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Small Talk in Russia

submitted by Empire_of_the_Mind to whatever 2.1 yearsMar 22, 2023 10:44:40 ago (+11/-0)     (www.rbth.com)

https://www.rbth.com/lifestyle/330182-small-talks-weather-russia



17 comments block

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[ - ] deleted 2 points 2.1 yearsMar 22, 2023 11:01:05 ago (+2/-0)

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[ - ] Empire_of_the_Mind [op] 3 points 2.1 yearsMar 22, 2023 11:04:01 ago (+3/-0)

There is a really great phrase in that article, where he describes small talk as the "drumming fingers of the mouth"

[ - ] deleted 5 points 2.1 yearsMar 22, 2023 11:09:26 ago (+5/-0)

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[ - ] CoinQuest 0 points 2.1 yearsMar 23, 2023 01:21:24 ago (+0/-0)

Terry Prattchet called it "chewing the fat"

[ - ] gimpyoldman 1 point 2.1 yearsMar 22, 2023 14:33:19 ago (+2/-1)

Culture. Formerly communist eastern Europe is still shaking off the worry about saying the wrong thing to someone they don't fully trust. Afraid they would say the wrong thing and have their door kicked in by the secret police during the middle of the night and never be heard from again.

[ - ] mxcviel 1 point 2.1 yearsMar 22, 2023 15:27:12 ago (+1/-0)

That's true, it never leaves you, you may forget it all, but that feeling comes back instantly when you encounter something similar. When child, I was living for a while in this apartments building with a common basement we had, I went there to store my bike, that was safe, but was always this neighbor locked in one room. He would pretend that he makes some wooden stuff for extra money there, but he was sitting there listening what ppl say inside their home - probably every doorbell speaker was wired so he could hear and report. Things like that.

[ - ] Empire_of_the_Mind [op] 0 points 2.1 yearsMar 22, 2023 17:31:27 ago (+0/-0)

Russia has a culture that stretches long before the USSR period. This is not the reason for the behavior. Understand that it has been like 40 years since this shit was relevant there, meaning everyone younger than like 50 has no real experience with that mentality.

[ - ] boekanier 0 points 2.1 yearsMar 23, 2023 02:18:05 ago (+0/-0)

I've been told that Americans are friendly but superficial in their social contacts. I've never been there, so can't judge.

[ - ] CoinQuest 0 points 2.1 yearsMar 23, 2023 01:23:47 ago (+0/-0)

So what about the weather eh. I think there is a storm brewing.

[ - ] Empire_of_the_Mind [op] 0 points 2.1 yearsMar 23, 2023 11:26:38 ago (+0/-0)

Depends on where you are! I notice there is a lot of discussion of weather on localized forums, and almost none everywhere else, except for people enjoying major hurricanes and things like that.

[ - ] Sector7 0 points 2.1 yearsMar 22, 2023 16:38:52 ago (+0/-0)

The thing is that small talk isn’t a way of talking to someone, it’s talking at them - there is no depth or purpose to it;

How you know BENJAMIN DAVIS takes pride in his standing at the top of the bell curve.

[ - ] RMGoetbbels 0 points 2.1 yearsMar 22, 2023 15:23:06 ago (+0/-0)

Cool story.

[ - ] Zyklonbeekeeper 0 points 2.1 yearsMar 22, 2023 13:23:04 ago (+0/-0)

Talking weather is an attempt at levity, it substitutes intellectual depth, someone with nothing better to say talks about something that nobody has control over....almost like politics and religion....Jamaica is the same, only tourists from US or Canada talk weather and it is ridiculous when thinking about it.

[ - ] Empire_of_the_Mind [op] 0 points 2.1 yearsMar 22, 2023 17:32:16 ago (+0/-0)

I tend to think talking about the weather in US culture is a polite proxy for expressing one's mood.

[ - ] deleted 0 points 2.1 yearsMar 22, 2023 12:21:11 ago (+1/-1)

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[ - ] PeckerwoodPerry 3 points 2.1 yearsMar 22, 2023 12:26:37 ago (+3/-0)

A lot of people are very uncomfortable with silence. It's like, they can't interpret a given situation where someone isn't constantly talking. I'm very much the opposite. It drains me mentally and emotionally to be around people that never stop talking. I dislike small talk, people tend to speak a lot but say nothing. It's fucking exhausting.