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Let me begin by saying that I don't hate small talk because I dislike people. I hate it because it's so shallow. I wasn't built for small talk, but I like conversation. I just want it to be deeper. I want to know about your childhood, where you want to retire, what keeps you up at night, what makes you smile....
small talk - noun. Polite conversation about unimportant or uncontroversial matters.
It's even defined as unimportant. So if it's not meaningful it raises the question of, "why bother?" Tonight I have to go to a diversity & inclusion event for my company -- African American Professionals Networking. I will know few people there. Years of being in the business world, I know how to suck it up and plunge into polite conversation, but it really drains my energy. More often than not the conversation is completely one-sided. I ask all about you in a variety of ways and when I run out of questions about you the conversation ends. I crave a good conversation, a sharing of real ideas and stories.
Franklin Roosevelt believed that most people were poor listeners, especially when it came to making small talk. Every so often, to prove his point and amuse himself, he would greet his guests with, "I murdered my grandmother this morning." The usual response was a puzzled but polite nod of approval. However, one evening a guest greatly impressed him when she smiled and said, "I'm sure she had it coming." I think I'm going to try that tonight. :)
small talk - noun. Polite conversation about unimportant or uncontroversial matters.
It's even defined as unimportant. So if it's not meaningful it raises the question of, "why bother?" Tonight I have to go to a diversity & inclusion event for my company -- African American Professionals Networking. I will know few people there. Years of being in the business world, I know how to suck it up and plunge into polite conversation, but it really drains my energy. More often than not the conversation is completely one-sided. I ask all about you in a variety of ways and when I run out of questions about you the conversation ends. I crave a good conversation, a sharing of real ideas and stories.
Franklin Roosevelt believed that most people were poor listeners, especially when it came to making small talk. Every so often, to prove his point and amuse himself, he would greet his guests with, "I murdered my grandmother this morning." The usual response was a puzzled but polite nod of approval. However, one evening a guest greatly impressed him when she smiled and said, "I'm sure she had it coming." I think I'm going to try that tonight. :)