The five conversational bombshells that should never be dropped: the five questions. No one should ever ask when trying to make small talk and five acceptable alternatives.

Hello again, dear reader. During yesterday's conversation, the place in our lives that analog games should still hold as they are a way of connecting with family and friends on a more personal and intimate level than playing any electronic variation of your favorite game at analog games actually require you to gather around the playing surface and physically interact with each other. And while conducting the research for the analog gain conversation. I started thinking about the conversations that usually occur between family and friends while playing a game. And this of course got me thinking about "Smalltalk" now I know we have covered Smalltalk. And it's important in previous conversations as a way of making a good first impression or connecting with a new acquaintance, etc. and so forth. However, I realized that there are just some questions that under no circumstances should ever be asked. When trying to make small talk as they will do nothing but embarrassed, but the person doing the asking and the person being asked. So for today's conversation, I thought we would keep it short and sweet and analyze the five questions. That one should never ask when trying to make small talk...

Here they are:

1. “Did you go there for fun?”

This question may seem innocent enough at face value. However, it can have some unintended consequences that can go something like this: a friend had told me told me he had been gone last week for a trip to Minnesota. To which I replied: “Ah cool. Did you go there just for fun?” His answer: “Actually it was for my grandfather’s burial.” Me: “Oh. I’m sorry.” Stares at feet.
A variation of this is when someone says they took a trip to such and such a place, and you say, “Oh, that must have been awesome! I love it there!” To which they reply, “Well, I went there with my wife or girlfriend to get a second opinion on her cancer.”
A better question: “What took you out there?” or “What was the reason for your trip?”

2. “When are you guys going to have kids?”

This seems like a common, fairly innocuous question. Except when the couple you level your query at has been trying to have kids without success. Then your friendly question just becomes another shake of salt on the wound. And there’s no good response for the couple to give in this situation, as they probably don’t want to share details of their fertility problems with you. Or perhaps they haven’t decided if they want kids at all, or one partner does and one doesn’t, in which case you’re inviting further tension into the conversation.
A better question: None — don’t ask. If they want to tell you about their plan for producing progeny, they will.

3. “Is this your mother/sister/daughter?”

You may feel like you know the relationship between two people, but you could be wrong. You ask if so-and-so is some guy’s daughter, and he replies, “She’s my girlfriend, actually.” Or you ask a lady if the woman standing next to her is her daughter, and — doh! — it turns out to be her sister.
A better question: “And who is this lovely lady I have the pleasure of meeting?”

4. “How long have you two been dating?”

This can be a question that automatically comes out of your mouth when a guy friend brings a lady guest to an event, or vice versa with a gal pal. But oops, they’ve never talked about whether they’re officially dating or not. Now they just look at each other, and the floor, awkwardly, and stumble out some vague reply.
A better question: “How did you two meet?” or “How long have you known each other?”

5. “Are you pregnant?”

Finally, the classic don’t–touch-that-with-a-ten-foot-pole question! The potential for awkwardness is sky high when you venture this query. Stay away.
A better question: There isn’t one. I don’t ask even when their belly could knock a man over at 30 yards. Let them volunteer the info — it’s bound to come up in conversation.
As you can see, the main principle in asking polite small talk questions is to not make the questions leading, nor to assume. Because we all know what happens when we make assumptions.