What do I talk about with future brother in law?

[Anonymous]

I'm meeting my DF's older brother the day after Christmas and I have no idea what to talk to him about. He and DF are very different in personality, interests, and hobbies. Based on what I know of DF's brother, there is virtually nothing other than football in common, and I don't know much about football!

[Anonymous]

Read the sports page the morning you're going to meet him. Figure out what kind of pop culture he's into. Which late night host does he like - Fallon or Kimmel? Does he miss Jon Stewart? Is he into cooking? Talk about bbqing! It's nice that he likes to watch football, but what sports does he like to PLAY?

And hey, you can always invite him to go see a movie. Then you're spending time together without having to talk, and after, you can talk about the movie.

[Anonymous]

Real talk. He probably won't care too much to talk to you, and going on and on trying to impress him will be annoying. He will mostly be interested in engaging with his brother.
Just be nice and polite and make casual small talk.

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry, but I'm so lost at these threads searching for conversation topics - is your world so insular that you only talk to people of the same SES/professions/interests/personalities/backgrounds?

[Anonymous]

Just ask questions.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous]Just ask questions. [/quote]

This. people love to talk about themselves if give the chance.

[Anonymous]

Religion, politics and sex are always fun topics on these occasions.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Just ask questions. [/quote]

This. people love to talk about themselves if give the chance. [/quote]

+2

Mine are LEOs. They don't want to discuss work with me. I ask questions about other stuff.

[Anonymous]

If he's watching a minor game then you can ask him questions about football. My BIL is similar but he'll get talking about sports. Other topics come up...

Just be careful not to make "I don't follow sports" come off like "I'm too good for sports" because you're not.

[Anonymous]

How was your Christmas? (who did he spend it with, where, how was the food)

Any fun plans for New Years? (be ready with some quick silly story about some New Years)

If that doesn't get things rolling, he's not that interested and honestly he is most likely NOT worried about having deep discussions with you.

[Anonymous]

So, what was Larlo was like when you guys were growing up?

[Anonymous]

Small talk. He doesn't really care that much about you. You could talk to your DF about some childhood stories that involve him and his brother. You could say to the brother that on the way over DF was telling you about said story and try to get some reminiscing going on with the brothers. I don't anticipate you two being left alone for long periods of time though.

[Anonymous]

Relax. Talk about some thing mundane like weather. Small talk, like PP said.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Small talk. He doesn't really care that much about you. You could talk to your DF about some childhood stories that involve him and his brother. You could say to the brother that on the way over DF was telling you about said story and try to get some reminiscing going on with the brothers. I don't anticipate you two being left alone for long periods of time though.

+1

This is a great idea, seriously. Listen for "meanness"/vindictiveness in any stories, that is telling. Wish I had wish my ILs!

[Anonymous]

*with