Itâs funny cause to me itâs always meant a third entirely different thing! To me small talk is just starting from a basic place to feel each other out a bit, bringing up mundane things and simple questions to find topics we could drill further into.
âHow was your dayâ to a partner would be small talk, even though I care about what theyâre saying - Iâm just asking so they can bring up something to talk about. âWeatherâs been shit latelyâ to a stranger is small talk, but the ensuing story about how they had to rush to work late in the rain would not be.
Given it means three different things to three random people, itâs almost like âsmall talkâ actually covers a broad set of social purposes and people who âarenât into itâ might actually be missing a lot đ
This is how I feel as well. Small talk at itâs best is a way to transition into more detailed topics without plunging into them headfirst.
With friends and partners, I think small talk like âHow was your day?â Provide a jumping off point for what they want to talk about or, in the worst case, will result in them not wanting to talk. If someone had a terrible day and is exhausted, it doesnât help to start a conversation about the meaning of life when they probably just want to relax.
