Americans are fake. Small talk sucks. amirite?

I wonder what the "or something" is? Look, you probably became too familiar, too fast, and were too intense. You likely jumped from small talk to a stranger to best buds in just one conversation. The issue is likely you, friend. And small talk isn't just an American thing. It's world wide. In fact, most countries build social interaction and connection on small talk, building a relationship over time. They don't just dive straight into it. On a side note, not talking small talk is exhausting if all the time. Sometimes you just want a chat and exchange niceties. Over time you get to know them, then you talk about other things. Oh, I'm an Aussie. We love small talk.

by Anonymous 18 hours ago

The problem is not the small talk itself. Gosh. The problem is straight up ignoring that person you had a small talk with next day.

by Anonymous 18 hours ago

I don't like pointless banter, but it's weird that it's treated as an American-only phenomenon.

by Anonymous 17 hours ago

Other countries are not like that. Gosh.

by Anonymous 17 hours ago

Based on what?

by Anonymous 17 hours ago

Xenophobia, apparently.

by Anonymous 17 hours ago

Wait till you find out that this isn't just an "American" thing. It just depends on the people you're with. I'm in Europe and I've met people like what you've described and I've met people who are the total opposite.

by Syble60 16 hours ago

In which country? Because a lot of Europeans think this kind of fake small talk culture is stupid, and they don't ignore someone they had small talk with the next day.

by Anonymous 16 hours ago

Most of Southern Europe strongly disagrees.

by Anonymous 16 hours ago

Funny enough, France, the country that's stereotypically rude and doesn't like to engage in small talk. There's a lot people who participate in small talk and then nothing really happens after, and others who are genuine and it helps get to know each other better. Just depends on the type of person you're talking to and also how you yourself act while talking to said person.

by Syble60 16 hours ago

I would rather talk to French people, deal with straight up rude people than fake nice people.

by Anonymous 16 hours ago

It's not an American thing or a French thing it's just a people thing. Maybe people do small talk with you and realize they just don't want to be around you.

by Syble60 15 hours ago

Well, like I said, it didn't just happen to me—it's happened to a lot of foreigners in the States. Plus, I've met people from other countries while living here, and it's always Americans who ignore others.

by Anonymous 15 hours ago

They no longer want to be friends after they view your IG.

by Anonymous 15 hours ago

yeah if that's the reason, I totally understand lol.. even if they didn't exchange contact info, they just straight up ignore the person they had a small talk with the next day.

by Anonymous 14 hours ago

Yeah tbh I'm not sure what's up with that, I don't usually experience that, so I'm not sure why it seems to happen to you so much. I imagine it's unpleasant, here's to hoping it changes soon

by Anonymous 14 hours ago

Small talk is about being socially connected not emotionally connected.

by Anonymous 14 hours ago

If it ends in exchanging contact info is it even small talk… small talk is like ‘weathers been real unpredictable lately' or ‘did you watch the Super Bowl.' I don't think that is particularly sucky… where are you meeting these Americans

by jasperjones 14 hours ago

We love small talk, but small talk is usually short talk as well. If I make small talk with you somewhere, it's usually just to be kind and pass the time. Unless we 'really' hit it off, don't expect to hear from me again lol.

by Free-Agent 14 hours ago

Yeah that's the weird part. Being kind means making small talk, and not doing it is seen as rude? But ignoring someone you had small talk with the day before isn't considered rude? LOL.

by Anonymous 13 hours ago

It's always been rude to ignore someone. I get you thinking that small talk is annoying, but you just seem to be doubling down on the weirdest part of the argument. I've been pretty much everywhere in America and if someone comes up to talk to you, it's rude to ignore them.

by Anonymous 13 hours ago

So it's the getting ignored that's annoying then, not the small talk. Right? It's weird that this keeps happening to you - it's not something I've noticed with Americans. Makes me wonder if you're making it obvious that you're not enjoying the small talk on day 1 so they steer clear on day 2.

by Anonymous 13 hours ago

Where did I say this keeps happening to ME only? It's happened to a lot of foreigners in the states. Also, when I meet other people from other countries, they don't ignore like Americans do. LOL. Is it so hard to accept your own weird culture and try to fix it instead of blaming other people?

by Anonymous 13 hours ago

Let me guess, you're Canadian

by Anonymous 12 hours ago

Well, that's their culture.

by haskellmills 12 hours ago

Small talk is a human problem. Nothing to do with location on the globe.

by Anonymous 12 hours ago

Had this been a consistent Occurrence? That every American you talk to pretend or don't say hi to you the following time. i think maybe there's something wrong with you. Are you unpleasant?

by Anonymous 11 hours ago

"i think maybe there's something wrong with you. Are you unpleasant?" This is so American. It's such a shady part of American culture to shift the blame onto others.

by Anonymous 11 hours ago

This doesn't sound like a small talk issue. Small talk is "have you seen this weather?" "Oh that was a great game wasn't it?" What it sounds like is happening to you is you are having full long conversations with people and expect to be able to pick back up again the next day. I'd say the majority of people that are looking for someone to talk to Are just trying to fill a void in that moment and nothing more. There of course are those out there that are willing to continue to talk you just need to keep trying to find them.

by Anonymous 11 hours ago

Let's be real, they start small talk wanting to get to know you and then realize after talking to you for a while that they do not in fact want to know you more.

by CharityEducational 11 hours ago

Ohhh that's what it is? LOL

by Anonymous 10 hours ago

Some people stay at small talk status and some people graduate to big talk.

by Anonymous 10 hours ago

do Americans do this? That's weird because it's not rude at all to refuse to engage in small talk some people don't like that kinda stuff it's ok lol

by Anonymous 10 hours ago

It's called being friendly. I'm from Canada and I really enjoy making small talk. I like learning about other cultures and just straight up being a nice friendly person. Except now. Gfy. You seem insufferable and miserable. I wouldn't want to make small talk with a person like you, in public, anyways.

by Anonymous 10 hours ago

Yeah I get it. It's called being friendly. Then why do you straight up ignore people who had small talks with you the next day? WTF?

by Anonymous 9 hours ago

Maybe the issue isn't them but you?

by Syble60 9 hours ago

That's funny because you just confirmed my worry for me. I met an American guy. Awesome dude. We had almost exact hobbies and we talked for quite a bit. HE said "I need your contact number man" I gave it. I then messaged him later and he's never replied. It's been 4 months since I messaged.

by InvestigatorDense 9 hours ago

Nvm. Agreed, and it irritates me that everybody who seems to ever express any interest in me (guy or girl) seems to always have something better to do after being the one to initiate or establish a social dynamic.

by Anonymous 9 hours ago

Small talk as a communication tool is a form of respect for others

by Anonymous 9 hours ago

Absolutely. Plus the small talk here is almost always about the same garbage. Weather, what you do for a living, etc. most of the time people just want to compare endlessly so they can judge how successful they feel in comparison to you. It's all trash. I shamelessly don't engage in it with people and I've grown up in the states my whole life

by Anonymous 8 hours ago

Yes

by Dry_Development 8 hours ago

I'm an American and this I can confirm

by Anonymous 8 hours ago