"it's not like we can put the genie back in the bottle! 🤷" – VC who stands to profit massively from the release of the genie, and who has worked tirelessly to release said genie
"I'd suggest not taking part in factions that may distract from your message, like your recent support of the 'human rights are good actually' movement is way over the line. And I say this as someone who is totally in favor of human rights!"

I feel like this goes both ways. When I ask people how they are, they interpret it as small talk, whereas I am genuinely asking. Then often those same people ask how I am and do not expect an actual answer. I've come to learn to avoid saying 'how are you' in favour of something like 'what have you been up to' in order to indicate that it isn't small talk
Hahahaha. Toots.