How challenging is small talk for you?

I think people might describe me as being well-mannered. Though I try to be, it's not the flattering opinion it might seem but, instead, testament to my restricted behaviour in company - I have to follow conversational conventions, and politeness is such a convention. 

If someone asks "How are you?", then I can answer briefly or (far too) extensively; both might be viewed as autistic habits. None of this means I'm at ease in conversations, as cues and subtleties don't always make their presences felt. Most importantly, I have to remind myself to ask "And how are you?" in return; not because I don't care but because *making the conversational transition is a hard, slow process for me and doesn't spring to my mind immediately*. And all the while I'm conscious that mine is a limited life, one which limits fluent and interesting conversation. 

How difficult or easy do you find small talk and general conversation?

Parents
  • Y-- You know th-- One thing I sh-- 'Scuse me for one second... 

    [Runs away]

    I'm actually not too bad with it as long as it's in a managebly small group in quietish surrounds ideally. It's a muscle given a regular workout in work etc. If I'm suddenly in more of an event situation - bigger gathering - I can get paralysed and forcing words out becomes very hard. 

    My other big danger is that I can really ramble in the most circumlocutionary way when I do get going. I know it's off balancing normal to conversational weighting, and it could almost seem like an affectation to those who don't know me better. I can feel a panic rising in me as I side-wind complicatedly towards 'the point' that others would get to in ten seconds and more articulately yet concisely. I hate it, but it's how I am and I don't think it will ever change much. 

Reply
  • Y-- You know th-- One thing I sh-- 'Scuse me for one second... 

    [Runs away]

    I'm actually not too bad with it as long as it's in a managebly small group in quietish surrounds ideally. It's a muscle given a regular workout in work etc. If I'm suddenly in more of an event situation - bigger gathering - I can get paralysed and forcing words out becomes very hard. 

    My other big danger is that I can really ramble in the most circumlocutionary way when I do get going. I know it's off balancing normal to conversational weighting, and it could almost seem like an affectation to those who don't know me better. I can feel a panic rising in me as I side-wind complicatedly towards 'the point' that others would get to in ten seconds and more articulately yet concisely. I hate it, but it's how I am and I don't think it will ever change much. 

Children
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