[WFTR]

So you're saying that the biggest part of a conversation being difficult is the relationship of the individuals involved? To a large extent, I agree. As I think about some conversations that are difficult for me, one big factor is the honesty or the reliability of the other person. With some people, every conversation is difficult because I've come to view those people as either dishonest or just too deluded to give me straight answers. I know that I'm not going to believe anything that the person says without independent confirmation, so the whole conversation becomes pointless. If we have some disagreement, we can't reach resolution because I'm going to need time to check his "facts."

I think some of the higher level of self-disclosure in internet conversation goes back to what I said in a previous post. If I'm trying to talk to someone, I have to come up with all of the words in the right order with the right tone while the person is sitting there staring at me. If I'm trying to develop a point and the person asks a question or makes a statement, then everything that I've tried to do to develop my point may be lost in the confusion. If I start to say something and the words come out wrong, I can't just hit the backspace key and say them again so that they'll be right. I can't say something, wait an hour, listen to what I said to see whether I spoke as I meant to speak, and then go back and make my statement correctly. As a result of these limitations, I am less inclined to discuss certain topics in live conversation.

I've never read Les Miserables, so I can't help you there.