Do you engage in small talk with bartenders?

[Sun_Kim-Ai]

Or cashiers, waiters and service workers in general?

I admit it's not something I do very much - as much as I appreciate them being nice, I keep a respectful distance and proper boundaries from them as I recognize it's part of their job to be friendly and chatty and overall I don't want to "hog" them even if the bar is empty.

Plus if I'm alone I prefer to just drink and collect my thoughts, and if I'm with a guest I naturally prefer to focus on them rather than the bartender.

[OlderAndWiser]

I do not frequent bars, but I almost always engage in conversation with cashers and others I encounter in retail establishments.

[Astarlessnightsky]

No, i don't engage in small talk at all.

Also i am german we don't have time for this.

[Sun_Kim-Ai]

I always thought that Germans didn't like to talk, but some Berliners can be quite chatty.
There was one that was relentless and even switched to English when I pretended to not understand German.

[Astarlessnightsky]

We do love to talk, but not in certain situation, like at the supermarket, or restaurant, ... unless you are old and have nobody else to talk to.

But thats often described as "culture shock" espacially from americans visiting germany how "rude" we all are. Just because we don't talk to strangers half an hour while grocery shopping.

[OfMiceandMen]

Sure, I've been in there shoes before, and I didn't mind someone chatting me up, especially if the place was not that busy. Made the shift go a little quicker.

[Jamie05rhs]

I will if they're not busy.

But most of the time I try to leave the bartender alone and try my best not to bother them.
Since they aren't making any money off of me since I only drink water.

[NostalgiaSenpi]

I just say hello ask about how they're doing and get the transaction done ASAP