h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Small Talk - A3138013
Author: Wyldstaar - U734685

I'm just fairly satisfied with how the entry is now. Since it's my first entry however, I have no idea how to insert any addtional material or links to related subjects. Any input in this regard, or simply on the content the entry currently has would be highly welcome.

Hi Wyldstaar!

Thanks for your entry, but I'm not sure if this is the kind of stuff that can go into the Edited Guide. Definitely has a Douglas Adams feel to it though.

There's a couple of things you could do with this- you could add to the entry, like "why do people make small talk," "common topics of conversation," etc.

Or, you could submit this as an anecdotal piece to the Alternative Writing Workshop for the creative community on H2G2 to publish in the Underguide.

Your choice! Good luck!

You are right. With small talks we can get a lot of big things. I have seen people that talk too much and do not get anything. When the merchandise is good, it is not necessary much propaganda. But, if you have small talks from your side and people reply with small talks from their side, we can have a big newspaper to be read. With small talks we can start conversations with important people. There is a person, very influential, who gave me an attention, because I asked: Could you give me an information? And through that information, we are now very good friends, and we have to thank for that small talk, which gave us a very good life.

A lot of the remarks you make are unfounded. For instance you have provided no evidence (in the form of psychological studies) to suggest that it is human nature to be agressive to people you are unfamiliar with. Similiarly with the claim about not using small talk increaseing the chances of violence. That is my main criticism. Another is, and this is mostly of my own opinion, that for people to only "use" small talk then essentially they talk about nothing and learn nothing about each other. I also disagree with the "Under no circumstances should you ever discuss politics or religion with a human." comment as the most interesting, non-gossip conversations you can have are about the two mentioned subjects, as they are both what people feel passionately about.

However, if this is not meant as an entry to the guide, i thought it was pretty funny, maybe you might consider entering it to the underguide?

TA (Transactional Analysis) has quite a bit to say on small talk. IIRC small talk is categorised as a 'ritual'. If the small talk becomes focused on an objective then it becomes an 'activity'. If ulterior motives come into play then it can become a 'game'.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/A525719

'TA Today' by Ian Stewart and Vann Joines is a very good book.

'Games People Play' by Eric Berne is an interesting read, although TA has moved on since then and many of the changes are discussed in the Stewart/Joines book.

A few responses...

To Scandrea & Tracer- Needless to say, I'm quite disappointed that you don't think my entry is worthy of the Edited Guide. Is this due to the subject matter, or the quality of the entry? As for your recommendation to add information about potential subjects for small talk and the reasons why, I'm extremely confused. Topics of conversation are covered in the very first sentance of the entry. The reason why people engage in small talk is what the entire entry is about. It seems as though you are recommending that I cover the aspects of the entry that have already been covered.

To The WyldStallyn- The remarks I made in my entry are far from unfounded. Aside from my own personal experience with the subject, I did research it in psych texts and journals. Of course I didn't reference them! This is the Guide, not the Encycleopedia Galactica. If I wanted to publish an article on the subject of Small Talk that was full of referances and dry facts, I would have submitted it to a medical journal. A submission to the Guide should be a bit more relaxed. I didn't want a potential reader to fall asleep halfway through the entry due to the constant referances and cold facts. The essential information is in the entry, but distilled in an easy to understand form. If someone wants lots of cold facts and clinical observations, they shouldn't be coming to the Guide for their data.

As for your observation in regards to the subject of politics and religion, you have somewhat of a point. I have edited the entry to reflect that politics and religion shouldn't be discussed with people you are not already friends with. It's usually (but not always) perfectly safe to talk about these subjects with your friends and family. As for strangers, I maintain that it's still a dangerous notion. I'm not alone there either. It's quite common to display signs that discourage the discussion of these two subjects in a public place (bars) or forum (message boards). You stated yourself that people feel passionately about these subjects. When two people feel passionately about a subject but have differing views, a conflict can easily arise. Surely you've witnessed this first hand at some point. I know I have.

To Spinks- Interesting. I'll have to check that link out. Maybe I'll find something usefull and edit accordingly.