Small Talk or Silence

Carroller16 · 19-01-2011 01:49PM #1

When in the barbers, a lift or say a taxi, do you enjoy a bit of small talk or prefer silence.

I can't stand small talk. I go to a particular barber particularly because he does not engage in small talk.

admiralofthefleet · 19-01-2011 01:51PM

9 times out of ten i keep my trap shut, i hate the usual 'doing anything this weekend' 'so what do you work at'

hondasam · 19-01-2011 01:53PM

perhaps you are odd and unsociable. what is wrong with small talk, it passes the time.

what you are doing now is small talk.

Penn · 19-01-2011 01:55PM

Prefer silence. End up with small talk though.

Dudess · 19-01-2011 01:55PM

I'm fine with small talk as long as it's not forced. A lot of the time, for me anyway, in the hairdresser's, in a taxi etc, chat just happens naturally and I get on well with the person in that context. But sometimes there's just nothing to say, and neither party should feel obliged to force a conversation.

Duggy747 · 19-01-2011 01:55PM

Taxi Driver: "So, you up to anythi......"
You: "I'm not paying you to talk"
Taxi Driver: "...................."
You: "................."

I don't mind the shìte talking with a taxi driver if they seem like nice blokes.

TeddyTedson · 19-01-2011 01:56PM

Small talk, it leads to proper conversations usually.
Although I do hate getting a hair cut when the place is completely silent and packed with people being forced to listen to your conversation with the barber.

NothingMan · 19-01-2011 01:57PM

I'm usually the one to start nattering. Especially after a few beers the taxi driver is probably thinking "I'm suppose to drive you home, not listen to your crap".

--Kaiser-- · 19-01-2011 01:59PM

I have the same policy with barbers and taxi drivers, if they want to have a conversation, I'm more than happy to oblige, if not I'll stay silent. You've got a think about how many times a day they are asked to same questions ("Are ye busy?" etc. etc.)

Little Acorn · 19-01-2011 02:00PM

If in a taxi then both. I like to start of with a bit of small talk. Then silence for the majority of journey. But maybe a little bit more small talk when I'm nearly at my destination. I would feel odd just getting in to the car, and leaving again without saying a word to the driver. I would think of it as a bit rude on my part, to just name destination then hand over money and get out, without having chatted a little bit. Taxi drivers are normally very friendly and chatty in my experience, and they seem to always know everything that is happening in the town!:)

fonecrusher1 · 19-01-2011 02:01PM

Taxi home on saturday night...

Have you been busy?
yeah busy enough alright, always is on a saturday night.
Have you been busy?
eh?...yeah busy enough?
Have you been busy?
.....? just told you??
Have you been busy?
.......???
Have you been busy?
..........
Have you been busy?
What the fcuk is wrong with you?
Have you been busy?
Get out.
Have you been busy?
OUT.

Kiera · 19-01-2011 02:01PM

It really depends on my mood. Sometimes i just want quiet time and other times i like a good aul natter about crap

prinz · 19-01-2011 02:02PM

Don't mind small talk most places, but I really hate it at the barbers.

Adyx · 19-01-2011 02:03PM

admiralofthefleet wrote: »

9 times out of ten i keep my trap shut, i hate the usual 'doing anything this weekend' 'so what do you work at'

I really hate this too because invariably I'm not doing anything at the weekend because currently I don't work at anything. I'm not going away anywhere nice on holidays either.

TequilaMockingBird · 19-01-2011 02:03PM

Barrington wrote: »

Prefer silence. End up with small talk though.

Ditto. I don't want to talk, but I end up asking inane questions to be polite. I think we're both relieved when the whole thing is over.

TeddyTedson · 19-01-2011 02:03PM

fonecrusher1 wrote: »

Taxi home on saturday night...

Have you been busy?
yeah busy enough alright, always is on a saturday night.
Have you been busy?
eh?...yeah busy enough?
Have you been busy?
.....? just told you??
Have you been busy?
.......???
Have you been busy?
..........
Have you been busy?
What the fcuk is wrong with you?
Have you been busy?
Get out.
Have you been busy?
OUT.

This made me lul so much is bobbed up and down,
lsmibuad!

Seloth · 19-01-2011 02:04PM

It depends on the taxi driver.

Last night I had a fantastic talk with one ,He was a nigerian guy whol told me about how did business last year in a FETAC course but really wants to do film making course,but has too work for the year first.He went on about how he's really into all the background stuff.

Its when you get the feck arse of a fella who automatically talks about sport I hate."See the match?" "There was a match?" "Not a football fan are yah?" "Foot?...Ball?"

Lol most of the times though taxi driver convo's are about two subjects,the weather or how busy they are.

Hairdressers its more so up to them to start but most of the time I'm silent.Theres a hairdressers in my town I enjoy going to as the woman is crazy hah and really enjoyable to talk to

AnonoBoy · 19-01-2011 02:04PM

Taxi Driver: Howarya?
Me: Ah grand y'know - just heading home from work. Pretty tired.
Taxi Driver: Ah I hear ya.
Me: So did you see that match between City and......
Taxi Driver: You know what I hate about Nigerians?
Me: *sigh*

Silence please unless they have something interesting to say.

19-01-2011 02:06PM

I bet most of the small talk haters wouldn't be of the same opinion if it was a female barber/taxi driver with nice features.
I don't particularly like small talk but if someone sparks it up, it's only polite to return it, unless of course you're an ignorant ****

TeddyTedson · 19-01-2011 02:09PM

Taxi driver - "The f*cking government.......
Me - yea, yea, yea

(time elapse)
Taxi driver - "I'll tell you what the b*stards need to do.....
Me - yea, yea, yea. Sorry I'm just here beside that lane....
Taxi driver - "No problem, 20euro. They need to get there arse out of their...
Me - LEG IT!!!!!

NothingMan · 19-01-2011 02:10PM

Conversation with a taxi driver after walking by 3 other taxis and getting into his.

Taxi driver: "So why did you skip those cabs?"

Me: "They were shoite!"

If I'm paying premium money to get home I'm getting at least a Merc not a 98 Toyota Avensis.

RayM · 19-01-2011 02:12PM

I don't mind a bit of small talk, but I draw the line at having to politely nod along with a taxi driver's casual racism (I'm just using taxi drivers as a totally random example of a person with whom you might engage in small talk, not suggesting that racism is endemic throughout the taxi industry... oh no...).

As for barbers... I prefer that they don't get too wrapped up in the conversation, and then forget to stop cutting until there's nearly nothing left.

chin_grin · 19-01-2011 02:14PM

Get in taxi.
Say destination.
Take out phone.
Hold up whilst maintaining very strong eye contact with driver.
Play this song.
(optional) Seat dance. Still maintaining eye contact.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGSKrC7dGcY

WIZE · 19-01-2011 02:16PM

Small Talk

silence can be too loud sometimes

TeddyTedson · 19-01-2011 02:18PM

chin_grin wrote: »

Get in taxi.
Say destination.
Take out phone.
Hold up whilst maintaining very strong eye contact with driver.
Play this song.
(optional) Seat dance. Still maintaining eye contact.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGSKrC7dGcY

Isn't that King in that video?

Novella · 19-01-2011 02:19PM

I always seem to have good chats with taxi drivers, sometimes I don't even wanna get out of the car when I get to where I wanna go because we're so engrossed in conversation. My hairdresser was in my class at school and she's really nice, so never any silence there either.

I'd happily sit in silence if the other person wasn't talkative though, don't find that awkward.

chin_grin · 19-01-2011 02:22PM

Novella wrote: »

I always seem to have good chats with taxi drivers, sometimes I don't even wanna get out of the car when I get to where I wanna go because we're so engrossed in conversation.

One eye on the meter then?

Vicxas · 19-01-2011 02:36PM

small talk. or if im drunk, a full blown conversation.

FreudianSlippers · 19-01-2011 03:31PM

I usually prefer silence. I actually switched barbers because my guy wouldn't stop talking about sports etc.

My new guy is much better and I actually get on with him. Bit of a chat, how's it going etc. then silence. He doesn't feel the need to ramble on the entire time.

With taxi men I just lie most of the time. I'll say stuff here and there, but they always ask what I do for a living. If I tell them the truth it's non-stop lol.
I just make something up on the spot.

jackiebaron · 19-01-2011 03:44PM

I walk in to my local pub in Amsterdam.

There's a guy sitting at the bar and I can just tell he's American
(loud white trainers, white socks, jeans that only Americans wear i.e. huge around the arse, fat head etc.)

I can also tell he's going to want some friendly smalltalk horsesh1t with me.

I shout for a pint to the barman and make a quick comment about something or other as I know him well.

Our American friend hears my Irish accent and inquires "So, where are you from?"
I just know he's going to want to bleat on about how he's Irish coz his great-great grandmother farted after a glass of guinness or some crap.

I reply to him "What are you, a cop?"
Pick up my pint and feck off to the smoking lounge and leave him there.

here.from.day.1 · 19-01-2011 03:46PM

OisinT wrote: »

With taxi men I just lie most of the time. I'll say stuff here and there, but they always ask what I do for a living. If I tell them the truth it's non-stop lol.
I just make something up on the spot.

What do you do for a living?

Small Talk or Silence

Small Talk or Silence 133 votes

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