Well remembered Fickles. Sayle has done 4 series of Alexei Sayle's Imaginary Sandwich Bar, on the radio. It's pretty good and probably available on some BBC podcast thing.
He's also done a thing where he goes on trains and...talks to people. While no doubt an interesting snapshot into the lives the editor thinks are interesting, it's considered treason in Britain to talk to people on public transport. It's only a matter of time before he's caught and rightly punished.
"...not having to believe in a thing to be interested in it and not having to explain a thing to appreciate the wonder of it."
Small talk is indeed very American, at least based on my work experience.
Colleagues from other cultures tend to keep it to "how are you", with a short answer about their day. My American colleagues tend to take much more time with the small talk.
there are exceptions, of course.
and I can say that there are other cultures that also like to make small talk.
Last edited by Invisible Brainiac; 03/05/2404:20 PM.
One of my funnest memories from train commuting is one morning where I was reading a comic and gradually became aware of spoken sounds in the background like "Wham", "Bang", "Boom". Coming out of my comic induced alternative reality I saw a teenage high school student in uniform grinning at me. I grinned back and promptly went back to my reading. If I had it over again the only thing I would do different is offer to let him read the comic. No new readers without sharing the love.
One of my funnest memories from train commuting is one morning where I was reading a comic and gradually became aware of spoken sounds in the background like "Wham", "Bang", "Boom". Coming out of my comic induced alternative reality I saw a teenage high school student in uniform grinning at me. I grinned back and promptly went back to my reading. If I had it over again the only thing I would do different is offer to let him read the comic. No new readers without sharing the love.
Let him read it?! And potentially diminish the value?! He can look at it when it's slabbed and not a moment before!
"...not having to believe in a thing to be interested in it and not having to explain a thing to appreciate the wonder of it."