So how are things with you?

[Ralphie ★]

Word of the day. Phatic communications.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phatic_expression

 

[Airehead]

I always feel like I have a social communication disorder so phatic communication can be tough for me.  I think I have challenges with social interaction, social cognition and pragmatics.  Not sure if this is my personality or a result of being hearing impaired.  

[Airehead]

So see, it looks like I have failed at small talk by telling you too much.

[Further]

In the proper frame of mind I excel at it.  

Other times, not so much     

[MoseySusan]

38 minutes ago, Airehead said:

Not sure if this is my personality or a result of being hearing impaired.  

Probably a combination of both. My SiL is a sign language interpreter. She told me once that hearing impaired people can come off as rude to others who don’t understand what it’s like to communicate without a sense of tone, and a lot of meta-communication is learned. 

[Longjohn ★]

I have to stick with non-phatic expression because of my heart.