[NLP] Parroting

Ever heard of all this quotes:

• “No one is as deaf as the man who will not listen.” Jewish Proverb
• “A friend is someone who helps you up when you're down, and if they can't, they lay down beside you and listen.” Annonymous
• “Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story” Max Ehrman
• “The gift of friendship... a willingness to listen... a pair of helping hands... a whisper from the heart. That someone cares and understands." Annonymous
  

What do all those quote have in common?
The word listen. At one stage or another, everyone would have complained saying that a particular person doesn't listen to them enough. Complainers often feel annoyed and worthless because they don't seemed important enough to the eyes of the conversation partner.

The situation above would be possible if everyone speaks music to our ears. Unfortunately, different people have different type of interest. Then again, there are times when you would want to stick to a conversation knowing that its boring you to death. (eg: Perhaps you wouldn't want a pretty girl to view you as rude person. Or maybe you thought that you would get to know a charming person if you play along with the dumb uninteresting conversation.)

So then, being the brilliant conversational partner, how can you avoid inflicting annoyance to anyone?
In conversation techniques, there is method known as 'Parroting'. Its a technique used to prolong a conversation and to delve more deeply into the conversation subject if you have nothing to comment on.
It works by repeating a word or two in a form of a question.

eg:
DumbBlond: "I just think dolphines are wonderful creatures. They can sing, they can swim, and their hobby is sex!"
SmartGuy: "Dolphine?"
DumbBlond: "Yea......dolphine..you know those cute aquatic blue creatures?"
SmartGuy: "Aquatic?"
DumbBlond: "You know....creatures who swim?"
SmartGuy: "Oh.....like fishes.....so you like swimming?"
DumbBlond: "Nah....I prefer to camwhore with popular people"
SmartGuy: "Camwhore?"
(and so the conversation goes on...)

You get the idea. Its like a parrot repeating a word.

Parroting its definitely better than saying stuff like 'Uh huh..' 'Rite rite'. That is because all those leads to a dead end if no one knows what else to say.
At least by parroting a word or two, the other person will tend to explain, leaving space to expand on a conversation topic or a chance to change the conversation topic.
It makes other people think that you are always keen on learning new stuff. Best of all, Parroting it make people think that you are actually listening to them. (Whether you are listening or not is not important. So as long as you give the impression to others that you are listening to them)

Idea from How to Talk to Anyone - 92 little tricks for big success in relationship by Neil Lowndes

Interesting note: Those who chat with me on msn or those who know me in real life may notice that I tend to use this technique a lot!

So, do you think Parroting is a feasible technique to be used in everyday life?