Who uses talking sticks?

[anametamystik]

I'm curious if they're becoming popular or not because I think talking sticks, which I call "silence sticks", are really kindergartenish. I was at a group yesterday that used a statuette (oh how I wanted to smash it and give each participant a piece) as a talking stick... people still talked "out of turn" but were not chastised like I was when I raised my hand. I'm the last person anyone should attempt to silence.

[Onyx]

Never heard of it. What are they?

[Msterbeau]

I haven't encountered them in a while but I see their value. It's all too easy for us to jump in when someone hasn't finished what they're saying. In certain situations, I think it's critical for the person to do that and conversely quite rude of others to interrupt. I think it also teaches us to listen better since we're not sitting there interjecting our own thoughts willy nilly.

[Msterbeau]

Never heard of it. What are they?

He/She who has the stick, is allowed to speak. Used not only for children but things like therapy groups, 12 step, etc... Where it's important that the person speaking has everyone's full attention and is able to express themselves without being talked over.

[Msterbeau]

I'm the last person anyone should attempt to silence.

It's not about silencing anyone, it's about respecting the the right of the person who's speaking to complete what they have to say without interruption.

[Rev.Reverence]

YES...Our Coven has employed them...not on a regular basis...& usually not the same object....and I don't think they should have chastised YOU...as the newbie in the circle...you should have some leeway...

[sass_in_the_pants]

Never heard of em.

Sounds dumb.

Sorry, but why would you hang out with people who are such a-holes that they can't let you finish a sentence?

[anametamystik]

Never heard of em.

Sounds dumb.

Sorry, but why would you hang out with people who are such a-holes that they can't let you finish a sentence?

The venue is a website client of mine. I thought that their new night would have been cool because it had the promise of philosophizing and possibly being intellectually stimulating. It wasn't.

I don't hang out with those who ran that group.

[pomba gira]

Never heard of em.

Sounds dumb.

Sorry, but why would you hang out with people who are such a-holes that they can't let you finish a sentence?

As Marc noted, they are often used in therapy groups and other settings where participants may not have much choice about "hanging out" there... or workgroup situations where people have come together for other than social reasons.