OTOLARYNGOLOGIST ON DUTY

"Doctor, please prescribe a drug and give me a medical report because I don't hear anything at night", the Doctor replied "I can prescribe a few drugs but why do you need a medical report", then he replied "if you can give me the medical report without the drugs I'll be most grateful because I just need my wife to shut up whenever I get home from work", they both started laughing as the poor man narrated his ordeal and "trauma" to his Doctor who by the way was a lady (that is how I got to hear the gist). I know you'll ask about what happened to 'Doctor-Patient confidentiality' so let me break it down for you.

For some awesome reasons, I like to listen to virtually everything anyone cares to talk about, so I met this pretty Doctor some years back and on one particular occasion, I was accused of pretending to be listening while in truth I was not (she even gave it a term I cannot remember), that was the first time I heard about stuff like that, being absent minded yet present and even pretending to be following the conversation. So I asked what led to that conclusion and she now told me the story of her patient (I only heard the part I typed above in case you think she said more, but even if she did, I can't remember because I pretended to be listening) and that the prescription she gave him was to "Pretend you are listening, don't give any positive or negative comment, reply with words like really?, seriously?, are you kidding me? till you fall asleep because I am very sure she'll not sleep before you".

Trust me to picked a thing or two from that but my question was, "What if you are now required to give an input into the talk, as in turning the talk to a conversion", she said, one can simply just say "I don't know what to say now" or "I let's be rational about this, so let's all take a few minutes to think about it thoroughly", then last week, I learn't another technique, "Just have a general idea about the topic and you are good". Did all her techniques help her patient? He came back after a week bearing gifts and gratitude. 
To this day, we have a lot of people who either just listen so they can talk afterwards, pretend to be listening while they are absent minded, listen so they can spot the grammatical and general flaws about the story  or 'let me just nod, shake my heard and get the hell out of here'.

My Otolaryngologist friend might have thought me what will eventually spoil our friendship because I became a professional 'listener in absentia' till I learn't the bitter lesson that I was indeed doing myself a disservice. How? You cannot create a solution to a problem you do not fully understand, you cannot affect lives in any form or manner if you've not listened to the plight and cry of the people. No wonder politicians frequently use "the Clarion call" on their campaign posters, just to tell the people "I've heard your cry crystal clear and am here to provide a solution. So I took myself to 'Listening School' where I am learning to listen to every sound uttered and muttered (including the sound of a whisper as stated by Geoffrey Chaucer, played by Paul Bettany in 'The Knight's Tale' and 'The Sound of Silence' as sang by Simon and Garfunkel). 
Learn to listen, not so you can reply, comment or suggest. Listen because only in so doing can the main purpose of your ear be fulfilled. Listen to understand, learn and proffer solution if necessary.
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