Summary

The article reflects on the length of President Joe Biden's press conference, suggesting that his inability to end the Q&A session despite its extended duration mirrors common social struggles with setting conversational boundaries.

Abstract

The article titled "Was Joe’s Press Conference Too Long?" discusses the challenges of ending conversations, drawing a parallel between personal experiences with overly talkative individuals and President Joe Biden's lengthy press conference. It references a Harvard Gazette study indicating that only 2% of conversations end mutually and highlights the importance of setting boundaries in communication. The author expresses a desire for more civil and concise discourse, noting that Biden's extended session, while demonstrating his stamina and respect for the press, also revealed a potential lack of resolve in concluding interactions, reminiscent of social situations where guests overstay their welcome.

Opinions

The author implies that Joe Biden's press conference was excessively long, similar to encounters with people who don't know when to end a conversation.
There is a perceived expectation for leaders, like Biden, to be adept at setting boundaries and concluding discussions effectively.
The article suggests that the ability to end conversations civilly is a skill that many lack, including, perhaps, the President.
The author contrasts Biden's approach to communication with that of his predecessor, Donald Trump, noting Biden's civility and respect, even towards the press.
The piece humorously references Ben Franklin's quote about guests beginning to smell after three days to emphasize the point about overstaying one's welcome.
The author expresses a sense of anticipation for a change in the nature of presidential communication, which was not fully met due to the length of Biden's press conference.

Was Joe’s Press Conference Too Long?

Some people just don’t know how to cut off conversation.

Are you able to set boundaries?

Communication is the fuel that powers the engine of human relationships.

An article published in the Harvard Gazette * shows a study done by the university on communication finds only 2% of conversations end when both parties want them to finish.

I think we’ve all had relatives, friends or acquaintances who didn’t seem to be able to end a conversation. No amount of hinting on your part nor even outright goodbyes gets them off of your phone calls..

As visitors, they’ve obviously never heard of the famous quote of Ben Franklin on the subject:

Guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days.

The boundaries we try to establish seem to be ignored or maybe not understood in the first place.

There’s an art to setting boundaries in a civil way, not possessed by many.

Joe reflecting on his first year in office in a rare presser:

After the last 4+ years of having to listen to the confrontational as well as the conversationally narcissistic ravings of Donald Trump, I looked forward to sitting back on my couch and watching my president (I call him Joe) answering all questions advanced by the press corp.

They can be an obstreperous bunch! What’s the sense of being a journalist if you can’t ask difficult questions?

Joe’s a friendly guy whose civility and respect for his fellow humans is apparent.

Even members of the press.

Dinner was in the oven to be served and enjoyed after the conference was over. The analysis of the presser by TV pundits was to keep me company while eating.

That, of course, was not to be.

After the first hour, I kept thinking:

Joe you did real well. End this god damn thing. No good can come from any more Q & A.

History will record that he kept talking. Like the person who can’t set boundaries - who can’t end the conversation.

In his slow deliberate way of speaking Joe went on and on. Although one could be reassured of his 79 year old stamina, one could question his resolve in setting boundaries by cutting off the increasingly intense interrogation.

He seemed unable to stop answering the questions and simply walk out (escape), away from the hostile grilling.

Unlike his predecessor who was unable to accept defeat and is tearing the country apart, Joe is working overtime to piece it together.

The press briefing went into overtime.

Why else was the term, “Quit while you’re ahead,” coined if not for answering questions from the press?

*Harvard Gazette— Know why Conversations either seem too Short or too Long — Juan Silitezar — 3/3/2021

This article was self-published 1/20/22