Sins of speech today are on steroids, and so are sins of public service. Sins of omission and commission, sins of the news, sins of the TV. Sins of American politics and big gubbament. Shun the gossip and shun the country that is so low down that it is run by the Jews and Ted Turner.
Yet to imagine that "all superficial conversation is sinful" would be quite exaggerated.
In today's world, with all the bad and wrong information, "when the right and opportune moment comes for speaking", it may be very difficult "to say something that will edify", or anything that's worthwhile, because there are so many cultivated lies of an impressive magnitude already at work in our society. Superficial conversation can be a natural part of life and also an opportunity to add some salt to the earth.