I bring this topic up because a few nights ago I was out with some friends of mine and one of my two friends accompanying me arranged to meet a girl he had just manned up enough to ask out. So the night went well and the girl brought one of her friends and we left for a diner before going to see an indie rock gig. As the title sugests there was an awkward silence and after about 15 seconds of agony my second friend accompanying me says: "oh hey, funny story, my father beats me", in my head I was screaming WTF!? but everyone else was laughing so i just took it as it came. So what are your ice breakers?