Conversation is a lot like art. It is one of those uniquely human experiences that distills so much complexity and exhibits such infinite variety that it verges on the indefinable. Unlike art, however ...

"God, why are you jumping down my throat! I'm not arguing with you. We're not fighting. Why attack me? I'm just sharing my opinion!" Different kinds of dialogue call for different kinds of engagement.

They say that trends come and go, but classics endure—and the conversation pit, yes, that staple of the 1960s living room, is slowly on its way toward becoming one of those classics. Described by a ...