You talkin' to me?

Figured it was time for another post, mayhaps.

Hmm. So...one of the funniest things to me is what's commonly called "small talk". It's a whole world unto itself - the possibilities are endless (provided you use some ingenuity). You could talk about your school. Your job. The weather. Sports. Hobbies. Something crazy or hilarious that happened to you. Cats. Whatever. But it seems like the stigma is that whatever you do, you just have to keep it going...cuz otherwise it would be awkward, and heaven forbid, we don't want that :P

And I have been dragged into seemingly endless small talk before. Usually it's with people I like, good friends and such, so it's no big deal, and it makes things fun depending on what you talk about. But sometimes there's a person that just irks you a little bit...and if you're overly nice to them, they may want to keep talking...and talking...(provided they're not too shy). And...I dunno. I like to humor people sometimes. But other times it's like...go away now, please. I don't even know you. I don't want to talk about your aunt who owns three goldfish and plays monopoly on the weekends.

But then sometimes, there's the small talk with people that just make you feel all special inside, because they give you the feeling that they actually do care about you and what you have to say. And those are the people with whom I feel comfortable delving into deeper topics.

But...usually I can be somewhat reserved and quiet. Like, if you don't talk to me first, chances are I won't talk to you unless I really, really want to.

Same with talking on the phone. I'm not afraid to call people, and some people I do like calling, but it's not something that I do regularly.

And then there's texting...which is quite the interesting advent. I text more than I talk on the phone, that's for sure.

Whenever my dad sees me texting, he always says something like "Are all your friends behaving? Why don't you send out a global message to everyone, say something like 'All is well, the guards are fed and the castle is safe' or 'We have successfully routed the Lamanite invaders, do not worry'"...or something silly like that. He probably is thinking "what in the world are they possibly talking about?", and when he asks, usually I'll say "oh, just stuff" or "nothing". Which of course he sees right through, but he doesn't press the issue.

As far as habits while texting, I tend to use a lot of emoticons...because it's sometimes hard to express meaning if that meaning relies on emotion. Semantics are very limited in 160 characters. If I would be smiling in real life, chances are I'm texting you a :) ...I also tend to include a "haha" or, if it's really funny, a "paha", if I would be laughing. ...and I also use a lot of ellipses, but that's not too unusual.

Some of my favorite emoticons (disclaimer, none of these are orginally mine)!:

={) D "I have a big nose! And it makes me really happy!"

(}°_°{) "Are you as shocked about my big ears as I am?"

:?| Witch face (see the wart? and the weird nose? and the disappointed expression?)

\m/^_^\m/ Rock on, dude with the anime eyes, rock on.

(\)(\)
(o^.^o) Pikachu!

:P This one is pretty common, but I just think it's funny, because isn't it supposed to just mean "I'm being silly"?...and yet you're sticking your tongue out like a weirdy!

@_@ Hypnotized

XD I laughed so hard that I died! ROFLCOPTER!


(the following are from Hyperbole and a Half, which is funny and stuff)
*:0 = "MY FACE IS ON FIRE!!!!"

!,! = "Hi. I am a rabbit"

% = "I feel like I am a mosquito looking directly at you."

|:( = "I am displeased with my unibrow."

<:( = "Pointy hats make me sad." >:( = "Now my hat is upside-down and I don't feel any better about it."

:*( = "You make me cry sparkly tears."

{:| = "I am a Frenchman."

Q:| = "I'm Davy Crockett."

:$ = "I am trying to look unimpressed, but someone drew a squiggly mouth over my real mouth and this must be terribly confusing for you. I am sorry."



And...that's about all I got for now. So long, and thanks for all the fish. (if you can name that quote, you deserve a cookie)


*edit, some of these emoticons don't work as well on the actual post because of the font they're in, and I don't care enough to try to change it.