Omara Pollo — It Turns Out Some People Actually Like Small Talk @omarapollo
Summary
Omar Apollo makes an unexpected case for bringing back small talk, arguing that we don't need to "offer so much of yourself all the time." He's tired of deep conversations. Kareem initially resists, admitting he prefers zero talk and actively avoids saying hi to people in parks. But the two bond over their shared hatred of "what's new" and the pressure to have something interesting to report. The conversation spirals into a surprisingly long meditation on how small is small and whether nodding counts as acceptable human interaction.
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Full Transcript
So what's your take? I think we should bring back small talk. I think it's like needed.
I'm going to disagree on this one. You prefer small talk? I do. You know, I've always been like a, like a, you know, get to know you kind of guy. I always kind of have these deep conversations and I feel like I should just retreat a little more. I feel like I give too much, and I think it's just important to still, you know, talk about the weather. You don't need to offer so much of yourself all the time.
I think I'm with you now. I'm 100% in. Okay, you— Because I was, I was anti-small talk because I don't want any talk. I want zero talk, right? I don't—I just want to—I want to go like this. That me too. I saw someone the other day walking in the park and I knew them and I was like, I'm not even going to say hi.
That's true. Because when I see somebody in public and I recognize them, I don't want to go up and speak to them 'cause I don't know what's going on. "Hey, how are you? I'm good. How are you? I'm good," right? I don't have anything to say. What's new? I hate "what's new."
Yeah, why do I have to have something new? Like, what about in terms of time? How small is small? This is really long.