Small talk: Howard Chang and Dave Shepherd, who haven’t seen each other for several months, make and discuss small talk.
We encourage you to check our our friend Charles Hodgson’s book Carnal Knowledge. (2:22)
The inspiration for this show was the book How to Talk to Anybody About Anything by Leil Lowndes. (3:21)
In response to a voice message, we explain our system of rating our shows. (7:41)
Small talk: what is it, who uses it, and when is it used? (12:18)
Music bumper from “Talks in Circles” by Threeleggeddog (21:50)
Forms of small talk, and small-talk danger zones (23:04)
Song: “We Talk About Cars” by Ric Seaberg (29:09)
Rude word of the week: “gossip” (33:48)
Music bumper from “Essence” by Evan Stone (36:33)
When speakers move beyond small talk (36:56)
Music courtesy of The Podsafe Music Network
Theme music by Kick the Cat
Closing music from “Grapes” by Evan Stone
time: 43:09
size: 39.5 Mb
rating: PG (Just a tiny hint of rudeness in our discussion.)
Since you guys opened the forums, it seems like all the comments here have disappeared. I must check out the forums.
Anyway, just commenting to let you all know I’m still listening in. Keep up the good work!
Hi, Smaran! Good to hear from you.
I don’t think the comment threads have completely dried out. The last few podcast posts we’ve done have gotten as many as 13 or 14 comments.
But it’s true, the more dynamic discussions tend to happen at the forum. It’s interesting to see how the posts differ. Here, they are statements of opinion that are placed and left. At the forum, they tend to be questions and responses.
I think both are good.
I don’t disagree, Dave, but I do think the podcast has been spread thin over multiple websites: the blog, the forum, Podcast Alley, Digg, etc.
I wanted to mention another piece of Small Talk that you didn’t mention. When you said that someone asks “What’s Up” and the answer is “Fine.” I’ve never heard that answer. Usually, the generic and default answer is “Not Much.” Which I think is the most general use of Small Talk.
Michael, I think the point Howard was trying to make is the same one you just made. The “proper” and usual answer to “What’s up?” is something like “Not much.” So when somebody reflexively answers “Fine,” what they’re doing is just returning empty small talk without having paid attention to the original question at all.
I have heard “Fine” as an answer to “What’s up?” many times, and have given it myself as a response a few times.
You’ve been tagged- check out my post:
http://www.denblogs.com/digital_storytelling/2007/08/tag-im-it.html
Maybe it has something to do with the acoustics, but you do sound much younger in this episode, Dave, contrary to what Howard says around 5:15.
I have also noticed that some people will ask “How are you?” in passing, not really expecting a reply, in place of “Hello.” I find this strange and I have observed that when I ever do reply, “Fine, How are you?” most people tend to keep on walking past me. It is interesting that this has developed into a commom greeting rather than a means of starting a conversation.
Another common response to “What’s up?” or “How are you?” is “Good.” I have heard this mainly from fellow students and I find it amusing because the person inquiring is not asking about your behavior or character, but your mood.