2 www.theotherpress.ca

 

of
The

Its not the size
that matters

By Elliot Chan,
Contributor

mall talk doesn’t need

to happen, but it does.
Often overwhelmed by
the awkward silence
between two people,
small talk manifests itself
in various occasions
from waiting in line for
coffee to mingling at a

 

re: SE ee contact. The key is being —_ helped that person weather has become a
§ d able to identify whichis _ relieve some stress, but cliché or a bad habit, but
at someone and not say —_ which. So before you ask they also murdered a why should it be that
eS pte teen how he or she chunk of your day. Is it way? Why can’t we just
kill ay . aie is doing, ask yourself if worth it? If you don’t embrace the topic? After
mi eee oe ee Asimple want to know how all, despite all the science
re ‘ Good morning,” or someone’s weekend in the 21st century,
a big impression, but
Maia eee oe Ee
. is the point of asking inviting them to reveal me something personal
Turn small talk into something so personal something personal; it about yourself” becomes
i if we expect a response shows that their feelings “Sum up your feelings
meaningful talk that is nothing close to matter to someone in one word, preferably
By Joel MacKenzie it? “How are you?” and else and that someone ‘good.’” Being reversed,
ee, aff Writer : similar questions should _—_ wants to connect with the question is closer to
be followed by a personal and understand them. an insult than a respectful
There’é no dotibt that response, or should not But when it turns into gesture. At best, this is
be asked at all. a knee-jerk response an annoying hurdle to

questions like “How are
you?” are overused to
the point of redundancy.
The start of most of the
conversations I have
with bosses, co-workers,
and even friends begin
with “How are you?”
followed by “Good,
you?”—each spat out

as quickly as possible
with no expectation to
hear anything other than
the stock reply. What

   

there’s the possibility that
negative repercussions
will leave you looking
like either an obnoxious
rambler or a disregarding
jerk.

While some of us
have busy lives and
are eager to get things

_ Opinions

How are you, really? The
complexities of small talk

“Hello,” might sound
drab and boring, but it’s
a polite way of putting
the conversation onus on.
the other person.

Some people prefer
entering a conversation
with “How are you doing
today?” and most of the
time it’s harmless, but
every so often you'll find
someone who just isn’t

was, don’t ask. If you
don’t really care how
their family is doing,
don’t inquire about
them. To avoid exiting a
conversation early and
leaving the person feeling
rejected, it is important
to understand what you
want out of the small
talk.

There’s nothing

Since its too strange to smile at someone and not say
anything, we might as well try to perfect the skill.

done, others are lonely
and starved for human

66

The questions seem
like a polite way to start
a conversation, but they
are pushed closer to
rudeness when they are
reduced to a formality.
Asking about others
shows respect to them by

doing well and wants to
vent. Sure, you might’ve

to seeing someone, it
becomes meaningless.
When the question’s
answer is expected to be
completely impersonal,
the question itself almost
asks the opposite of
what it really does: “Tell

wrong with the classics.
Talking about the

 

Honest, personal conversations are what
we should always strive to have.

jump past before starting
a conversation; at worst,
it is a barrier restricting
people from opening up.

Honest, personal
conversations are what
we should always strive
to have. As much as

weather is still an
uncontrollable factor in
our lives. It’s fascinating!
Shouldn’t we talk about
that? And since so few of
us are ever correct about
it, shouldn’t we take in
everybody’s opinion? If
even the professionals
can’t get it right, then
it seems like a very
harmless conversation to
have

Well-constructed
small talk can be a very
enjoyable experience. It
doesn’t need to have a
compelling anecdote or
a passionate rant; it only
needs to be mutual.

SU ape arc oo arr e

the truth isn’t always
pleasant, it is what it is.
No one is always “good,”
and no one should feel
the need to act phonily in
normal conversations.
When asking
someone how they
are is meant to be
meaningless, it pulls
people apart by making
them more concerned
with formalities. The
question should be said
only with meaning, or
not at all. Ask someone
how he or she really is,
and start making honest
connections with people
that go beyond rehearsed
script.

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