Paul Zahl claims that we can observe the nature of original sin by noticing the way people listen—or fail to listen—to each other in ordinary conversations. Here are a few examples:

One person says, "I was sick last week," and the other replies, "You know, I was, too," or, "I've been pretty healthy this summer."

[The first person says], "I had a summer cold. I couldn't believe how nasty it was." "I don't get colds," the other answers; "anyhow, colds don't bother me."

"Well, at least I didn't have to lose any days at work," the first person says. The second counters, "I haven't lost any days at work this summer, either."

Here is another example: "I had a miscarriage." "Oh, that's terrible," says a friend, "I had a miscarriage too." "You did? So you understand how bad I feel?" "I sure do. Let me tell what happened to me …."

[In both conversations] two people are taking turns … talking about themselves. This is the routine of human interchanges …. You can't help yourself. Perhaps you have never even thought about it this way. This taking turns talking is an automatic-pilot response. The fact that it is unconscious makes it a prime example of original sin.