Dinner talk - how small?

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From time to time everyone rebels against the tradition claiming it is a waste of time or old-fashioned ritual better forgotten. Like small talk when you meet people, especially those you don't know very well. They re-discover the importance of meaningful, deep-going conversations and the joy of getting to know other people forgetting that unchattered waters could be murky.

What is your relationship with God? What is something you fear in life? These may be great topics for conversations, but we rarely tackle such meaty topics at social gatherings. Instead, our discussions usually centre around summer travel plans, the latest home repair horror story and, of course, the weather.

This is a shame. http://www.wired.co.uk/article/banning-small-talk

Banning any exchange of little pleasantries at your dinner party might be fun. You don't need a degree in psychology to know that some change is always welcome. Especially a little, safe, reversible change. When you can enjoy its freshness with a certain degree of security knowing that you can always talk about weather again.

Do you want you party to be a success? By all means, ban all small-talking. But make it a game. With all the rules, penalties and the possibility to stop it if the weather becomes stormy. The article quoted above claims

 everyone was happier. As added proof, two dates came out of the evening. Perhaps meaningful conversation also makes us more attractive?

Perhaps sometimes. And sometimes, perhaps not.

People love playing games. Because they know - at some point it will be safely over.

http://www.wired.co.uk/article/banning-small-talk
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