law was hard too. What quartile are you in. Yeah, I figured as much because that's the only one I am not in.
Me (attempting to change subject): So, what kind of job are you going for this summer?
Her: I'm getting a job working for a hotel firm. It's not a good job, but the economy is so tight, I'll take what I can get. Suzy is also getting a job there (turns to other law student). Can you believe that Suzy and Bob are dating now? That's so weird, since in maritime law class, they used to sit on opposite ends of the class. I don't like Professor Frink in that class. Can you understand his accent?

I'd say pretty much every single interaction I've had with law students happens like that. I try to steer the conversation away from law and school, and they steer it right back to topics that completely exclude me. Sometimes, they just walk away in the middle of the conversation to talk to other law students. It's very unpleasant, to say the least. This type of thing tends to happen with any group of people who know each other well. For example, the people local to my city do this all the time (replace law with discussion of high school friends), and consequently have a well-deserved reputation of being very unfriendly and cliquish.

I don't think it's my lack of skills. At this same social event, I had a great conversation with someone studying animation. Also, his wife who studies the Middle East. But sadly, these people are very rare at these events. Often times, they are completely absent.

What can I do to get them to stop this? My old therapist's advice was: stop talking to law students. They are boring people who have no interest in anyone but themselves. I'm not sure that's true. I try to show interest in what they're doing, but half the time I don't even understand what they're even talking about it. When I try to stop them to clarify, they explain quickly but never engage me. It's very excluding and depressing.

01-24-2009, 04:30 PM	#1 (permalink)
LordSappington Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 166	Conversing with law students I have run into a fairly repetitive social problem. At many of the organized social events I attend, it is heavily populated by law students. I won't go in to why I attend these events; just accept that I need to attend them. I am not a law student. I've been completely unable to engage these people in any meaningful way. I simply can't hold a conversation with them to save my life. Here are some sample conversations: Me: Hey, I met you when I crashed the law school happy hour when we had that mutual friend Her: Yeah, I remember you. You're name is LS. Me: Great memory, J. Do you talk a lot to mutual friend? Her: No Me: Oh, anyhow, I had a weird run-in with the law school. I posted an ad on Craigslist to teach guitar, and your friend L answered. Now I'm teaching her guitar. Isn't that weird? Her: I don't like L anymore. She's a slut. Me: I see. So, how is school? Her: School is going. I'm trying to get an internship for the summer. (turns to another student). How is your internship going? I'm annoyed that Professor Wilkes won't release our grades so I can't get my internship. (guy responds). Yeah, I found that section 7 of contract law was hard too. What quartile are you in. Yeah, I figured as much because that's the only one I am not in. Me (attempting to change subject): So, what kind of job are you going for this summer? Her: I'm getting a job working for a hotel firm. It's not a good job, but the economy is so tight, I'll take what I can get. Suzy is also getting a job there (turns to other law student). Can you believe that Suzy and Bob are dating now? That's so weird, since in maritime law class, they used to sit on opposite ends of the class. I don't like Professor Frink in that class. Can you understand his accent? I'd say pretty much every single interaction I've had with law students happens like that. I try to steer the conversation away from law and school, and they steer it right back to topics that completely exclude me. Sometimes, they just walk away in the middle of the conversation to talk to other law students. It's very unpleasant, to say the least. This type of thing tends to happen with any group of people who know each other well. For example, the people local to my city do this all the time (replace law with discussion of high school friends), and consequently have a well-deserved reputation of being very unfriendly and cliquish. I don't think it's my lack of skills. At this same social event, I had a great conversation with someone studying animation. Also, his wife who studies the Middle East. But sadly, these people are very rare at these events. Often times, they are completely absent. What can I do to get them to stop this? My old therapist's advice was: stop talking to law students. They are boring people who have no interest in anyone but themselves. I'm not sure that's true. I try to show interest in what they're doing, but half the time I don't even understand what they're even talking about it. When I try to stop them to clarify, they explain quickly but never engage me. It's very excluding and depressing.