[AC86UT89]

Is it about control? Sure - MY control of MY time.

Just because I encounter some random on the elevator, I have to waste precious moments of my day to talk about unimportant nonsense with them, just because THEY feel insecure?

[2ndDivisionVet]

With everybody glued to their d*** smartphones, who talks to other people these days?

[cgbg]

Elevator tip—always enter an elevator with your earbuds on.

Whether you are actually listening to anything is up to you.

If you don’t want to talk to the person in the elevator smile at them and point to your earbuds.

:-)

[Dr. Sivana]

Just because I encounter some random on the elevator, I have to waste precious moments of my day to talk about unimportant nonsense with them, just because THEY feel insecure?

For some of us, it is a way to keep from hearing of the REALLY personal stuff about other people's lives (that we don't need to know), or getting into areas that I would be obliged to stand up for my Faith or beliefs creating unnecessary friction in the workplace, something necessary from the beginning of any non-homogeneous society. It acknowledges another person as a person without necessarily supporting everything that person represents.

[Jamestown1630]

I enjoy all these random encounters. And I often find that some quiet, shy people actually appreciate being engaged - you can see it in their faces, as if they’re pleased to have some attention paid to them.

A smile and a little small talk are the beginnings of all friendships.