More like: “I barely know you and that’s a question I can ask anyone to pad out a conversation.”
No, it’s just one of the usual questions people ask to allow others to introduce themselves. Unless I’m in terrible pain and in the middle of nowhere and you’re a doctor, what immediate use could I have of you? 🤷
It’s just a US American thing. It is a question less frequently asked when traveling abroad. Many Europeans and South Americans have mentioned it to me over the years as a reliable way to ‘spot the American’.
Our culture is broken and we are widely considered to be gauche and rude by others in the world.
I’m not lame so I won’t admit to anything. Anyone who asks me that (at a party) is an immediate red flag to me. “Hey we are all trying to unwind and have some fun, what could make that better? I KNOW! LET’S TALK ABOUT WORK!!!” ugh the worst people. Get me the fuck out of that party.
On one hand, I get it. I don’t really want to talk about work either. But on the other hand I can’t entirely blame some people if they work a lot that might be something that’s been floating around in their head or they’re just curious.
Fight it. Don’t be lame. Don’t let the conversation turn to mush. Say something shocking, open up about an out-of-left field belief you hold. Remember what fun feels like. Discussing work is never fun.
Some people you encounter have interesting jobs that they truly enjoy. Engaging them on that subject can yield interesting conversations.
IMHO rarely yes - but most often a dull, dreary bore of a conversation where I turn into homer:
Say something shocking, open up about an out-of-left field belief you hold.
I’ve done that before and even in “oddball” places and its a bit of a dice roll on how positive of an effect it’ll have on the conversation. But then I have a lot of… extreme views.
Fuck yeah! Be that person, hell, be a little selfish - make the fun for yourself first and foremost.
