Help making small talk

rachelg1 · 04-04-2020 11:09AM #1

I have anxiety & i'm trying to practice my small talk.........say at a till...what can i say

I just freeze

04-04-2020 11:25AM

Hi/Thanks/Bye. That covers 99% of all till-related chat.

Sometimes you could add in a little more: Hi/Hope you're keeping well/Thanks/Bye/Take care.

Just say hello and see what follows, and stick to the classics and just ask how people are doing if they make the effort to engage you. No need to feel self conscious, it's a self-limiting situation and no more is needed than a few polite words.

04-04-2020 11:30AM

"Good morning, not a bad one is it. The days are getting warmer, stretch in the evening then. Do you read Nietzsche? Despite the selective appropriation of his oeuvre by the Nazis for propaganda purposes, his critiques should not be misunderstood as merely nihilistic."

un5byh7sqpd2x0 · 04-04-2020 11:31AM

Ask them how the kids are, especially if the operator looks 17

SCOOP 64 · 04-04-2020 11:32AM

just talk about the weather, and try to smile every likes a smile.

Bobblehats · 04-04-2020 11:37AM

You could break the ice with “I’m watching you very meticulously” and ease yourself into it with a simple “don’t shortchange me”. Then on leaving “I demand a recount!”

Quantum Erasure · 04-04-2020 11:40AM

How about this coronavirus, eh?

MarkR · 04-04-2020 11:48AM

Shops these days are a bit of a challenge. Everyone wants to get in and out as fast as possible! Really it's just pleasantries now. Hi, thanks and bye.

You could say hi to the person behind you, if you're in a long socially distant queue.

Maybe try an online chat? I wonder how many after hours people we could get in a zoom meeting...

endacl · 04-04-2020 11:50AM

“Do you like stuff?” is always a great ice breaker.

NATLOR · 04-04-2020 11:52AM

Posting in this forum will do wonders for your anxiety

Mr_Muffin · 04-04-2020 11:53AM

Hello. I'm Rachel. Would you like to have some small talk with me?

1o059k7ewrqj3n · 04-04-2020 12:02PM

small talk eh?

Snow Garden · 04-04-2020 12:10PM

I think this video might give you some great lines.

Edgware · 04-04-2020 12:17PM

"Didnt know that them Viagras took so long to wear off" always a good opener

Better Than Christ · 04-04-2020 12:48PM

"Ah sure, you know yourself"

"This is it"

Strumms · 04-04-2020 12:49PM

“Ahhh is it yourself ?” Is a good starter .

Ask... “so whats your secret to covid survival ?” Conversations flow from there.... trust me.

Kylta · 10-04-2020 11:05PM

Bobblehats wrote: »

You could break the ice with “I’m watching you very meticulously”

Thats a great line for creeping anybody out. I'd use that line in my local shop and I'd either get a box or barred or both, actually its the box I'd get. And thats of the women.

igCorcaigh · 10-04-2020 11:10PM

I used to be crippled with social anxiety as a young fella.

And that is probably not where you are coming from perhaps? But anyway, this is just I found it.

Took me to my early thirties to finally work it out.

Good posts already here, mist people seem to just go by rote regarding day by day conversation.

Although, I would say to you, never be afraid to just leave a social situation that you feel you are uncomfortable with.

It is ALWAYS OK to just leave.

dmc17 · 10-04-2020 11:12PM

igCorcaigh wrote: »

I used to be crippled with social anxiety as a young fella.

And that is probably not where you are coming from perhaps? But anyway, this is just I found it.

Took me to my early thirties to finally work it out.

Good posts already here, mist people seem to just go by rote regarding day by day conversation.

Although, I would say to you, never be afraid to just leave a social situation that you feel you are uncomfortable with.

It is ALWAYS OK to just leave.

Except at the till when you haven't yet paid

Kylta · 10-04-2020 11:15PM

rachelg1 wrote: »

I have anxiety & i'm trying to practice my small talk.........say at a till...what can i say I just freeze

Talk about the first thing that comes into your head. Actually talk to people like you talk to friends, when you finish at the till always say have a nice day. You be surprised how quickly they remember you the next time your in the shop
Actually now that I think about it, small talk is an art form.

Strumms · 10-04-2020 11:21PM

“Ahhh, there you are now”

“Ahhh, Nice morning out there”. (Still useable if pissing wind and rain)

“Do you come here often”

“Can I have a recipient, recipe, no sorry, receipt I meant”

“Do I need proof of a pet, before I can buy pet food ?” (About to be a much used question)

Harry Palmr · 10-04-2020 11:25PM

You've picked a particularly inappropriate time to try and improve your chit-chat technique.

Rodin · 10-04-2020 11:31PM

Who wants to be talking at a till.
A simple hello and a smile is enough.

singmeasongy · 10-04-2020 11:33PM

I was in my local spar the other day and when i was buying a sandwich the girl on the till asked me if i wanted to go get a drink.

" Sorry I have a girlfriend " I told her.

" Its a meal deal you dope" was her reply.

The Tetrarch · 10-04-2020 11:40PM

You could try the line used by Joe Ancis, comedian Rodney Dangerfield's friend, a very funny guy, but too nervous to ever go on stage..
Joe Ancis did not like chit chat, but a comedian friend of Rodney's really wanted to meet Joe.
He came over to Joe and the first thing Joe said was ...

"your mother sucks midgets"

Andrew00 · 10-04-2020 11:47PM

Not a bad aul day, think its promised good tomorrow, did you see the forecast for Sunday? Ah sure its never too far away, please god we'll get a good summer now for the turf.

Kylta · 11-04-2020 08:49AM

Rodin wrote: »

Who wants to be talking at a till.
A simple hello and a smile is enough.

That all depends if you have a stutter and only have a couple of teeth in your head, I'd go with a nod.

Kylta · 11-04-2020 09:05AM

Andrew00 wrote: »

Not a bad aul day, think its promised good tomorrow, did you see the forecast for Sunday? Ah sure its never too far away, please god we'll get a good summer now for the turf.

You miss the football/pub/hairdressers? ( or anything that's cancelled or closed)
Social distancing didn't get the scumbags of the corner?
You wouldn't know whether to wear a coat/shorts/or not (weather)
That's very cheap wine/ food/ (if you pick up a bargain)

If you using small talk to chat up the person on the til its easy ( hey you I dont do small talk I'm into into aerodynamics, so are going out for a date thing or something like that. Or do if have to get you sacked for making that sexist remark about the vegan and the sausage).