Note to self

[ossamenta]

The difference between talking to "normal people" as opposed to fellow archaeologists is that when the answer to the question "So, how was your day?" is "Yeah, it was good. Washed dead babies all day.", this can function as a conversation killer and not as a conversation opener.

Comments

parallel case

[tenthmedieval.wordpress.com]

This is very true, though do you really need company of the sort for whom that *isn't* a conversation starter? My pet one of these is when I caught up with a friend of mine I hadn't seen for a while, who was working at a big botanical gardens in the UK. I knew that much, but not what they were actually doing, which was cataloguing the collection of pressed flowers. So, I greeted them with, "hey, how are the plants?" and they responded merrily, "Still dead!" I had to begin over again in some confusion.

Re: parallel case

[ossamenta]

This is very true, though do you really need company of the sort for whom that *isn't* a conversation starter?
I guess some people are just a bit squeamish (or, personal losses that makes them not want to go into any conversations concerning dead babies).

"Still dead!"
*snort!* That's one of the best deadpan answers I can imagine for that situation.

Re: parallel case

[tenthmedieval.wordpress.com]

personal losses that makes them not want to go into any conversations concerning dead babies

Bother, yes, should have thought of that myself, my apologies.