Abbatoir housing department.

If someone approaches you, someone you don't know that well, and they start a conversation - that has topics you are not interested in, or the conversation (and friendship) is still in that period where you don't know how to react, then how do you act? What do you say?

We all do the same thing. We use a security comment - safeguard. Something we've seen work in other conversations, so we repeat it. It's like a safety procedure. You may use a humorous anecdote, that may change in topic and context, but the base still remains, no matter who the individual is you're talking to. Others may use a joke, or repeat something they've heard.

It's all conditioned behaviour. We've learnt it, and we've found that it proves to be successful. It keeps the conversation from going to the dreaded awkwardness, but also the conversation techniques you employ are fairly neutral, as to not anger the individual.

It's human nature, and it all stems from wanting to please someone, while keeping yourself comfortable.

The human psyche and the similarities we all share are astounding and very interesting.