Talking to strangers

[Prism879]

How many of you will start a conversation with a random stranger?

I'm always so tempted to talk to random people I see at stores and such.
Just a few hours ago I saw a dude with a Fender t-shirt at the local convenience store. My brain decided that it wanted to socialize, but as my mother was there with me, I decided not to go make friends with random Fender dude.
I usually don't act on my random socialization urges, because I don't want to be perceived as weird or anything. And also because I'm shy.
Please tell me I'm not the only one who wants to do this kind of thing.

[Jack S]

I am not shy about speaking to strangers, assuming that the locale is not perceived as hostile. I have struck up conversations in random places like on elevators, or while standing in line at a store. I probably come across as odd to some people here in Midwest for it, but having come from the South it is not an unusual occurrence for me.

[Racer5]

Rarely, when I do I always manage to pick the person that either acts disgusted that I even spoke in their direction, or the person that won't shut up/has issues. Just bad luck I guess.

I don't mind if people talk to me though. Maybe they need to make some sort of "you can talk to me" awareness rubber bracelet that people can wear, so you know who is cool with being approached and who isn't.

[Lawson]

You just described me! Many times i just wanna talk to strangers, because they look interesting, and especially other people that look like theyre doing music. Musicians are some of the nicest people on the planet, if not the nicest.

I Hear ya!

[Lawson]

Haha, how bout it Racer, maybe we can jsut make t-shirts with "TALK TO ME" on them in huge capital letters

[TeleTim911]

I do it...most of the time in these parts people are pretty receptive when spoken to. I stopped and talked to a lady today I had never seen before, she was crossing the street and I stopped to tell her what I thought of the heat. We talked for several minutes.

I walk into stores, and see someone approaching me going the other direction, I'll say "How are you?", and whatever. Most of the time they'll answer. I talk to children as long as their parents or an adult is with them, just being nice.

I basically live in a small town, it's acceptable.

[stnmtthw]

I don't have a problem with people asking me about, say, the shirt I'm wearing, or something like that. What bugs me is when you respond to a simple request and they start telling you their entire life story or acting like you've been their best friend for years or something. That's kind of freaky. Starting a conversation about something you might have in common based on what you're doing at thetime is perfectly acceptable to me, though, and might even make you a new friend. Its kind of how I got on this site. I came for the guitar porn, and now post in the Bad Dog with a bunch of people I've never met face to face, but who all seem like amazing people.

[boris bubbanov]

I bring my dog, Daisy, along and let her be my social ambassador.

I suspect sometimes, people are in the mood to snap at someone, but the dog has way of disarming them. Very rarely does Daisy misjudge someone (and that "someone" is usually another terrier!)

It is almost like cheating, truth be told. Once people see you out and about "being social", they may remember you and conversations may happen later where Daisy is not present.

Another way of cheating is to go to Chick Fil A, most places in the South. People are just real nice to each other; that's the way the place is.

[purpletele]

I'm as shy as they get. Thankfully my wife isn't so she can weasel me into the conversation somehow.

[otterhound]

Every chance I get .

[' burn 08]

sometimes, not all the time. I keep to myself a lot. But I might make a comment or two to a stranger if I notice some kind of common ground or feel that whatever it is I'm saying has relevance, as opposed to talking just for the sake of talking. How the other party reacts usually dictates whether or not a few passing comment turn into a conversation or not. I'm about to go out and see a friend's band tonight. Might just have to try to strike up a conversation or two with a few strangers of the female persuasion.

[' burn 08]

Originally Posted by TeleTim911

I do it...most of the time in these parts people are pretty receptive when spoken to. I stopped and talked to a lady today I had never seen before, she was crossing the street and I stopped to tell her what I thought of the heat. We talked for several minutes.

I walk into stores, and see someone approaching me going the other direction, I'll say "How are you?", and whatever. Most of the time they'll answer. I talk to children as long as their parents or an adult is with them, just being nice.

I basically live in a small town, it's acceptable.

yup. Most everybody will at least give a polite reply, even if the don't really feel like conversing extensively.

[' burn 08]

Originally Posted by boris bubbanov

I bring my dog, Daisy, along and let her be my social ambassador.

I suspect sometimes, people are in the mood to snap at someone, but the dog has way of disarming them. Very rarely does Daisy misjudge someone (and that "someone" is usually another terrier!)

It is almost like cheating, truth be told. Once people see you out and about "being social", they may remember you and conversations may happen later where Daisy is not present.

Another way of cheating is to go to Chick Fil A, most places in the South. People are just real nice to each other; that's the way the place is.

lol, for all you know the person you are talking to hates your guts, but they will put on a smile and act polite none the less. That's just the way it is.

[Nick JD]

I ask random strangers in the supermarket deep philosophical questions. Last week a funny-lookin' old man and I worked out the connection between dark energy and karma.

Turns out the answer is in the canned goods isle.

[' burn 08]

you now back to the thing about southerners and how most folks at the minimum speak to each other in passing, whether it just a hello, or how are you doing, I had a neighbor back in college from Wisconsin who confessed to me that it really bothered him, and that he just didn't get it. His pov was that if he didn't know you, you shouldn't speak to him, not even to say hi, or simply acknowledge his presence. To me, it seemed he was upset over nothing. But that is just most likely because this is how I have always known things to be. From the way I understand it, there are many places where the norm is the exact opposite than it is here.

edit; Bless his heart

[trev333]

I was spontaneously discussing the range of Volleys at Woolies with a Canadian and an old east european guy just last week.......

it seems basic black in the step in styles is hard to find.. plenty of black with plaid and other colour patterns....

it was deep.... then it evaporated like smoke.... and we all went our different ways...

none the wiser... ha ha ...

[colorado]

Only if they give me candy.

[greggorypeccary]

Originally Posted by colorado

Only if they give me candy.

Out of a windowless van?

[6942]

Depends on the circumstances?


Steve

[TBird]

I work in retail, so I spend my time walking around a store talking to random people. Most of the time it's not even about the store. And I'm so used to doing this that I start conversations with people outside of work, without even thinking about it. Most people in this world are pretty nice, or at least the ones that aren't seem to be avoiding us.