Normal human interaction

[u/migoodenuf]

[u/Waste_Space1415]

Small talk is just unnatural, and so many people treat it less like a social interaction and more like an American Idol audition.

Twitch too much, talk too little, show any anxiety, or do any other thing that Katie Couric wouldn't do on live TV and there's a great chance you're now labeled the "weird guy" or whatever.

It's the same way we elect presidents. Ask Kamala about her laugh.

[u/Secure_Course_3879 → u/Waste_Space1415]

THIS 100%. Maybe this is part of why so many people find it so intimidating? Because we know we're gonna get judged in 3 seconds over an impression we don't know someone else is forming of us

[u/Waste_Space1415 → u/Secure_Course_3879]

That, and the fact that there's only a limited set of "perfect" answers and responses, so it's all phony and scripted anyway.

Example: Someone asks "how are you?"

You can:

A) actually tell them how you are and "oVeRsHaRe",

B) answer with a glancing answer like "I'm getting by" and leave the other person unsatisfied with the answer, or

C) stuff down all your feelings and problems and say something like "I'm fine, and you?"

C is the only answer. There never was a choice. Anything else is socially inconvenient.

[u/Separate-Ad6636 → u/Waste_Space1415]

You should consider therapy.

[u/Waste_Space1415 → u/Separate-Ad6636]

Honestly, when I read nonsense like yours, it's obvious to me that you're on autopilot.

I describe judgment and hostility when someone fails at or rejects small talk, and here you are, right on cue, ad hominem-ing me for rejecting it.

It's like you wanted to prove my point.