Writer's Block: Know Thyself
I used to make an effort to answer every question put to me as honestly as I could. You would be surprised how many people ask questions they don't want answered. Oddly enough it gave me the reputation of being a difficult person. I'm not really good at phatic communication and see no reason why people feel compelled to fill the silence with pointless chatter.
Anyway in an effort to get along I developed a feel for when people really wanted to communicate and when they just wanted to make noise. In the latter case I tend to smile and nod occasionally without encouraging them too much. I still listen carefully to what people have to say, when they have anything to say. I just pay more attention to whether they are making a genuine inquiry or just being social.
Oddly enough on the same note remembering what people say seems to annoy them as well. I would assume that they would be flattered that I felt what they said worth remembering, but more often than not they seem surprised that I was paying attention. Human Beings can be confusing, but they are rarely boring.
S-