henryd wrote:
Steinhauser wrote:
Human conversation is a complex, interwoven, reciprocal exchange of both rational ideas and irrational instincts. Overt communication (speech, gestures) convey concrete details, in the exact same space and time as subliminal signals (subtle stuff like eye contact) transmit a wealth of emotional information that words alone cannot.
As an NT, I'm happy to read that - very well explained, Steinhauser. It bothers me sometimes that 'Aspies' consider small talk as meaningless, but in these at first sight mundane conversations there's a lot of information exchange that allows people to learn about how the other thinks, reacts, feels, what he or she likes and so on. In that way you get to know someone and that is necessary to build the trust you need to establish a friendship or whatever kind of relationship. So we're not alwaysso superficial as it might appear to an Aspie mind.
It looks like there's a lot of sour grapes mentality here. I know I get frustrated and impatient with it but I don't see it as meaningless. Small talk is just a means to an end in my mind, not something enjoyable in and of itself. It's something you have to get through before you can get comfortable enough to have more substantial conversation. I generally would prefer getting to know people the way children do, naturally through shared activities in which you learn little bits at a time, rather than having to process everything at once while standing around talking.
One thing that does bug me about NT interaction is the tendency to socialize with a ton of disrupting background noise and activity. I manage to do okay in quiet low-anxiety environments. Most NTs make too much damn noise and commotion that puts me on edge.