Rebuilding Rob

As WordPress continues to recycle old prompts, I pulled another prompt from The Coffee Monsterz Co to respond to today

What is the purpose of small talk?

Small talk is all about breaking the proverbial ice. It’s a way to open communication – whether it’s in a professional or social setting.

There was an episode of Star Trek the next generation title “starship mine” where there was a humorous plot in which the android Data creates a “Smalltalk sub routine“ in preparation for a meeting with a star base commander who is notorious for his ability to small talk.

I don’t like to brag, but one thing I’ve always been good at is starting up conversations with strangers. X2 used to tell me that she always felt awkward around strangers, so she used to lean on me I initiate conversations.

I know a lot of times the things that I consider “conversation starters“ is really just small talk. But I figure that conversations has to start somewhere.

I usually have a whole bag of tricks I reach to you for icebreakers and small talk: the weather, the traffic, some snide remark about the event that we’re all attending. I like to get people to laugh a little bit and just ease attention in a particular moment. I’m not suggesting that I’m good enough for this to be some sort of master of ceremonies for public events, but I think I do OK. As any of you who read this blog for any amount of time know, I don’t like to brag, but when I think I can back something up, I will say it.

In 1991 the late Pee-wee Herman (Paul Rubens) was arrested for exposure in an adult theater. Anybody else remember when that was enough to derail an entertainers career?

Later that fall, he made an unannounced surprise appearance in introducing the 1991 and TV video music awards. It was Ruben‘s first public appearance and his first appearance as the Pee Wee character since the arrest. I remember watching this live and thinking to myself. “what is he going to say?“ Herman then delivered what I considered to be the best icebreaking line of our lifetime: “anybody heard any good jokes lately?“

People will tell you that small talk is “talk about nothing“. I like to think of small talk as icebreakers; to relieve tension and get everybody to relax a little bit. I like to think I’m pretty good at making people feel comfortable and uncomfortable situations. if that constitutes small talk, then so be it 

Thanks for stopping by Rebuilding Rob. Be sure to like, 👍 comment and subscribe to my blog below. It’s greatly appreciated! Also, feel free to follow me on social media as well! Check out my most recent posts as well as some earlier, related posts

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• Life is What Happens: A Look Back at My Non-Existent 2025 Vision
• The Moment I Walked Inside a Hallmark Movie

The article “Confessionals of a Small Talk Professional” first appeared on Rebuilding Rob