Small Talk

120 . the fine art of small talk
events. You can also refocus the conversation on your own
life, telling about something that you are currently doing.
There is no point in going toe-to-toe with either of
them, because it is impossible to directly stave off their
boastfulness. Your only weapon is redirecting the conversation.
CAN YOU TOP THIS? (THE ONE-UPPER)
Members of this long-standing conversational crime
family are first cousins to the braggart and his sister.
These folks generally come from a patriarchal lineage, as
women have a slightly different method to their murder.
While the one-uppers generally do not brag first, they always
top someone else’s story. They seem to be completely
unaware that they have offended other small
talkers by constantly trumping another person’s story.
Sometimes the one-uppers genuinely believe they are
showing compassion and demonstrating excellent listening
skills by topping another’s tale.
You know the scene. Your colleague Brian is looking
for a new job, and you inquire about how the search is
progressing. As soon as Brian offers an update, John
launches into a tale about his own difficulties on the job,