A comment each of those posts invariably received was, "This is great. But, uh, how do you end a conversation?"

I get it. Warm, stimulating conversation can be one of the greatest satisfactions in life. But, unfortunately not all conversations are created equal. Some are more pain than pleasure. Maybe you strenuously avoid conversational narcissism yourself, but you're stuck talking to someone who's a master practitioner of the conversation-as-monologue method. Perhaps you're always getting caught by an annoying co-worker or neighbor who bends your ear complaining about the new prices in the cafeteria or waxes poetic on the joys of owning a Kia. It may not be that you don't like the person or enjoy his conversation, either. You may go to a party or networking event hoping to meet a lot of different folks but find yourself pinned down for a long time by one fellow. He's likable enough, but you spy people having a good time in other parts of the house and wonder what you're missing out on. Or you may simply genuinely have something you need to do, and you just don't have time for the conversation at the moment, even though you wish you did.