as long as you smile and nod, people are satisfied. it’s just to show that you are nice and there with good intentions. we’re small in a big world and have to rely on other people to be decent to us. so we do our little human dance to each other to say, “i’m not here to hurt you. here’s something we have in common, like the weather or sports or itchy sweaters, so we both know we’re on the same team. we both agree on a basic fact, like that it is rainy or that being itchy is uncomfortable, and this proves we can get along. i’m being light-hearted and non-threatening right now.”

small talk isn’t to get to know a person. it’s just a greeting to affirm you’re buddies in the universe.

would you want one of these? or both?

single-sided, printed on gildan, made to order (so any size/color you want), around $25CAD each, not including shipping.

Jenny Holzer, “in a forest of words”, 1994

The teeth of a six-year-old. Charts : development and growth of the teeth. n.d.