In an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm, comedy genius Larry Davis coined the phrase “stop and chat.” The stop and chat is basically the scenario in which you run into someone you haven’t seen in a while and proceed to have that always awkward conversation. Take a look at the scene.

The stop and chat usually happens in the supermarket, on the street or in your local pub. It’s usually a former classmate, an old co-worker or an ex-girlfriend. It can be just about anyone really but it’s usually someone you don’t know all that well or someone you haven’t seen in ages. You really have nothing to say to this person but you stop and have a long, drawn-out conversation anyway.

This is how a typical “Stop and Chat” goes:

1. Each person asks “how are you doing” and responds “I’m good…I’m good” at least 2-3 times until someone thinks of something else to say.
2. One person asks “what are you up to now?” The other person talks about his boring job and then responds with the same question.
3. One person asks if you have seen [insert mutual acquaintance]
3a. If you don’t have a mutual acquaintance, one person brings up the weather (i.e. “Oh it’s so hot today” or “Can you believe all this rain we’re getting”)?
4. Awkward pause…
5. more awkward silence…
6. (in high pitched voiced) Allllright….It was good to see you. Take care! Tell [insert wife, husband, girlfriend, boyfriend, friend, and or coworker] I said hi.

We’ve all had this typical conversation hundreds of times in our lives. There is nothing worse than the stop and chat. To be honest, I’ve done what Larry David does in this clip. I just say hi and keep going. I really don’t care if it’s rude. If I cared what you thought, you would already be my friend. There have also been many times where I spotted an old acquaintance that didn’t see me and I purposely walked the other way, just to avoid the stop and chat.

I think the problem is that everyone feels like they HAVE TO have this conversation because it is an unwritten rule in our society.

I think we need to change this rule. Life is short. Do we need to really waste precious time in our day with these dull, unnecessary conversations? It should be socially acceptable to just say “hi” and keep going. Can everyone just agree to this so I can go to the supermarket without the possibility of a dreaded “stop and chat” leaning over me?

What do you think?