I find that meta-conversation can make a good default for small talk in the absence of inspiration to talk about anything else in particular, but that has the disadvantage of seeming a bit strange when talking to people you do not know very well, which is the situation in which the problem is most likely to arise in the first place.
Meta-conversation works as a default if and only if both (all) parties to the conversation want to be talking. It doesn’t help if you’re trying to have a conversation with someone who you just walked up to or whatever.
Meta-conversations are my favorite kind of small talk, but >50% of people have never had a meta-conversation, at least not ones like like we have here.
I find that meta-conversation can make a good default for small talk in the absence of inspiration to talk about anything else in particular, but that has the disadvantage of seeming a bit strange when talking to people you do not know very well, which is the situation in which the problem is most likely to arise in the first place.
I use this as a fun test. people who don’t find meta analysis fun aren’t the kind of people I get along with anyway, so I’m just saving time.
Meta-conversation works as a default if and only if both (all) parties to the conversation want to be talking. It doesn’t help if you’re trying to have a conversation with someone who you just walked up to or whatever.
Meta-conversations are my favorite kind of small talk, but >50% of people have never had a meta-conversation, at least not ones like like we have here.