So enjoying this thread! Agree totally that the art of conversation as we were taught it, is not a skill many younger people have. Listen, ask a relevant question, listen again properly i.e. focusing on the speaker's face and expression, look around at anyone else in the conversation, note who's quiet and maybe draw them in gently, introduce people to each other mentioning encouragingly what or who they might have in common....give your own opinion briefly and only elaborate with detail if you're asked to..... I could go on and on!! But I won't, cause I don't!!