I have read a few articles lately (the most recent by a favorite columnist, Garrison Keillor) saying that small talk has all but disappeared. Keillor says, "You stand in line...people are busy texting, Googling, checking their inboxes, you hesitate to say, "Beautiful weather we're having." Indeed, I've been on an elevator and tried making small talk, only to see the person have to remove his/her ear plugs, sometimes looking a bit annoyed.

The article also talks about small being the hardest language for foreigners to get a handle on because it isn't the words as much as the tone, harrumph, sigh and nonsense sounds. When Keillor lived in Denmark, it was hard finding the equivalents of "Oy" or "uff da" or "yikes.

Thoughts about small talk?

Since I've never been good at small talk, its disappearance hasn't bothered me. I have, however, observed people greeting others with "How ya doin'?" The response is never anything but an echo - another "How ya doin'?" I usually break the pattern by stating, "I died last Thursday, but keep forgetting to lie down and quit breathing." Most people look disgusted and quickly depart, lest whatever contagion I have should afflict them.

My Dad always used to reply "The Doctor says I can get up for a bit tomorrow."

Small talk never generates big thoughts.

When people say "How ya doing?", my answer is "Too soon to tell."

I agree that it doesn't generate big thoughts. However, it connects people. And, who knows, if the connection is right, it may promote a relationship where big thoughts are eventually generated. It certainly is better that noses in iPads and ear buds in ears 24/7, which is what we see now.