Hi everyone! I hope you’re well. Today is Wednesday, and time for another post in the Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge hosted by Long and Short Reviews. If you want to join in the challenge, you can find the topics for 2023 here, and if you would like to read other people’s responses to this week’s topic, you can find them here.
My Thoughts on Small Talk
What is Small Talk?
The definition of small talk is having a relaxed conversation about everyday topics, like the weather or weekend plans, with people you are just getting to know or have brief interactions with. It can serve as a preamble of more authentic conversations and help create a sense of camaraderie and trust.
Some consider small talk to be superficial, but it can play an essential role in building relationships and establishing connections. It can help create a starting point for a deeper conversation and make it easier for people to open up. Unless, of course, you’re me.
For me, small talk can be quite a double-edged sword
On the one hand, it’s a great coping mechanism for when you’re socially awkward and prone to social anxiety. Small talk can give you something to say. I often blabber incessantly about anything and everything when I don’t know someone, merely to fill any empty silence.
On the other hand, however, and in a cruel, vicious circle sort of a way, small talk makes me anxious because while I’m trying desperately to fill every nanosecond of silence with my rambling lest my noisy, chaotic thoughts have a chance to bubble up, I sometimes actually forget to stop. Sometimes I can be so focussed on keeping away awkward silences that I end up going on and on to the point of irritation, making things a whole lot more awkward than they ever needed to be…
It might sound daft to some of you, but it’s yet another way my numerous neuroses present themselves.
Anyway, that’s post 18 down. I’m looking forward to reading all of your thoughts on small talk.
As always, thanks for reading my word!
Until next time,
George
© 2023 GLT
Categories: life, Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge
GEORGE L THOMAS 
Small talk makes me feel awkward, too. You’re not alone.
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Sometimes I find in small talk, especially if the other person is receptive or I feel a kinship of sorts with them, I say more than I want to say about my private life. Without meaning to. Of course, when I’m the listener, I don’t mind so much when they do it.. it’s great fodder for a writer.. lol
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Oh, yeah, I’m quite the oversharer, too, Judy 🙂🙂
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There’s a wonderful scene in ST TNG in which Data develops the ability to engage in small-talk by studying a master of it at a party. His ability to converse for hours without saying ANYTHING fascinates the crew. I can’t say I think about it, but I do engage in chat about the weather or recent events when I’m interacting with clients and working on something for them. Part of my job is ever-friendly customer service.
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I love Data! I agree that’s a great scene.
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Yeah, that’s… definitely not just you.
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I feel you on the anxiety with small talk and the worry about the chaotic thoughts.
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