I'd Rather Get To Know You Than Small Talk

I honestly don't understand small talk. People ask me all the time "How are you?" and "What are you doing?" but when I just meet someone I doubt they really are interested in the answers I could give them. On top of that when I don't give a customary answer they expect, it's assumed something is wrong with me.

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PhoenixPhail · M

With most people, I find initial statements like "How are you?" and "What are you doing?" to be greetings rather than questions. And as greetings, people expect the typical greeting-like answers. "I'm fine. How are YOU?" and "Oh, not much. What are YOU doing?" Or words to that effect. When I answer someone's "How are you" by telling them how I REALLY am, it's strange to them because they were just saying "hi."