Overheard a barista say 'small talk is a tax on introverts' and now I can't stop thinking about it

I was waiting for my coffee at a shop in Portland and this barista told a customer she thinks casual chit-chat is basically a fee we pay for being in public. It made me wonder if skipping the 'how are you' script is rude or just honest. Anyone else ever just not respond to a stranger's small talk?

2 comments

2 Comments

margaret992d ago

Small talk is a tax on introverts" is honestly the best way I've ever heard it put. I used to force myself to chat with every barista and cashier because I thought I was being rude if I didn't. One day I just started giving a quick smile and a "thanks" and leaving it at that. Nobody has ever called me out or looked offended. Most people are probably relieved to skip the weather talk too.

terry_wood512d ago

You make a fair point about nobody minding a quick smile and thanks. But here’s where I push back a little. Small talk isnt a tax for me, its more like a lubricant. A few words about the weather with a cashier can turn a transaction into a small human moment. My neighbor and I started with "cold out there" and now we trade garden tips. If we all just grunted at each other, wed lose those little threads that keep a community from feeling like a bunch of strangers passing through. Not everyone wants a chat, sure, but I think its worth offering a line or two to see if they do.