We hate small talk. We hate it so much that we’ll avoid people
altogether so we won’t have to deal with the same awful
questions:
“So, what do you do?”
“Where are you from?”
“Come here often?”
Ironically, though we hate small talk, we cling to it like a
shipwreck victim on a life preserver. Why?
Because it’s all we know. And everyone else is doing it, too. So
much for our mom asking us, “If all the other kids jumped off a
bridge, would you do it too?” Now we know the answer would
be: Yes, of course.
Here’s what you can do instead:
Ask them for advice. “Where’s a good place to eat around
here?,” “Is it worth signing up at this gym? What’d you like