slipstream definitions

The term "slipstreaming" is most often used in relation to objects moving through air, though not necessarily flying. If a following object, moving at the same speed, can position itself within the slipstream, it will require less energy to maintain its speed than if it was moving independently, because the front object blocks a significant amount of air resistance. Using this principle is called slipstreaming.

Consequently, the art of slipstreaming in conversation means the person who positions themselves in an ongoing conversation needs to exert less energy to join in than the original people involved. However, it usually means that the conversation will be veered to a slightly different subject by the slipstreamer. Are you with me?

I slipstreamed myself

A friend once crowned me 'Queen of the Slipstream'. Van Morrison wrote a song with that title. He doesn't know me, so I don't take it personally. There must be two of us. I know I slipstream a lot, its all part of linear thinking, or is that linkear thinking? When one word makes a link in your brain to another word, which takes you to another subject and you find yourself interjecting this new thought to the conversation going on. That's quite ok. What might not be quite ok is finding that in the middle of speaking a sentence, you slipstream yourself, thereby not finishing the sentence at all! I did that. Hmmmm......

A common slipstream

Life is full of slipstreams. You know, you and a friend chatting away on a subject of interest and another friend comes and sits down with you. Right in the middle of your brilliant delivery of most profound thought, he/she butts in and the subject matter instantly changes. You have just been slipstreamed! This common slipstream event is practiced daily by the majority of people living in the world today. Go on, you know you do it, too!