I don’t really do deep, honest, heartfelt conversations.
They rarely happen in “real” life. Especially when people ask for them. In almost all occasions people in a conversation are testing each other. On their knowledge, morality, successes, failures, &c.. Conversations are a battle-field in which the general mindset of both sides is, “What can you do for me?” And that mindset isn’t wrong, the world is a harsh place and ain’t none of us got time for anything but our lives and the people in it. The battle-field is necessary.
I’ve found that people are only ever truly honest when they’re alone by themselves. This is why I write and love reading. I get to reach and understand people when I and they’re at their most honest self. Diaries are honest. I also like sharing a lot of my work after midnight for the same reason – because it’s a time when people are alone with themselves.
Honest conversation rarely happens in life. So rarely it’s best to say it never happens at all. I’ve found that the best thing to do (as a response to the world) is to be stupid, and occasionally play the devil’s advocate. You learn a lot about people by putting yourself beneath their contempt. It’s the only honest thing about them sometimes. Most times.
But people don’t like playing the fool, let alone embodying them. Pride I guess. Leads to a lot of missed lessons if you ask me. But what do I know, I don’t really do conversations.