Making small talk more interesting

[Whateverist]

People on planes have the worst, absolutely most awful attempts at small talk.  And why even attempt it?  What the everlasting fuck makes you assume  that, simply because we happen to be seated next to each other, there exists some sort of moral imperative that you engage me in some inane conversation for which I did not ask and clearly - because I'm reading a BOOK fer chrissakes - do not want?

And for the love of Mike, why, in the name of all that's pertinent, would you ask, 'Where are you headed?'  It's a non-stop flight, you dimwitted bumhole - I'M GOING TO THE SAME PLACE YOU ARE!!!

jeezes pleezus.

Boru

Living as most of us do I think being able to limit intimacy is at least as important as having it worked into your life.  Never sit next to my wife on a plane.  On a long flight we always get seats across the isle from each other.  For longer flights we can play cards or share snacks that way.  But when she starts eliciting her neighbor's life story I can put on my music, open my book and make them disappear.

Almost forgot, there was a ten day off trail hike we went on one time where we saw no one for days.  Toward the end when people started passing us more frequently I started finding them interesting to look at and even to talk to.  At the start of the hike, that wouldn't have been true.