I think a lot about talking. Specifically dialogue. Logically, dialogue should be logical, make sense and be straight forward. Maybe not so much.
Very rarely do I partake in or hear conversation that is precise to the point and logical. People are emotional creatures and must be written that way. The mood of the character (yes they have moods too) can easily influence a response to a question, request or statement.
This goes hand and hand with trivial talking. Stiff boring conversations, just don’t happen. People interrupt, they are sarcastic, mean, sly, witty and charming to name a few. Someone grumpy is more likely to snap a response or a bored person might miss the question altogether.
“Hi Dale do you have the edit on the Watch layout I sent you this morning?”
Dale sighed heavily and looked pointedly at the clock on the wall. “No Scott I don’t have it done yet. I need at least another thirty minutes to get it right. You said you needed it by three and it’s only quarter after two.”
“Okay that’s fine Dale. Can you print it out and put it on my desk when it’s done?”
Dale huffed and frowned at Scott. “That’s Rachel’s job not mine.”
“Could you do me the favor please? I need the final copy right away and Rachael is swamped.”
“Yes I can print it out and bring it to you.” Dale nodded and went back to work. “I’ll just work my magic.”
Scott laughed and clapped him on the shoulder. “Thank you bud.”
“No problem pal.” Dale didn’t look up as Scott walked away.
(152)
Dale is usually more abrasive and neither are so formal with each other. I’ll take out any trivial talking and the oh so logical responses.
“Hey Dale, is the Watch layout finished?”
Dale sighed heavily and tapped his watch. “It’s only quarter after two, you said three.”
“Just checking, can you print it and drop it on my desk when you’re done?”
Dale looked up and smirked. “You want me to bring you coffee and rub your feet too?”
“That’d be swell.” Scott shook his head smiling. “Rachel’s swamped, do me a solid? I need it before three if you can manage.”
“Sure.” Dale shrugged and turned back to his monitor. “I’ll just pull my magic wand out of my ass.”
“Thanks bud.” Scott laughed and clapped him on the shoulder. “Just wash it before you use it.”
“No promises.” Dale didn’t look up as Scott walked away.
(123)
29 words removed(Word count is an obsession it seems and I would be very pleased with that number), a bunch of revamping on the attitude and responses and I think that’s more interesting than a logical conversation that would never happen between the two friends. To much logical talk can make the conversation feel uneven, imbalanced or just awkward.
My advice about overly logical conversation.
Dialogue is not the place for disinfectant. Make it dirty, gritty and imperfect.
-Sheryl
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Uneven
I wrote a book. Now what? 
People who can think logically can also be passionate. Do you agree?
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I don’t see why not.
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People have this general misunderstanding that a logically thinking person has to be dry, dispassionate and humorless .
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I’m a logically thinking person and I don’t feel that way at all. It takes a certain amount of intelligence to pull off wit and humor. Logic plays a part in that. The stereotypes you’re eluding to are there for a reason, justified or not. As with all things human in nature, there are exceptions to any preconceived rule/idea and there are those that gladly waive the flag, fairly shouting “look at me I’m just like you think I am.” Because holy crap they totally are the very essence of their socially applied stereotype. There is such a thing as overthinking things with applied logic, and that IMO is an illogical way to think.
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Do you think that the law of non-contradiction, A is not -A, is disproved by quantum physics?
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Really enjoyed the revision. It’s definitely in keeping with the character of the two involved.
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Thanks my dear, I do try to stick to the plan. 😉 I think playing with dialogue is my new favorite thing. That may be the lamest thing I’ve ever said…
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Haha, “lamest” still, it’s true that playing with dialogue can be a great deal of fun! So many opportunities to say the same thing, by spicing it up, making it racey, or toning it down. It’s all up to ‘you’. Great deal of fun we can’t have in real life, so um yeah, lol
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I just wrote a conversation between two people, it was a riot. It started off as a date, to an emergency then a fight and reconciliation all within a chapter. I had the protagonist all over the map with emotions and the things she said… what fun to be had for sure.
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Don’t you love it? It’s so much fun!
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That’s a magical revision. Both characters leapt to life!
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Thank you, it was what I was aiming for so it’s awesome that you felt that way.
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