gwenevyn wrote:
Dear grocery store clerks,
I am sorry for the awkward silence punctuated by lame attempts at normal conversation. I do not know what I am supposed to talk to you about, how long, or exactly when.
Haha, yes! I'll wait in a loong line for the U-scan rather than go to an empty clerk-line.
Phagocyte wrote:
Paula wrote:
But noone's trying to be mean. They are just taking an interest in you.
Often times it's just shallow drivel though, they are just doing it as a social gesture, not to genuinely learn more about you. That's the thing that bugs me about small talk. I talk to people to have an intelligent discussion with a coherent subject, not to appease some unwritten social rule.
Right-on Phagocyte. It's not that I'm unwilling talking to my haircutter-person, it's just that small talk makes me want to peel my face off.
If my barber brought-up an interesting intellectual subject, or even if they wanted to excitedly explain their own interests to me, that's fine!
For example, suppose my barber says:
"So I'm working here to help pay my tuition. I'm going to be a Biologist. Really interesting stuff ya know? For example, I've been thinking about this for awhile: there is this specific kind of beetle, and they (insert some odd behavior), but nobody knows why they (do this behavior), and no one has any explanation, because it turns out to be harmful for them and their offspring in every way, so no one has any idea how it could have evolved. Any ideas?"
That would be great!
However, this is what usually occurs:
Hairdresser: "Man it's cold."
Me: "Yeah."
Hairdresser: "So, you going to the game tonight?"
Me: "What game?"
Hairdresser: "The FOOTBALL game! Don't pretend like you didn't know!"
Me: "Uh...nah, I've got stuff to do."
(silence)
Hairdresser: "So, what are you doing for Christmas?"
Me: "....Going home, I guess"
Hairdresser: "Where ya from?"
AHHHHHH!! !! !! !! !! !