History Main / HatesSmallTalk

-->--'''Tuvok''', ''Series/StarTrekVoyager''

* Garnet from ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' normally responds to small talk by glaring silently until they go away.

* Rita Vrataski in ''EdgeOfTomorrow'', ostensibly because she prefers to remain focused on the job, but actually because getting to know someone is a step towards liking them, making their inevitable death all the more painful. And as she used to be stuck in a GroundhogDayLoop, this meant being ForcedToWatch their death over and over. This makes her a {{Foil}} to William Cage who as a former PR man knows the importance of getting to know people, despite the fact that he's now experiencing the same time loop.

* ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'': Inverted at Marco's dad's (re)marriage, where Ax making awkward, stilted small talk is treated with amusement, [[TheSpock because he rehearsed it.]]

** In the early seasons, [[AloofDarkHairedGirl Rosa Diaz]] not only doesn't like small talk, but doesn't like revealing any details about her life whatsoever.

* The conservative blogger Matt Walsh has mentioned his hatred of small talk in several of his posts and podcasts.
-->'''Walsh:''' [[http://themattwalshblog.com/2013/09/11/im-an-introvert-and-i-dont-need-to-come-out-of-my-shell I hate small talk. I hate it with a blinding passion. Small talk exists simply to cannibalize silence (...)]]

[[folder:Rea lLife]]

* Anton Chigurh's EstablishingCharacterMoment in ''Film/NoCountryForOldMen'' is several minutes long and leaves several men dead (including some poor deputy), but the time it becomes more tense is when he stops at a gas station to refuel his car and grab some cashews as a snack, and the owner tries to do some small talk, which leads to Anton intimidating him into playing a coin toss game. The man never finds out, but had he lost, Anton would have murdered him right then and there [[DisproportionateRetribution just for the crime]] [[EvilIsPetty of annoying him with said attempt at small talk]] (and probably because he became the owner by marrying the previous owner's daughter).
* ''Film/{{Tenet}}''. When Barbara meets the Protagonist, she says they should avoid small talk so they'll know as little as possible about each other for security reasons.

[[folder:{{Literature}}]]
* ''{{Literature/Animorphs}}'': Inverted at Marco's dad's (re)marriage, where Ax making awkward, stilted small talk is treated with amusement, [[TheSpock because he rehearsed it.]]

* ''Literature/AFrozenHeart'': In this tie-in novel to ''WesternAnimation/Frozen2013'', [[spoiler:Prince Hans' father, the King of the Southern Isles, hated idle banter and oftentimes got annoyed at Hans' attempts to make conversation with him, frequently rebuking him for not "getting straight to the point" any time he deemed his youngest son had overstayed too long in his presence and ordered him to get out. It's done deliberately by the king so he can focus on more important things than Hans pointlessly ranting about his brothers bullying him, and so, he contemptuously dismissed Hans as a weakling for not fighting back.]]
* ''Literature/{{RCN}}'': [[BadassBookworm Adlele Mundy]] has no patience for conversation that does not convey data, and prefers to get her data electronically without any conversation at all.
* One of the ''many'' interpretations and theories around Anton Chigurh from ''Literature/NoCountryForOldMen'' is that he despises small talk because it's, essentially, purposeless. In one scene of the book and film, he bullies and almost kills a man for trying to make conversation with him, only stopping because he won a coin toss.
* ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'': ''Literature/TestOfMetal'' contains this exchange:
-->His voice faded to a gurgle as the dragon leaned on his chest hard enough to spring a couple of his ribs. "Banter," said Nicol Bolas, "gets on my nerves."
* Aya of ''Literature/TanteiTeamKZJikenNote'' hates small talk and couldn't do it either. This is the reason for her FriendlessBackground.

* In ''Literature/{{Blindsight}}'' an alien civilization cannot comprehend the concept of communication that isn't intended to transmit useful data, [[spoiler:technically they're not even sentient, and they assume sentience is a disease and attempt to "contain" it.]]
* Played with in ''Literature/HoratioHornblower''. Hornblower, though shy, is inclined to be chatty to the point he doesn't trust himself to allow himself ''any'' unnecessary conversation with his officers. Instead he maintains a strict reserve and generally confines his remarks to an ambiguous "Ha, h'm," which certainly gives him the reputation for hating small talk.
* In ''Literature/TheSpeedOfDark'', Lou and his autistic coworkers enjoy each other's company partly because they only have to talk when they have something to say.

[[folder:LiveActionTV]]

* From the ''Franchise/StarTrek'' franchise:
** Both Worf and Odo hate small talk. Inevitably this leads to a conversation in ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' where they make small talk ...about how they hate small talk.
** In ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', Captain Picard is not a big fan of small talk. In fact, when Data attempted to make small talk with him, he directed the android to keep an eye on someone who was notorious for being big on small talk. Data follows that order and the rest of the crew look in amazement as the resulting conversation rapidly shrinks to microscopic proportions.
--->'''Riker:''' I have to admit, it has a sort of strange fascination. How long can two people talk about ''nothing?''
** In ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'', Tuvok once remarked that "Vulcans do not make small talk." However, under orders, he does briefly make small talk with a hologram of Creator/LeonardoDaVinci in "Concerning Flight".
** Similarly, on ''Voyager'', when Captain Janeway first activated The Doctor and commented on his lack of personality, he stated that he was programmed to perform medicine as efficiently as possible and small talk would only compromise his performance. Later, however, as part of his growth to exceed his programming, he learned the art of small talk in order to better relate to his patients and tried to teach it to Seven of Nine, a former Borg drone, as well.
** In the Voyager episode "Someone to Watch Over Me", [[PygmalionPlot The Doctor tries to teach Seven of Nine about romance and dating]], with this exchange occurring:
--->'''The Doctor:''' Ah. Tell me about your tastes, your likes and dislikes.\\
'''Seven:''' I dislike irrelevant conversations.
** Having been raised by Vulcans, Michael Burnham from ''Series/StarTrekDiscovery'' is not at all good with small talk. This becomes a slight problem when she and Ash Tyler (the guy she likes) are at a party together.
* The "Vocational Guidance Counsellor" sketch from ''Series/MontyPythonsFlyingCircus'' has this exchange between Palin and Cleese (no prizes for guessing who plays what):
-->'''Counsellor''': Ah, Mr. Anchovy! Do sit down. \\
'''Mr. Anchovy''': Thank you. Take the weight off the feet, eh? Lovely weather for the time of year I must say! \\
'''Counsellor''': Enough of this gay banter.

--> '''Lyanna:''' I think we've had enough small talk. Why are you here?

* In the crime-lab show ''Series/{{Bones}}'', one of the regularly-repeating crew of interns is constantly frustrated by the amount of time the main characters spend discussing their personal lives and dramas, so much so that "can we talk about the job, please" is basically his catchphrase. [[RuleOfFunny Of course]], on the rare occasions when ''he'' talks about his personal life, everyone else [[HypocriticalHumor expresses shock at how unprofessional he's being.]]
* From ''Series/SabrinaTheTeenageWitch'' where she meets Aaron's parents:
-->'''Sabrina:''' Hi, Aaron's told me so much about you.\\
'''Aaron's Dad:''' Then he obviously didn't tell you I hate small talk.
* Sam Puckett from ''Series/{{iCarly}}'', especially when it comes to guys and dating. She'd rather they not talk to her and pay for dinner... or even just give her the money and stay out of her life.

-->'''Brackenreid:''' So Murdoch, how's married life treating you? All well at the hotel?\\

* Veronica from ''Series/BetterOffTed''.
-->'''Veronica:''' How are you?\\
'''Ted:''' I'm fine. Why?\\
'''Veronica:''' I was just seeing what small talk might look like.\\
'''Ted:''' Oh, well, usually, you...\\
'''Veronica:''' Please stop. I feel like I just pissed away my day.

* Jess from ''Series/GilmoreGirls'' hates small talk mostly because he'd rather be in a quiet corner somewhere reading and because everyone in Stars Hollow likes to be in each other's business. This is apparently a negative with some folks, especially Lorelai.
* ''Series/BrooklynNineNine'':
** [[TheStoic Captain Holt]] hates small talk, but he volunteers himself to greet people at a fake funeral because the squad are looking for a suspect. PlayedForLaughs.
--->'''Sergeant Jeffords:''' Excuse me, sir. Are you sure you want to be on the receiving line? You hate small talk.\\
'''Captain Holt:''' No, I can turn it on when it's called for. ''The Bachelor'' is a television show, hmm? Creator/AndreAgassi's at it again. I, too, avoid gluten.
** [[AloofDarkHairedGirl Rosa Diaz]] in the early seasons doesn't like small talk, and it's not just small talk but revealing any details about her life whatsoever.
--->'''Rosa:''' We only have to fill eight minutes.\\
'''Holt:''' Sure, but think about it as 480 seconds and you'll see why I'm concerned.\\
'''Rosa:''' Oh, my God.
* Kilgrave in ''Series/JessicaJones2015''. He looks like he'd rather pass a kidney stone than try to have a conversation without [[MindRape his powers.]]
-->'''Kilgrave:''' I've always been bad at small talk. I'm used to just [[CompellingVoice saying things and they happen.]] ''(Chuckles)'' Spoils you.\\
'''Lin:''' Well, what a burden.\\
'''Kilgrave:''' You have no idea.
* Series/{{NCIS}} Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs. [[TheLancer Tony [=DiNozzo=]]] describes him as a "functional mute".
* Over the years, Series/JudgeJudy has had quite a few litigants try to ingratiate themselves to her with bits of friendly conversation, and she's made it clear this cuts zero ice with her.
--> '''Defendant''': ''[Grinning]'' How are you doing this morning?
--> '''JJ''': ''[Curtly]'': I'm doing fine. Let's get down to business.

[[folder:{{Music}}]]

* The song "Everybody But Me" by Music/LykkeLi covers this pretty well.
* Music/ImogenHeap's "First Train Home" is [[WordOfGod allegedly]] about something like this happening at a party.

* Music/{{Supertramp}}'s "Casual Conversations".
-->In casual conversations and how they bore me,\\
Yeah, they go on and on, endlessly.\\
No matter what I say, you'll ignore me anyway.\\
I might as well talk in my sleep,\\
I could weep.

* In ''Theatre/ThePajamaGame'' there's a song called [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0cJKzYyYy8 "Small Talk"]]

* ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'':
** Sten. It's almost expected, considering he's a ProudWarriorRaceGuy.
--->'''Alistair''': You know, you can try to talk more.\\
'''Sten''': You mean I should remark upon the weather before I cut someone's head off?\\
'''Alistair''': Uhh... never mind.

--->'''Grey Warden''': Tell me about the Qunari. \\
'''Sten''': No. \\
'''Grey Warden''': Well that's not what I expected to hear.
** The sequel confirms this applies to Qunari soldiers in general, either out of stoicism or discomfort with a foreign language. They can be extremely eloquent when discussing philosophy but have no concept of talk for its own sake. The Arishok has little to say but "begone" to anyone besides [[WorthyOpponent Hawke]].
** Averted, however, with Iron Bull in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'', despite him also being Qunari - possibly because he's a spy/secret policeman, rather than a soldier. Far from the taciturn and [[TheStoic stoic]] Sten or the Arishok, Bull would talk under wet cement, leading to him being an endless font of party banter.
* David King, the plumber in the ''VideoGame/ResidentEvilOutbreak'' games. [[spoiler:His strong aversion to small talk lessens in his ending in ''File # 2''.]]
* [[TheQuietOne Timur]], [[BigBad Ray Bulgarin's]] buddy/lackey from ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoIVTheBalladOfGayTony'' ''really'' hates small talk, and considers Luis' insistence in engaging in it with him as a sign of insincerity. He's also a total {{Jerkass}} to boot:
-->'''Luis:''' So?\\
'''Timur:''' So fucking what?\\
'''Luis:''' So, what's up with you, bro?\\
'''Timur:''' Fuck off.
* Mare from ''VideoGame/RPGShooterStarwish''. Mare initially appears to be TheVoiceless, answering all your attempts to strike up a conversation with an ellipsis. When finally starting to talk, Mare [[TheQuietOne still doesn't say much]], because "You never said anything important." And yes, those occasions when Mare ''is'' willing to talk, is when you bring up ''important'' stuff, like 'the continued survival of Life, the Universe and Everything', more or less.

'''Quistis:''' ''[Mocking]'' Whatever. ''[Laughs].''\\
'''Squall:''' ''[Facepalm].''
* In ''VideoGame/{{Bayonetta}}'', the titular protagonist has no time for the constant, winding chatter of the AffablyEvil archangels. Her responses to their enigmatic prattle and over-formality is invariably some mixture of [[MsFanservice innuendo]], [[DeadpanSnarker snark]], and/or [[TalkToTheFist gunfire]].

* ''VideoGame/ShiningForce: Resurrection of the Dark Dragon'' added some mild characterization by allowing you to get to know your Force members by speaking to them in headquarters. Zylo the werewolf absolutely ''abhors'' this, though, and every conversation with him is either VisibleSilence or him (re)stating that his favorite color is black.
* [[AntiHero Shadow]] from ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog''. Due to being an aloof and standoffish individual who is always focused on a mission, he isn't a fan of small talk. For example, in ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'', Rouge asks Shadow if he wants to know the object she's holding which is the Scepter of Darkness. Shadow tells her that G.U.N. sent him to rescue her and nothing else. Rouge then comments on how he's always business.
* In ''VideoGame/FairyFencerF'', Ryushin, a fairy with a robot-like appearance and mannerisms, really doesn't see the point of talking unless he has important information to relate and is slow to warm up to [[spoiler:Eryn's attempts to get him to talk in the Vile God route in the ''Advent Dark Force'' remake.]]
* Solid Snake mentions in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'' that he and his old partner Gray Fox never spoke about anything personal, preferring to discuss such things as rations and rifle clips. He comments that it was "sort of an unwritten rule."
* Old Longfellow from the Far Harbor expansion in ''VideoGame/Fallout4'' is a salty, cranky seadog who is pleasant enough as far as salty, cranky seadogs go, but doesn't care much for chit-chatting. Keep bothering him with unnecessary conversation and it'll actually cause his approval of you to go down.
* PsychoForHire BountyHunter Calo Nord in ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'' despises small talk to the point that he kills anyone who tries to initiate a conversation with him if they don't back off before he [[CountingToThree finishes counting]].

* Eorlund Gray-Mane from ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim'', absolutely loathes small talk, and would rather work his forge and smith weapons than sit around swapping war stories with the other Companions. Should you choose to avoid conversation and immediately ask to buy something from him, he'll be quite grateful. It comes to the fullest when he converses with his family.
-->'''Fralia:''' When will you be makin' some more jewelry, love? Some silver lockets and amulets would fetch a nice price at the stand.\\
'''Eorlund:''' Hrm.\\
'''Fralia:''' Wonderful, dear. Thank you.\\
'''Eorlund:''' Hrm.

[[folder:WebComic]]

[[folder:WebOriginal]]
* [[Website/TheBestPageInTheUniverse Maddox]] wishes he could kick people who make small talk [[GroinAttack in the crotch]]. [[http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=smalltalk Seriously.]]
* Matt Walsh, the conservative blogger, has mentioned in several of his posts and podcasts his hatred of small talk.
-->'''Walsh:''' [[http://themattwalshblog.com/2013/09/11/im-an-introvert-and-i-dont-need-to-come-out-of-my-shell I hate small talk. I hate it with a blinding passion. Small talk exists simply to cannibalize silence (...)]]

* In Volume 1, Chapter 3 of ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'', Blake Belladonna is clearly agitated when [[SociallyAwkwardHero Ruby]] and [[CoolBigSis Yang]] attempt to start a conversation with her. Only when Ruby asks Blake about the book she's reading does Blake seem interested in talking to her.

[[folder:WesternAnimation]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'' episode with the MrAltDisney character Mr. Brisbee, Brock at first tries to get along with Brisbee's bodyguard, but the other is completely silent and rude. Later on, Brock is bored and tries to light a cigarette but can't, at which point the other bodyguard produces a lighter, prompting Brock to say "You're all right." Of course, it was all a trick to knock him out.
* Lemongrab of ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'' tends to be like this, thanks to his almost total lack of social skills. He prefers sending people to the dungeon without a peep to actually discussing problems.

[[folder:RealLife]]

* Anton Chigurh's EstablishingCharacterMoment in ''Film/NoCountryForOldMen'' is several minutes long and leaves several men dead (including some poor deputy), but the time it becomes more tense is when he stops at a gas station to buy a part he needs for his car and the owner tries to do some small talk, which leads to Anton swindling him into playing a coin toss game. The man never finds out, but had he lost, Anton would have murdered him right then and there [[DisproportionateRetribution just for the crime]] [[EvilIsPetty of annoying him with said attempt at small talk]] (and probably because he became the owner by marrying the previous owner's daughter).

* Played with in ''Literature/HoratioHornblower''. Hornblower, though shy, is inclined to be chatty to the point he doesn't trust himself to allow himself ''any'' unnecessary conversation with his officers. Instead he maintains a strict reserve and generally confines his remarks to an ambiguous "[[CatchPhrase Ha, h'm]]," which certainly gives him the reputation for hating small talk.

* In the crime-lab show ''Series/{{Bones}}'', one of the regularly-repeating crew of interns is constantly frustrated by the amount of time the main characters spend discussing their personal lives and dramas, so much so that "can we talk about the job, please" is basically his CatchPhrase. [[RuleOfFunny Of course]], on the rare occasions when ''he'' talks about his personal life, everyone else [[HypocriticalHumor expresses shock at how unprofessional he's being.]]

* Mia Wallace from Film/PulpFiction despises it.

* In ''Literature/{{Blindsight}}'' an alien civilization cannot comprehend the concept of communication that isn't intended to transmit useful data, [[spoiler: technically they're not even sentient, and they assume sentience is a disease and attempt to "contain" it.]]

* Used in ''Webcomic/{{Weregeek}}'' [[http://www.weregeek.com/2015/07/08/ during a LARP]]. "Cragg hate small talk."

* [[Website/TheBestPageInTheUniverse Maddox]] wishes he could kick people who make small talk [[GroinAttack in the crotch]]. [[http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=smalltalk Seriously]].

* The prevalence of small talk does appear to vary with culture. [[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13545386 Reportedly]], the British find Germans rude for not using small talk, while Germans consider small talk to be dishonest and don't have a native word for the concept in their language.

* PlayedForLaughs in ''Series/ParksAndRecreation'' with RatedMForManly Ron Swanson, who states that he worked with a man with a similar outlook to him for three years and never even learned his name, calling him the best friend he ever had and saying "We still never talk sometimes."

Maybe he's TheQuietOne or the AloofAlly, maybe he has [[{{Determinator}} a laser focus on a single goal]], maybe he's completely stressed out, or maybe he's {{German|icEfficiency}}. Whatever the case, he'd rather talk about something meaningful or nothing at all, than TalkAboutTheWeather. Also commonly comes up with people who have an AmbiguousDisorder, {{Emotionless Girl}}s, SugarAndIcePersonality, and, well, anything to do with {{introversion|Tropes}}.

* ''Fanfic/TheNightUnfurls'': The task-oriented Kyril Sutherland isn't a conversationalist. He dislikes small talk, parties, or wasteful diffidence that have nothing to do with the current task at hand. Later on, CharacterDevelopment kicks in as he gets a bit more comfortable doing small talk with his employer Celestine and his retainer Grace after working together with them throughout the story.

* ''Fanfic/TheNightUnfurls'': Grace notes that her new employer Sir Kyril hates small talk, parties, or wasteful diffidence that have nothing to do with the current war, which is an accurate observation due to his task-oriented nature. Gradually {{subverted}} as he later gets more comfortable doing small talk with his employer Celestine, something he himself regards as [[CharacterDevelopment "shocking"]]. He also appreciates the small snippets of conversation with his retainer Grace while the both of them are completing paperwork in Chapter 31.

[[folder:{{Film}}]]