Have you ever been to college?

Question

Did you find that people were really friendly, but they also seemed kinda phony? Were all the conversations about some trivial bullshit?

How many times did you have the following conversation?

"So where Are you from?"

...

"oh, cool, I've been there"/ "oh, cool, I have no Idea where that is"

"What's your major?"

...

"oh, cool, what's that like?"

...

"That's cool"

(repeat for other person)

And how soon do things improve?

Answer 1

Your mom goes to college

Answer 2

that conversation is something to get to know others. they show interest and they like to impress others with their wacky questions and humourous answers. this improves the relationship with the people.

Answer 3

Yes, unfortunately this isn't just college.  It's any environment where you are forced into contact with others (Jobs, classes, trips, parties).  The right thing to play along and ask the "Intro questions" then feign interest in their answers (even if the person has a boring/uneventful past).

I find that AVERAGE people ask me a lot of questions, yet the end up knowing almost nothing about me.  While I ask a select few questions over a week long period and soon know them better than they know themselves.  

You can also start by asking funny/unique questions (But this is risky to use on "average" people)

Answer 4

LOL, you crack me up.

I went to a junior college and for a long time the conversations were very much like this. I think that once you get into a major and a better college, conversations get better.

Answer 5

Yes, the people do all seem very friendly at the beginning because no one knows anyone else and they all want to make friends. Obviously the way to do that is to ask about the other person. Yes, I have had that conversation many times, but I don't think the people are trying to be fake, just friendly. Once we are comfortable around each other, we always find other things to talk about. The goal is to find something you have in common, right?

Answer 6

How is asking where somebody is from and what they want to do with their life trivial? I think its cool.