Small Talk
I have a habit of talking with strangers on the internet. I tend toward politics, movies, philosophy… all the usual topics. Sooner or later, the conversations turn to more personal subjects, and then, eventually, comes the inevitable question: do you chat?
They mean that MSN stuff, I guess. No, I don’t chat. I’ve done it a few times and find it about as enjoyable as leafing through old People magazines in the dentist’s waiting room. People are often puzzled as to why someone who will post all over forum groups and email endlessly hates chatting, and I don’t really know what to tell them. I just hate it.
It’s like talking on the phone: I feel trapped. I have to concentrate on hearing the other person, and I don’t have my hands free. I guess I could get one of those headset things but I just… don’t…. want to. Chatting online or via phone is just too immediate, requires just too much focus and commitment. There’s too much pressure to respond right away.
And chatting, because it’s so quick, so back & forth, tends to devolve from well-thought-out responses to quick one-liners. Correspondingly, the subject matter deteriorates too. A discussion that began with the surge in Iraq winds down to “u like jazz?”
I’m not opposed to small talk, but if I’m going to chat about nothing in such a desultory manner, I want a face in front of me, and a waitress bringing me coffee and pie. I also want a window so I can watch traffic.
The nice thing about today’s technology, however, is that there is a method of communication for everyone’s needs. From moderated forums that operate with message-in-a-bottle languor to chaotic chat rooms, now is a great time to be some level of ADD. All you need is the internet. Life is good.
