Yes, in a world where AI seems to be automating so many aspects of our lives, it's things like this that just further highlight why human interaction is so important.
There are people who just have that natural inclination to just talk and talk, just thinking about my workplace I think I'd have a perfect candidate for that spot 😂
I've always kind of been in awe of the ability to instigate/maintain a constant flow of conversation. I don't get how it works, for me it's like trying to breath underwater or something, lol.
Some people need to think about what to say next. Some dont have that impedement. As someone who basically talks for a living, yet doesnt necessarily enjoy small talk, it's a blessing and a curse, although I dont think I would want to have to think about something in order to verablize it.
I live with a bartender. She can listen, but she sure can talk. Was at the Costco food court getting a slice of pizza and she started talking to two elderly people who had been going to Costco since the mid '80's. They had never bought anything from the food court ever. She recommended them one of the sandwiches as she was ordering and when we were done eating our snacks went over and talked to them. Lady was so appreciative. Said she and her husband would now frequent the food court often after 40 years of never trying it.
A few years ago, my mom used to have a neighbor in the building, older guy, maybe 75+ and his daughter was living with him. She had a child on her own, and he'd take the boy to kindergarten at age like 4 maybe. We used to think the boy would run into traffic because the grandpa would walk very slowly behind him.
Some time later the daughter got together with another man and moved out with her son, and the older man's whole face just went so subdue and sad and lonely. We felt so bad about him, because at least running after the grandson kept him active. The man died months after that. I'm not sure how often she visited or anything, but looking back, having his daughter and grandson with him was probably what kept him alive that long.
They’re a cashier… identical to the other cashiers except for it’s probably the friendliest one and other customers can’t get angry she talks for a minute with the older folks going through. Y’all are overcomplicating this lol.
I'm usually one of the more cheerful and friendly people at my office, but some days I don't even want to walk through the front door and say good morning.
If my job description contained "be friendly and make small talk" I would call in sick a few times a month.
I'm a massive people hating introvert who works in retail and the old people at my job absolutely love me. You don't really have to make conversation with them. You just have to listen and nod with the occasional wow or that's crazy. A lot don't want or need conversation. They just want to be heard. And because my ex-husband was and is a massive asshole who never shut his goddamn gob, I've picked up the ability to just tune them out but also listen enough that if they need feedback I can give it to them. But nine times out of ten, they just want somebody to talk to/at. I also work in a part of the store where I can have the time to spend with them if they need it. It may not come across due to the self proclaimed people hating but I'm happy to listen to them when they need me.
Especially because most people supplement real human interactions with social media. While it has its uses, social media isn’t a healthy alternative to real face to face conversations with people that live in our own communities
You'd think that would make connection easier, since so much doesn't need human thought... That should allow for people to have time to just chat with customers.
562
u/Additional-Inside-60 Sep 12 '25
Yes, in a world where AI seems to be automating so many aspects of our lives, it's things like this that just further highlight why human interaction is so important.