Conversation

[Balthazzar]

Is small talk pointless? I mean, you can only reaffirm current weather conditions so many times before it becomes clear that some people just don't seem to have much in common. What's your favorite color? Yeah, I'm not sure anymore. Why?

"I dunno."

What's left to say? Why bother? You're bound to disagree with something I hold dear, and then you're bound to hold that against me. Maybe it's best to say less and do more. I've never not been a man of many words. I was a boy of few words at one time, though. I need a garden.

Have a nice day

 

[Balthazzar]

Is real talk pointless?

Meh, I'm an American therefore I am hated. I'm a Christian also, therefore I get a double down. No worries, if you happen to be Muslim, I'm pretty sure some people hate you too. Oh, you're a Buddhist and karma plays nice with you, eh? Hmm, yeah ...

Anyway, I eat pork, make homemade wine, shrimp is a rare luxury on the table, and I think some things are gross. The scent of Limburger cheese and Valerian root, for example, butt other things are gross too. Hehe ... So, you're a democrat. What luck ... I'm republican. Do you like beer? Yeah, but only if you're paying.

 

[Balthazzar]

That's not entirely true. I like beer anyway.

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

Small talk is a convenient way to break the ice, little more. From there, some people go on to explore each other's interests, and gradually engage in deeper communicatons. Others find nothing to explore, and move on to the next small talk. Small talk itself is as limited in interest as it is in subject matter.

 

[JustGeorge]

Is real talk pointless?

Meh, I'm an American therefore I am hated. I'm a Christian also, therefore I get a double down. No worries, if you happen to be Muslim, I'm pretty sure some people hate you too. Oh, you're a Buddhist and karma plays nice with you, eh? Hmm, yeah ...

Anyway, I eat pork, make homemade wine, shrimp is a rare luxury on the table, and I think some things are gross. The scent of Limburger cheese and Valerian root, for example, butt other things are gross too. Hehe ... So, you're a democrat. What luck ... I'm republican. Do you like beer? Yeah, but only if you're paying.

Did you have a conversation go wrong?

Its Gorgonzola that I can't stand the smell of.

 

[Guitar's Cry]

Small talk seems to be part of the human communication ritual. It is a way of smelling each other's butts without actually doing so.

 

[JustGeorge]

Small talk seems to be part of the human communication ritual. It is a way of smelling each other's butts without actually doing so.

Well, where's the fun in that?

 

[Balthazzar]

Subject matter and subjects that matter and subjects that no is ever truly interested in talking about. I bought a brick of cheese last week. Oh, how's the whatever it was you were telling me about a few days ago?

I'm sorry Ron ... I should have remembered. What? Damn, John my bad. I'm terrible with names. Anyway, what was that chicks name Dan was dating last year?

 

[Balthazzar]

Ha
ha
ha

 

[JustGeorge]

Subject matter and subjects that matter and subjects that no is ever truly interested in talking about. I bought a brick of cheese last week. Oh, how's the whatever it was you were telling me about a few days ago?

I'm sorry Ron ... I should have remembered. What? Damn, John my bad. I'm terrible with names. Anyway, what was that chicks name Dan was dating last year?

What is it you want to talk about that you feel you can't?

 

[Balthazzar]

What is it you want to talk about that you feel you can't?

What do you want to talk about that you feel you can't?

 

[Balthazzar]

Small talk is a convenient way to break the ice, little more. From there, some people go on to explore each other's interests, and gradually engage in deeper communicatons. Others find nothing to explore, and move on to the next small talk. Small talk itself is as limited in interest as it is in subject matter.

I typically just break wind and blame the dog.

 

[Balthazzar]

Did you have a conversation go wrong?

Its Gorgonzola that I can't stand the smell of.

Is Gorgonzola your dog?

 

[Balthazzar]

Small talk seems to be part of the human communication ritual. It is a way of smelling each other's butts without actually doing so.

I don't want to smell your butt.

 

[JustGeorge]

What do you want to talk about that you feel you can't?

That depends.

There's a lot of things I don't discuss. Political views. I don't like to argue, and those always seem to make people mad.

There's a lot of things I can talk about, but I know no one wants to hear. Its not that I'm opposed. Its just... not of interest.

What do I want to talk about? I love theological discussion. About the nature of the divine. I don't, however, like to argue whether it does/doesn't exist, or have a contest about who is 'right' or 'wrong', so I don't bring it up as much as I like.

 

[JustGeorge]

I typically just break wind and blame the dog.

The dog breaks wind, and I take credit.

Is Gorgonzola your dog?

No, its a stinky cheese.

My dogs are Smokey, Sarama, and Dharma.

 

[Nakosis]

Is small talk pointless? I mean, you can only reaffirm current weather conditions so many times before it becomes clear that some people just don't seem to have much in common. What's your favorite color? Yeah, I'm not sure anymore. Why?

"I dunno."

What's left to say? Why bother? You're bound to disagree with something I hold dear, and then you're bound to hold that against me. Maybe it's best to say less and do more. I've never not been a man of many words. I was a boy of few words at one time, though. I need a garden.

Have a nice day

Conversation is necessary for affinity. That at times may be it's only virtue.
If you don't converse with people, you start to drift away from them.
While I'm not great at small talk, I recognize the necessity so make a effort to keep my relative small network of friends intact.

However, yes if you share something which opposes the reality of someone else, it causes problems. So I suppose it can be a two edged sword if you don't take the reality of others into consideration.

 

[The Hammer]

Is small talk pointless? I mean, you can only reaffirm current weather conditions so many times before it becomes clear that some people just don't seem to have much in common. What's your favorite color? Yeah, I'm not sure anymore. Why?

"I dunno."

What's left to say? Why bother? You're bound to disagree with something I hold dear, and then you're bound to hold that against me. Maybe it's best to say less and do more. I've never not been a man of many words. I was a boy of few words at one time, though. I need a garden.

Have a nice day

I don't think small talk is pointless at all. It may not be easy for some (typically introverts and those that spend most of their time in their heads).

Small talk is laying the foundation to build future conversations upon. You don't just talk the "meaning of life" with someone; without first knowing their family, how their day has been, and whether or not they are weathering the weather well.

It's a way to signal a desire to connect or disconnect socially, based upon the way one responds to the small talk as well.

If I say "hi, how's your day", and I get a "fine" in response with little else. I assume that they don't want to talk. If I say "how's your day" and the response is "it was good/bad/alright, how about you?", I know the floor is open to further conversation.

To get to deeper topics takes time and an intimacy with the person we are talking to that doesn't come from a few brief interactions.

 

[Spice]

I find the toughest thing about living alone and being single for 40 years is having someone to talk to. And yeah, it's generally the little things that nag at you and you want that someone who understands you to bounce that verbal ball off of. ------ Your friend using you. A neighbor with deep personal struggles that is tearing you apart cause there's nothing more you can do. That totally rude woman at the grocery store. Another friend whose age is showing and it's concerning. ------- All little nothings in life that if you vented outside of a trustworthy safe place, would be gossip, so you keep them to yourself.

I stayed with an abusive drug user for far too long because in this respect he was the greatest companion ever. So I am missing something I once had. My father was excellent to lean on as well.

Personal worries and fears of a bigger sort I've also learned to keep to myself. Though my sons are well grownup, they're still my children and seeing fear in their faces if my health has a wobble is enough to shut my mouth and laugh off any slips.

So, yeah, give me a little small talk every now and then. The cat listens well sometimes and sometimes he leaves the room.

 

[JustGeorge]

I find the toughest thing about living alone and being single for 40 years is having someone to talk to. And yeah, it's generally the little things that nag at you and you want that someone who understands you to bounce that verbal ball off of. ------ Your friend using you. A neighbor with deep personal struggles that is tearing you apart cause there's nothing more you can do. That totally rude woman at the grocery store. Another friend whose age is showing and it's concerning. ------- All little nothings in life that if you vented outside of a trustworthy safe place, would be gossip, so you keep them to yourself.

I stayed with an abusive drug user for far too long because in this respect he was the greatest companion ever. So I am missing something I once had. My father was excellent to lean on as well.

Personal worries and fears of a bigger sort I've also learned to keep to myself. Though my sons are well grownup, they're still my children and seeing fear in their faces if my health has a wobble is enough to shut my mouth and laugh off any slips.

So, yeah, give me a little small talk every now and then. The cat listens well sometimes and sometimes he leaves the room.

If you ever wanna talk, my inbox is always open.