״וְדַבֵּר דָבָר״ (Part 1)

The following subjects and types of conversation are always forbidden on Shabbos:

• Arranging business affairs
• Discussing plans to do melacha
• Discussing things which aren't intrinsically very significant
• Mitzvah arrangements involving melacha
• Torah

The following subjects and types of conversation are forbidden on Shabbos in certain situations/quantities:

• Arranging business affairs
• Discussing plans to do melacha
• Discussing things which aren't intrinsically very significant
• Mitzvah arrangements involving melacha
• Torah

The following subjects and types of conversation are permitted on Shabbos ACCORDING TO SOME only when there is a practical advantage:

• Arranging business affairs
• Discussing plans to do melacha
• Discussing things which aren't intrinsically very significant
• Mitzvah arrangements involving melacha
• Torah

The following subjects and types of conversation are permitted and encouraged on Shabbos -- according to the Talmud Yerushalmi, this is the designated activity of Shabbos (and Yom Tov):

• Arranging business affairs
• Discussing plans to do melacha
• Discussing things which aren't intrinsically very significant
• Mitzvah arrangements involving melacha
• Torah

"Hey friend, can you meet up tonight at 9:45"? Both you, and your friend, realize that you're going to ask him to help you fix your car, and you'll probably pay him for his time. Is this ok?

• Yes -- no explicit mention of melacha
• Yes -- i'm allowed to ask friends to do melacha
• No -- he knows what I mean!
• No -- I'm making him think of melacha!
• No -- this is how we ask someone to do melacha!

"Hey Bob, meet me tonight at 9:45!" Bob is your worker. Is this ok?

• Yes -- no explicit mention of melacha
• Yes -- i'm allowed to ask friends to do melacha
• No -- he knows what I mean!
• No -- I'm making him think of melacha!
• No -- this is how we ask someone to do melacha!

Doing my business math in my head is

• forbidden -- not Shabbosdik
• forbidden only if there's some practical benefit to figuring it out
• permitted -- doing math is different that engaging in business
• permitted if he enjoys saving money in business
• Machlokes Rashi (forbidden) and Rambam (permitted)

Talking about mundane things is a problem when

• it's unnecessary or excesive
• you don't enjoy it
• you're randomly making conversation, no special reason to talk about it
• it'll cause you to be sad on Shabbos
• you don't enjoy conversing about it with the person who enjoys it

Talking about mundane things is a NOT a problem when

• you enjoy talking about it
• You enjoy the fact that conversing about these topics make your conversation partner happy
• it's unnecessary or excesive
• you don't enjoy it
• you don't enjoy conversing about it with the person who enjoys it