What do you think of someone who interjects a few lines of poetry into a conversation?

[dbk]

Quoth the raven, 'Nevermore'.

 

[Chaotic42]

It really depends. I'm trying to imagine what the hell that would sound like, but I can't. If he were doing very rarely it might be interesting. It sounds to me like people who use obscure words to make themselves sound smarter when simpler words would have sufficed.

 

[imported_Imp]

Stick up his ass.

 

[Madwand1]

The striving of the soul of a poet, if I may use such a phrase, is a beautiful thing.

But the ability to quote this or that doesn't make one a poet or even beautiful. Look for substance.

 

[SirStev0]

Not going to lie. I do the same thing just with movie quotes.

No time for love, Dr. Jones.

 

[Eeezee]

It depends. Did the poetry actually add anything to the conversation? Otherwise, they're trying too hard to look smart.

Memorizing poetry is a classic tool for tools. You can tell them apart from people who authentically enjoy poetry because they love saying poetry lines to people even when it is irrelevant and clearly unwanted.

In the right context, quoting a poem can add to a conversation just like any other good comment.

 

[Farang]

The only time I've brought up poetry in conversation was when she did it first and I was trying to get laid. It was funny because talking about anything else I'd just be some asshole but get into a literary conversation and she thinks I have feelings and is all over me.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

The bigger the cushion, the sweeter the pushin
That's what I said.
The looser the waistband, the deeper the quicksand
Or so I have read.
My baby fits me like a flesh tuxedo.
I love to sink her with my pink torpedo.

Big bottom
Big bottom
Talk about bum cakes,
My gal's got 'em.
Big bottom,
Drive me out of my mind.
How can I leave this behind?

I saw her on monday, twas my lucky bun day
You know what I mean.
I love her each weekday, each velvety cheekday
You know what I mean.
My love gun's loaded and she's in my sights
Big game's waiting there inside her tights

Big bottom
Big bottom
Talk about mud flaps
My gal's got 'em.
Big bottom
Drive me out of my mind.
How can I leave this behind?

 

[Leros]

I speak in iambic pentameter.

 

[SlitheryDee]

I don't think I've ever read or heard any poetry that actually made me stop and think "Hey poetry is cool". I get bored when even regular prose gets overly flowery or unnecessarily descriptive, so poetry is like all the things I skip over in the best of books crammed into short bursts of irrelevancy. Seriously, poetry is probably the only art form I never "got" in any way.

Knowing that about me, you can imagine what I would think of someone who memorizes tomes of what I consider unnecessary nonsense for the purposes of appearing intelligent in conversation. Of course this is coming from someone with a quote from a Science Fiction author in his sig, which a sci-fi detractor might well have a similar opinion of. I consider the quotes of this particular author to be of a more practical nature than most poetry though.

 

[Ruptga]

I'd think they're smart.

Personally, I quote Star Wars and such, but that's just because I find that interesting, unlike poetry.

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: nkgreen
Fruity blowhard.

 

[QueBert]

Nipsy Russel was the master of speaking in rhymes, quoting a poem here and there is whatever. Nipsy often times spoke in nothing but rhymes. I bet he annoyed a lot of people but what a bad ass talent to have

 

[DangerAardvark]

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: KLin
I'd tell the person I need to take the road less travelled to get away from them.

Is The Road Not Taken the only poetry you guys know? :laugh:

It's pretty much just that and Led Zepplin lyrics.

 

[djheater]

I'm a guy who interjects poetry into conversation and it pisses some people off.

My father was a lay-poet and read voraciously, I was surrounded by books and was taught that they are valuable things. My father's example was that literary interest and knowledge are prized and valued subjects. It's always been a rude surprise to find that many people see this as elitism or condescension. Personally, I find that reading helps me to better understand the universal human experience. Poets, particularly, are concerned with relating universal emotional experiences. The vast scope of poetry is likely to be able to provide meaningful input on many experiences, why would you shun it?

Our culture exhibits a tendancy toward anti-intellectualism, as though academia is itself anathema to 'common sense'. I would forward that poets generally know this truth and do not suffer from elitism. Rather, poets are the literary voice of our collective unconscious. We should read them for meaning, we should find perspective in verse.

 

[alkemyst]

these are about as good a guy as a chick from here can hope for. Hope your myspace angle works out for you both when you finally meet.

 

[Turin39789]

When all the world and love were young, and truth on every shepherds tongue



* by which I mean it makes him a douche. fucking poetry

 

[zmaster]

she walks in beauty like the night of cloudless climes and starry skies,
and all thats best of light and dark meet in her aspect and her eyes.

awesome pickup line if delivered correctly.

 

[CraKaJaX]

Originally posted by: alkemyst
these are about as good a guy as a chick from here can hope for. Hope your myspace angle works out for you both when you finally meet.

:laugh: Beautifully put.

 

[Legendary]

I think it depends on delivery.
If the guy pauses, delivers the line in some haughty tone of voice, then cites the author and waits for a response, that makes him a tool.
Most other scenarios I can support. Sometimes other people have made your point better than you ever will ever be able. Respecting that concept is humility.

 

[pontifex]

can you give an example of what he says? not just the quote, but everything that was in the conversation.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: KLin
I'd tell the person I need to take the road less travelled to get away from them.

Is The Road Not Taken the only poetry you guys know? :laugh:

I would have guess " the man from nantucket" or whatever that is called, or "roses are red".

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: SlitheryDee
I don't think I've ever read or heard any poetry that actually made me stop and think "Hey poetry is cool". I get bored when even regular prose gets overly flowery or unnecessarily descriptive, so poetry is like all the things I skip over in the best of books crammed into short bursts of irrelevancy. Seriously, poetry is probably the only art form I never "got" in any way.

Knowing that about me, you can imagine what I would think of someone who memorizes tomes of what I consider unnecessary nonsense for the purposes of appearing intelligent in conversation. Of course this is coming from someone with a quote from a Science Fiction author in his sig, which a sci-fi detractor might well have a similar opinion of. I consider the quotes of this particular author to be of a more practical nature than most poetry though.

I never really gave poetry much thought until somewhat recently, maybe within the last year (i'm 28). Most stuff you see touted as poetry (most modern poetry, i guess) is garbage.

I've not read much of the "classics", some Poe and Keats mainly, but I love the poetry of Lord Dunsany and Robert E. Howard. Dunsany in particular is just an amazing writer.

 

[skace]

The only time I could see a guy putting poetry into his conversations is when he was talking to a girl he wants to GET WIT. I certainly can't picture 2 dudes talking and one of them reciting poetry to the other. So because of this, the use of poetry in a conversation has an ultimately transparent motive. He might as well interject with "nice shoes..."

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: skace
The only time I could see a guy putting poetry into his conversations is when he was talking to a girl he wants to GET WIT. I certainly can't picture 2 dudes talking and one of them reciting poetry to the other. So because of this, the use of poetry in a conversation has an ultimately transparent motive. He might as well interject with "nice shoes..."

not all poetry is romantic...