Small Talk

I hate people who abuse small talk. I have no problems with small talk and over the years of working with the public I have nearly perfected the art but some people abuse the situation. The basis for small talk is a polite conversation to move, what could be a rather uncomfortable exchange, along. The people who take it to an extreme are these people who want to tell you their entire life story in the span of conversation. I do not need to know that your dog ran away in 1984 and that you have a family history of diabetes going back umpteen generations. Small talk should be pleasant for starters and secondly these people almost always want to be disgustingly personal. Then these same people seem to be the ones who dominate the conversation. Conversation is intended to involve all parties not just you. Do you listen or just wait to talk?

I feel like I just threw up these words on the page, the problems I have with some people just bubble up until I burst. Not literally of course, a geyser of letters, words, and punctuation tend to come out when I am pissed.

The conclusion of this is just to smile and look my feet until people who ruin small talk finish and leave me alone. And while that could be perceived as rude it keeps me from telling people to go to hell. But don't tell me to go to hell, as I just recently returned and the Island is beautiful this time of year.

And Leonard it was a general platitude.