Ah...small talk...what fun!
Non-threatening open questions (ones that get the other person to talk) like:
Some variation on: read any good books lately? what did you like about it? (or sub in movies, concerts, trips, etc)
What kind of music do you like?
What do you do for fun?
Norwegians are known to be horrible at small-talk anyway, so I guess I have an excuse when I travel abroad
I'm such a lucky guy!
Small talk is something people do because the alternative is to eat each other's nits. People call that -- and gossip -- "social grooming".
Personally I just think it's boring. (Just so much blah blah blah because they can't think of something useful to say.)
I do 'feel sorry' in a way. So I nod, say something like 'its sad' and that is it. I don't feel sorry in a way that I feel it. I cannot elaborate on it and enjoy the mutual feeling of compassion. It's a horrid story.
I got the same experiences a bit. (My general response is "bummer" and I'm not really that able to say anything more than that. Makes me seem callous, I suppose. But I don't do empathy well.)
Mostly I hate gossip because (although I'm curious) it's generally none of my business and at school I was generally the one being gossiped about!!!
Small talk is something people do because the alternative is to eat each other's nits. People call that -- and gossip -- "social grooming".
Personally I just think it's boring. (Just so much blah blah blah because they can't think of something useful to say.)
Yes, I find it amazing how people can talk about absolutely nothing for literally hours (I'd prefer to pick and eat nits myself).
The strange thing is that when you try to engage them with an in depth discussion about something relevant or interesting their eyes glaze over--and they start to look for the door (like an confirmed atheist confronted by a Jehovah’s witness).
Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, small minds discuss people.
-- Author:Unknown
so much for the value of small talk. Mom & Hrick
Small talk is hard - I have classes this week from 8till5 - I spend too much time on my own - trying to appear as though I don't care.
i used 2 hate small talk at school, i used to think whats the point
Me neither - well, not unless it was something I was interested in eg. if somebody said "do you know that such-and-such song by such-and-such band is number 1 on the charts this week?", I'd then be able to reply with either "that's great" or "I really don't like that song - however did they get to number 1 with garbage like that?".
I ask people about themselves and let them run their mouths off and try to look interested. I occasionally throw in something relevant to the topic usually "Right I see....Do you find that..." Off they go again.
Yes, people usually like to talk about themselves.
It seems that I get bored very quickly with small talk (although I can do it for a little while) and soon move onto deep and meaningful topics without even realising it. For me, just about everything is deep and meaningful and this causes frequent misunderstandings. Hence, I find it easier most of the time just not to say anything at all (and then be considered "boring")
It seems that I get bored very quickly with small talk (although I can do it for a little while) and soon move onto deep and meaningful topics without even realising it. For me, just about everything is deep and meaningful and this causes frequent misunderstandings. Hence, I find it easier most of the time just not to say anything at all (and then be considered "boring")
"Boring" is one of the better possibilities. Another good possibility is "shy." It is also possible to be deemed "stuck up" or "unfriendly," which can take a while to overcome.
Unfortunately, at the moment, I can't care about that because just getting through each day is enough to take up all my energy.
(Big Cyber-hug for Tenacious).
Bah I like people thinking of me as a bit posh ;p
I mean, it's better to be well bred than inbred ;]
Of course you're bright, Batman55. Please stop selling yourself short as you're brighter than most people.