Making small talk
I can make small talk.
Here’s the thing though – you have to start it.
If you chit chat with me, you’ll get a response.
What you won’t likely get is a follow up. For instance, if you ask me how my day is going, I’ll say something like ‘oh, fine’. I most likely won’t follow this up with, ‘How about you?’, and it’d be really unusual for me to ask the question first, unprompted.
Making small talk doesn’t occur to me.
I mostly deal in logic and fact rather than in emotion, and so my answers to small talk tend to be skewed towards this.
An example, from this lunch time. It’s been snowing on and off for several days:
Shop Assistant: ‘Are the footpaths outside easier to walk on now?’
Me: ‘Yes, but I’m glad I have my walking boots on. The High Street pavement has been gritted, but the side roads are still pretty slippery.’
End of conversation. Facts stated. No follow up. And you certainly wouldn’t have caught me offering up this info without having been asked.
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One Response to “Making small talk”
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Isabel Espinal on August 12th, 2010 Isabel Espinal(Quote)
I just discovered what Aspergers is and feel like it “explains everything” for me too. There is so much that I can relate to. As far as small talk, I am 46 years old and have actually gotten good at small talk in many instances and actually even *enjoy* it many times. Really truly. I have learned to like it just like I learned to like the taste of lamb – I really and truly like to eat lamb now. Small talk has been an acquired taste, However, I feel like I am still learning, still trying to figure out what to say next. I am often left with this discomfort like the conversation ended too quickly because I got stuck.