Definitely an #autism mood too.

Beyond the scripts and tricks I've learned, I don't know how to keep small talk going.

But give me a *subject* to really delve into and explore and I can talk to someone for a long time. They're the best conversations! 1/ https://twitter.com/3TrackMind79/status/1349946158181920768

But unfortunately NT friendships evolve from small talk -> big talk. You have to develop your relationship through the first for a long time before getting to the second, it seems... 2/

Which is why it's so lovely when you meet another person who jumps straight into big talk too!

It doesn't happen enough, and I worry that because I'm so focused on my scripts and fitting in with the expected NT small talk, that *I'm* now part of the problem. 3/

I guess I have to have the other person jump into big talk first, and then I can respond to that in kind.

Otherwise I'll always assume that they don't really want to talk to me and are just "being polite", as NTs are wont to do, and I'll respond to that in kind too. 4/

I'll give them opportunities at every point to "politely wrap it up" if they were indeed just talking to be to being polite, which obviously means my small talk conversations often falter and fade very quickly. 5/