By HELEN VNUK
It used to be said that sex, politics and religion were the three topics that should never be discussed in polite company. Nowadays, it’s a little more complicated – there are now a LOT of topics that can lead to shouting matches or awkward silences. To help you keep the colourful conversation flowing at your next dinner party, here’s our handy etiquette guide to topics to avoid to keep the conversation flowing:
1. What a great job the prime minister is doing.
Nowadays, most Australians share the same view on politics: they hate every party, almost equally. So if you’re a huge fan of whoever is currently in the top job, you’d want to make sure you know the political views of everyone sitting around the table – including your friend’s new boyfriend – before you say anything. Otherwise, the evening could turn into a shouting match as vicious as question time in parliament.
2. The brilliance of your child.
I know what it’s like as a parent to want to share stories of what a genius young Atticus is, but boasting is never a good thing. Best to stick to the cute anecdote about how he wrote “I luv u, mum” with permanent marker on your white leather couch. When he wins the Nobel Prize for literature in a few years’ time, you can modestly accept all the compliments then.
Just as an FYI, you should know that this post is sponsored by Brown Brothers. But all opinions expressed by the author are 100% authentic and written in their own words.
3. The dream you had last night.
No matter how interesting it is, no one wants to hear about your dream… unless it involves them. Then they want to know every detail, so they can work out how you really feel about them. “So you were stabbing me with a pitchfork and yelling, ‘Be gone, be gone!’ Is that right?”
Top Comments
I'm afraid I try to avoid ever talking up celebrities and I avoid the kind of friends that want to talk about the Kardashians rather than have an intelligent conversation. How do we ever develop our own sense of own opinions if we never hear them being discussed.
I work for a political party and acknowledge that when my workmates and I get togther, there is FAR too much political conversation (in face there is very little else). We would likely be very off-putting to outsiders!
I do however think it's disturbing to suggest that discussions of the Prime Minister and his/her performance are not socially acceptable and we should therefore discuss more socially acceptable topics such as celebrity gossip....