To not understand what small talk is?

[Sunflowersforever]

At a very specific networking event, and someone commented how they find these events annoying as 'they don't do small talk'. She didn't mean conversation at the break, but during the workshops.

I'm confused. To me discussing a specific and focused subject isn't small talk. Chatting at the bus stop about the weather is.

AIBU? What is small talk?

Oh, and I'm killing time at lunch posting and not doing small talk

To me small talk is just general chit chat about nothing much in particular that you can talk about with pretty much anyone. Nothing heavy such as deep emotions or the meaning of life type conversations. Topics like gardening, the weather, TV programmes, decor, holiday plans, the royal wedding, politics, pets etc all pass for small talk imo

To me it's chatting about the weather, holidays, family etc. It's not work specific or anything too deep and meaningful.