Good Conversation Starters
Great Conversation Topics and Questions to Ask on a First Date
Oct 7, 2009
The art of conversation is infinitely complex. Planning out good conversations or trying to robotically rehearse small talk for a first date is silly. The most interesting conversations are always arrived upon naturally. But when preparing for a first date, it’s not a bad idea to think of some good table topics, dating questions, and good conversation starters to kick off the evening. It’s always nice to have a few good conversation questions up one's sleeve during a first date to help open up lively conversation.
Conversation Starters about Movies, Books, and Music
Favorite movies, books, and music always make an interesting conversation topic for a first date, and are a great way to find out about people’s tastes. But everyone’s been asked about their top five movies, books and albums, and everyone’s heard the same tired question about what they’d bring with them to a deserted island. There are more interesting ways to start a conversation on this table topic. Try a few of these dating questions about movies, books, and music:
- What’s the last album you listened to all the way through?
- What books have you read more than once?
- If you could put two characters from different films or works of literature in the same room and observe their conversation, who would they be?
- If you could do away with any movie sequel, or front the money to make a sequel that has yet to be made, what would it be?
- If you could design a required reading curriculum for people your age, what would it include?
- Which albums or films do you consider guilty pleasures of yours?
- If you could form a super group, which musicians would you choose?
- If you had the ability to flawlessly recite one book, play, or collection of stories all the way through, what would it be?
- Which character from films or literature would you most like as a best friend?
Conversation Starters about Biographies and Autobiographies
Basic biographical conversation questions, while important, can make for a boring first date topic. But some small talk and questions about hypothetical biographies and autobiographies can often be a great way into an interesting conversation. Start a conversation with these dating questions about biographies:
- What would you like the title of your biography to be?
- If you had to write an autobiography in only six words, what would it be?
- Which author or filmmaker would you choose to write/direct your biography/biopic?
- If you had to be forever remembered by a pseudonym, what would it be?
- How would you design the cover and binding of your autobiography to reflect your personality?
- If you could choose anyone, past or present, who would you want to eulogize you at your funeral?
Conversation Starters about Politics, History, and World Affairs
Conversations and questions about politics can be a tricky table topic on a first date, but they can also lead beyond mere small talk into genuinely interesting conversations. To avoid dry or contentious political conversation topics, try some of these interesting dating questions to start a fun conversation on politics, history, and world affairs:
- If you could choose a historical period and a location other than our own, when and where would you live your life?
- If you could make one amendment to the constitution, what would it be?
- In which category would you most like to win the Nobel Prize, and what would be your ideal achievement?
- If you could resurrect any deceased historical figure to aid in world affairs, who would it be?
- How would you design your perfect city?
- Which historical event would you have most liked to attend?
The Art of Conversation Starters and Further Dating Question Ideas
These conversation starter questions are merely ways into a great conversation. To keep a conversation interesting on a first date, be open to any table topics that might arise or stem from these topic ideas, and be ready to answer, honestly and engagingly, any of these same questions. Conversation starters are just seeds from which a plant can grow.
The art of conversation is about enjoying oneself, finding something one can speak about comfortably and naturally. Often times too much preparation is a bad idea. Just start conversations on topics of interest and follow them along. One need only choose conversation starters that genuinely interest them, rather than reciting empty lines, and that first date will go splendidly.
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