It’s basically a super long form status check - how are you? What are your feelings towards recent weather? Have you heard of recent events? Has recent sports ball performance impacted your emotional stability?
If you ask me, it started from a “let’s see how likely this guy is to stab me if I let him in my house” kind of social ritual, you go through various topics and check if there is a strong emotional response.
It’s a tribal custom. Try some responses that make the other person either laugh or think. Often once the ice is broken, you don’t have to talk any more.
there could be smth interesting to talk about that leads to another conversation. the folks in this thread prolly answer “fine” to everything then wonder why nobody wants to talk to them
Coming from a culture without smalltalk I’ve never understood it. Why talk if there is nothing to be said?
It’s basically a super long form status check - how are you? What are your feelings towards recent weather? Have you heard of recent events? Has recent sports ball performance impacted your emotional stability?
If you ask me, it started from a “let’s see how likely this guy is to stab me if I let him in my house” kind of social ritual, you go through various topics and check if there is a strong emotional response.
It’s a tribal custom. Try some responses that make the other person either laugh or think. Often once the ice is broken, you don’t have to talk any more.
I’m going to start using this one. It’s simple and effective.
I like “Well enough.” In response to how’s it going, or similar non-questions.
there could be smth interesting to talk about that leads to another conversation. the folks in this thread prolly answer “fine” to everything then wonder why nobody wants to talk to them
its important to have interests to talk about tho