You're dealing with a social situation where people are looking for neutral subjects that will make comfortable conversation.

Another thing you can do is to ask about more neutral subjects.

First they analyzed the Cyber defense, a relatively neutral subject.

I wanted to pass the intervening time on neutral subjects.

He felt his spine relax a bit, now that they were on a neutral subject.

Rick jumped at the chance of a neutral subject.

After I figured things out, we stuck to neutral subjects and watched the place slowly empty.

After a while, the conversation turned to more neutral subjects.

A fourth test was simply a short exercise in reading out loud on a neutral subject.

Money, especially monetary policy, is not at all a neutral subject.