what do, er ..neurotypicals talk about anyway

I think the conversations on SW can give you a good sampling of the ways people engage in conversations that are "small talk".

But....there is more going on than you perhaps are giving us credit for. For example, if I talk about my favorite episodes of a TV show, I am actually revealing some things about myself. Why do I select that episode? What does that say about me and what appeals to me emotionally?

Even telling a joke can be a sign of connection between two people: I might tell you a joke because I have come to know you well enough to realize that you in particular would appreciate that particular joke. So the shared laugh at the end is really an affirmation of understanding and friendship. It's not just about the joke.

If we think about deep conversations as the motions of heavy machinery in our brains, the small talk and the jokes are the grease that keeps the machinery running smoothly.

My in-laws engage in literally nothing but small talk. Almost none of their conversations are particularly substantive. My wife once got trapped on the phone with her mom who told her about the electrical sockets in her kitchen for 45 minutes.

That said I'm NT and I happily talk about ideas, politics, philosophy, the order of society, or make absurdist weird jokes. I don't *mind* small talk but certainly not my favourite.

Let's just say...it is NOT deep. In my apartment building, for example, my neighbors and I talk about the tasks we are doing together. Some among us spread the news...this one is sick, that one went to the hospital, and so on.

Some of them complain about the OTHER neighbors. We talk about the weather, naturally, and whether or not the elevator is working properly, and we complain about the ceiling leaks and the mold.

I have ONE friend IRL with whom I can discuss politics, and he becomes rabid. I can barely get a word in when he is riled up.

Yes.

I like to talk about practically anything and everything.

Music, films, television programs, literature, video games, art, science, philosophy, history, sports, technology, you name it, I like to talk about it.

Sport and weather. I get bored and stop listening

I think they may be a lot happier in that normalcy.
Everything not so heavy.

People talk about anything and everything and when they find like minded people they open up and share their real thoughts

I don't know. I can't do it.

I'm curious too. I never get past the music sharing phase

🤷‍♀ boring stuff

Y'all wanna be special so bad you will hate on neuro typical ppl,it's embarrassing 😭

Ummm...the inherent bias in that is astounding.

You're neurotypical.