The word “chitchat” is sort of a cool looking little thing, just hanging around the water cooler and reading the weather reports. No one really *likes* small talk but it does provide a certain amount of comfort in new social situations – a place to go when those awkward silences stretch off to the horizon.
I, for one, am ill-equipped to wield the small talk gift of gab, maybe because I only have so many words I want them to count. This desire for meaningful conversation sometimes makes me too blunt and direct (aka: rude), like some people get after one too many, except I am saying these things completely sober. After watching the strained body language and darting eyes, my only excuse is to say “I am terrible at social graces!” followed by some nervous cackling, which has the snowball effect of causing all molecular motion to cease.
whoisfenton 