That's all small talk is - a quick way to connect on a human level - which is why it is by no means as irrelevant as the people who are bad at it insist. In short, it's worth making the effort.

Let's not confuse traditional behaviours with good manners. The definition of etiquette is gender neutral - it simply means we strive at all times to ensure a person in our company feels at ease.

Dating, like almost every other male-female interaction in present-day society, is based on outmoded and unequal social roles and expectations.

Lynn Coady Quotes