I generally give people a multiple choice questionaire that they fill in before we start a conversation.
Have you ever been involved in a personal tragedy relating to the following (tick all applicable):
* football
* the weather
* the eurovision song contest
* holidays
* your job
* the weather
* kids these days, eh? what-are-they-like!?
* that thing on the telly last night
* the weather
* so how do you know John/Sarah/Monty/Isabella?
* I wish they'd turn the music down in here I can't hear myself think
* can I get you a drink?
* what LOVELY shoes!

That way I can steer my way through the tedious clichés of social interaction without risking being on the end of an emotional dump.
( Dr. Shambolic je suis charlie, Mon 16 May 2011, 15:36, 1 reply)

Can't say as I've ever had an emotional dump. A few have brought tears to my eyes, granted, but no fond farewells as they slid around the U-bend.
( Happy Phantom has been to Hastings, Brighton, and Eastbourne too, Mon 16 May 2011, 16:21, closed)

Some of mine I can't flush until I've played Billy Holiday's version of "I'm a fool to want you"
while sipping absinthe and staring at a crumpled photograph of a long-lost lover.
( Dr. Shambolic je suis charlie, Mon 16 May 2011, 16:40, closed)