index | archives | notes Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014 3:47 p.m. << [ Not True--Flies Will Always Choose the Vinegar ] >> The trick is not to think about it like small talk, but chess. Yes, absolutely, talking about the weather, her purse, who won the big whatever, who fucking cares. That's not what you're doing. You're establishing that you're trustworthy, predictable. Safe. Friendly. Worthwhile. Anything you want to be establishing. The trick is to like people. Like them first, smile, be interested, and you prove your good taste and intelligence in recognizing their [insert desirable trait here]. You don't even have to like the whole person, I've discovered, but if you can pick a small thing you identify with or admire and focus on that during your interactions, let that guide the way you talk to them and smile and ask them questions, they're yours. Sociopathy through benevolence. So much easier than it looks. Like they say, you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. << | x | >> whatiscopyright.org