Olive oil.

I just read Extra Virginity and it turns out there is a whole world of food oil counterfeiting and I really need help stopping it, because suddenly this is the topic I am 3rd most passionate about.

I'm just happy they want to talk to me. Unless they're drunk. If you're drunk don't talk to me. Drunk people piss me off.

I have brainworms from getting so heavily involved in local political organizing over the last two years so probably that. Talk about their life and if there are issues troubling them and then maybe how those issues are probably downstream of capitalism and how the only way out is hand in hand, arm in arm with your fellow man fighting for a future that is for everyone.

Anyway like I said brainworms.

Constructed languages. It’s a profoundly lonely hobby. I would love to randomly meet another conlanger IRL

Depends on the subject. I do actually like to hear someone's passion in something. I typically don't like myself dominating a conversation all of the time, so I'm almost always tossing the chance to the other person to speak their mind. People always told me that they're sorry for rambling but I'm encouraging it because I like to listen.

I get more tired of hearing myself talk than I do others.

I would talk about an exit strategy to avoid a meaningful interaction, and just pretend we're having a dialogue.

I want to know about music that gives you the chills, and why you think it has that effect on you.

I want to talk to him about that briefcase full of cash that he brings me.

the weather/state of the roads. please make this easy for me, I am scared of you.

Depending on whether they are allowed to leave.

Sports. I follow all of the teams in my city, even if only a little bit (cough the Seahawks cough) because it makes it super easy to strike up a conversation. I’m usually wearing a sports apparel and posting to sports communities so it’s easy to identify which teams I’m interested in. Finding topics usually isn’t hard because there’s a lot of coverage and the narratives are pretty well established. There are “good guys” and “bad guys,” but everyone takes turns being the good guy and the bad guy so everyone understands that it’s not that serious.

40k.

Water on Mars

i'm surprised there's no linux in the comments

Anything really as long as it's an actual back and forth conversation and not an expectation that I carry the conversation on my back.

Lizards. Alternatively, fish and other sea creatures, hypothetical space megastructures, or nuclear rocketry.

Batman

I can't do small talk or general chat, but I can do meta. I can talk about how awkward it is to talk to strangers, for example. That feels like information exchange, as opposed to a complex two-person dance where I don't have rhythm or sufficiently-malleable limbs, which is what small talk feels like to me. The goal of small talk seems to be the process itself. If we're instead 'educating' each other about something, and that information is the ultimate goal, I'm much more comfortable.

A quick goodbye.

I am an introvert and generally don't go out of my way to interact with strangers, but when strangers have initiated conversation it is mostly like conversations with friends and families. Talking about something that is going on at the time, or some interest they have and want to share.

Talked about cars and kids with a random woman while in line at the auto parts place. Since I don't use public transportation at home because it isn't feasible (limited routes nowhere near my home) I am only on public transportation when I travel a couple times a year where I both tend to wish we had something similar at home and also glad I don't have to be around so many crowds at home. If someone starts a conversation there I tend to roll with it and participate because I know it is limited and won't ever see them again.

Really I enjoy talking with someone who is very interested in what they are talking about, except for sports.

If someone wanted to engage you in conversation, what topic would you be happiest to talk about?

Nothing. Allow me to explain.

I don't come here for 'happiness'. I mean, if I want to be happy I will spend time with my spouse, open some poetry or any good book. I will feel as good reading Alexandre Dumas 'The Three Musketeers', or Flaubert 'Madame Bovary' today like I felt good reading them for the time some 40+ years ago (replace Dumas by any of your favorite writer, just don't replace Flaubert). I may also listen to Beethoven, Bach, or the Pink Floyd...

When I meet people here, I'm more into 'is it something interesting they're discussing? And are they doing it in a stimulating way?'

And about what topics? Well, the ones we probably already have in common since we are subscribed to the same communities ;)

I know this isn't in the spirit of the post, but currently .I would like for someone to say to me why the hell is my diy soldering station is not working it responds to tempature changes but shows up as 175C but really it is 20C and when it reads 400C really it is 111C. Suspecting that t12 thermcouples really aren't K type, whyyyyyyyyyyyy???