There are a few different reasons why people use small talk .The first , and most obvious , is to break an uncomfortable silence . Another reason , however , is simply to fill time . That is why it is so common to make small talk when you are waiting for something . Some people make small talk in order to be polite . You may not feel like chatting with anyone at a party , but it is rude to just sit in a corner by yourself . After someone introduces you to another person , you not know anything about them , so in order to order to show a polite insert in getting to know them better , you have yo start with some small talk