How many times we participate in a conversation where the speaker is saying literally everything about nothing.  He/she has no idea about the subject matter but is able to speak endlessly on the subject.

Sometimes that speaker is us.  We don't want to get caught flat footed and not appear to be on the top of our game so we, as one of my old college professors used to say: "Dance our way around and around the subject hoping to sneak successfully in the back door".

In reality, sometimes it pays just to keep our mouths shut and maybe even learn something by listening.  Wow!  What a concept!

Jim