[coldfoundry]

I’m confused. Isn't this more or less just listening to someone when they speak? I guess seeing it from their perspective isn’t a default for some people?

I usually work in analogies when trying to share my understanding of what they said, whether it is a story or a question.

I may be misunderstanding this a bit, but the inverse or active listening seems to be someone who is distracted and not actually listening to another person? For example: “Wow, yeah, thats crazy” when someone is rambling.

[jayd16]

You've never experienced someone who isn't a good listener? It's fairly common and not always intentional.

For example, Kids are great at rambling off information for attention. Active listening is a skill and isn't the default.

Even if someone is listening, active listening is hearing what the partner says and attempting to intuit why they would think that and what assumptions they are making that may be different from your own.

[mordnis]

I have the same opinion. This is just a normal conversation. If I'm not doing this, I either want to rant to someone or I'm in a so hostile conversation that it doesn't make sense to do it.

[manapause]

There is capital “A” Active Listening, which is in a family of behavior modification techniques in which the interviewer can follow the aforementioned scripts to increase engagement…

And lowercase active listening, IMHO is genuinely being interested in the experiences of the person talking that your line of questioning disarms the subject into sharing stories that add personal, “cultural” context to their choices which could be considered taboo.

[Mistletoe]

I’m scared that people think actually listening and not just waiting to speak is a novel or new idea.

[Bjartr]

It is, and it's not equally intuitive for everyone.