re: Small Talk and best ways to avoid it?

Small talk as in "you watched the game last night? This weather sure is great?"

Why would you not like small talk? Now if someone didn't shut the frick up that's different, but in that situation you just say "hey, I am trying to ______. I'll talk to you later".

quote:

---

I should have been more specific.
My OP is mostly directed at specific people in my daily life (work related) that I have to avoid because they want to ramble, make small talk, and they think everything is a joke, when I really don't have time to engage with them.

I don't like being an A-hole. They are nice and mean well, but I can't seem to get out of their small talk traps when I really want to move on.

---

I think everyone experiences this. I'm pretty patient, myself, but there are just some people who-- however nice they are-- I just don't vibe with and when they engage me in small talk about something in their life, within 30 seconds I would rather be almost anywhere else.

Usually, it's best to just follow through and chat for a while. And unironically, if you actively participate with your thoughts and opinions, it will be more tolerable. In contrast, if you try to hint at your desire to leave with grunts and one word answers, you often make yourself more miserable.

That being said, if it's at work, once in a while you can cut them off due to a client call in 5 minutes, or a bathroom break before a meeting, etc. If you can pay them a compliment as you exit, it can be less abrupt, like: "Sounds like you handled that well... Sorry, but i have to be back to my desk for a call / to prep for a call / finish a report. Talk to you later (or good luck)." As long as you're friendly about it, most people will be understanding.

If you're capable of being assertive and playful, you might flip the script once in a while to address him/her first but never pause long enough for them to redirect. Just boldly stride past them and with a big smile say: "Mornin' Joe... you're looking sharp/smartly dressed/happy this morning!" Or, "Mornin' Sue, it's another beautiful day in the Corps!" ... and do not stop as you walk past them.

Obviously, you can't do this every time or it'll become obvious. But there's no harm in reclaiming your time once in a while.

When old people start with where you from… I just say Earth. It usually stops their next 20 questions that they want to unload after your response or any story they can think of about that place

quote:

---

Occasionally I want to be alone with my own thoughts…but in those situations I just avoid being in close proximity to anyone.

Being around people and trying to work out how to avoid talking to anyone seems like it would burn a lot more calories than simply having a superficial, non-committal conversation. And that’s coming from an introvert.

---

Ditto for me. And I generally prefer casual, non-committal small talk with most people and save the serious deep conversations for real friends.

It's more awkward for me when I see people I don't know well at Christmas parties and such, and they want to jump right into what i've done with my life instead of just talking about the Astros season or something normal.

quote:

---

Small Talk

---

When Mrs Bearcat complains publicly about the size of the Burger

quote:

---

I would much rather just have awkward silence than excruciating small talk "what have you been up to" etc.

---

Hopefully my wife smothers me in my sleep before I ever get like this.

I read the subject as “Saints Talk and best ways to avoid it?” and was very interested.

quote:

---

I can’t understand the younger generation’s absolute fear of having an in person conversation.

---

We're fricking exhausted and don't have the time or bandwidth for random people's business. Most of us have very young kids and just want to enjoy silence for a few minutes.

Plus anyone over 50 will gladly turn small talk into a 30+ minute hostage situation.

quote:

---

Except for people with young kids who love to talk about their kids sports. Only office talk worse than co-workers kids sports is fantasy football talk.

---

You gotta adapt and start up a fantasy kids sports league!

If they are liberal, tell them how much you admire what they are doing at Tesla and SpaceX.

If they are conservative, ask them what's up with BLM lately.

If they are Alabama fans, ask them about laws regarding marrying cousins in your state. Wait, scratch that.