Hating small talk is what most tech guys would do. What's the point in indulging in it when you can not talk?

But there are times when you're cornered and can't do much about it. I figured out a way in which i can use this, still.

So whenever pushed into small talk i tend to tilt the conversation in the direction of the current problem I'm working on. I would then use the other guy as a sounding board to talk out the problem aloud. Helps me in clarifying my own thought. Also if i haven't already bored the other guy to death and the guy seems genuinely interested, i get a few pointers too.