Why is communication so difficult?

Why is it so hard for people to sinply say what they want and need?

Why is it so hard for people to express their feelings, good, bad and all the inbetween?

Why are we so unwilling to listen when someone tells us these things?

It seems to me that a lot of issues in the world could be solved if we just had good communication skills.

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Mellowgirl · 31-35, F

I would like to think of myself as a straight talker. But somehow no matter what I say. I am met with confusion. What's repeated back to me is either twisted or things I haven't even said.
Tell me how that works...

I read somewhere that

most people listen to respond not to understand.

That's pretty sad because it means then that we're not really talking the time to really absorb what's being said.

How do we fix this?

Teach meditation in schools? Teach critical thinking?
Make sure there are lesson that generates kindness?