How frequently do you strike up conversations with strangers?

If you do, what setting is it usually in?

Last week at the bus station someone tried to strike one up with me and I told him flat out I wasn't in any mood for idle chit chat. I have a shirt that says "Do I look like a people person to you?", but alas, I wasn't wearing it that day. When I'm out in public I see people as meat obstacles, just something to dodge and avoid.

I suspect I'll be single for a long time. :rofl:

During Jury Duty I had to sit around with strangers. I brought the perfect book for me to read- Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers


It has a black cover and a picture of a foot with a toe tag. So I would watch out of the corner of my eye people lean over to see what I was reading (with the intention of starting up a conversation). I would laugh to myself as I would see them recoil in horror and move on to some other person.

:rofl:

i bet you are a blast at a party

I can hardly wait to go somewhere and talk to people about things I don't care about, don't relate to, and then have to listen to music that makes me want to nod off. I don't need others for fun. I can have more fun either alone, or with any of the friends I have just kicking back with a beer or two (or more likely a joint). I can be a pretty fun guy, but I don't feel any need to suck up to people for some kind of false sincerity or popularity that I couldn't care less about in the first place.

nt

Are you my husband? I swear he said the same thing to me earlier, when I embarrassed him at the market. I always talk to strangers, and he does not like it!

I despise useless, idle conversation. I can't do it, it frustrates me, so I avoid it as much as possible.

or because you just don't like it? In other words if you were to become better at it, would it be something you think you would like?

Anonymous Meat Puppet: "Boy, this weather, huh?"

Me: "I WILL DESTROY YOUR VILLAGE AND SALT YOUR FIELDS!"

My reaction is the same regardless of mood.

Normally, it's when I'm standing near someone and we're waiting for something. I've had lots of interesting conversations in such situations. Something usually triggers an initial comment, which starts the conversation.

So 200-500 times a day. Less now, there are fewer people I come in contact with who I have not met before.

ever end up with an odd ball discussion totally unrelated?

I have had so many random conversations. Topics ranging from baseball to whether or not one can use OxyClean to burnish titanium to politics to requests for help with their taxes.

Not as many interesting conversations about tools or projects, the customers are mostly specialists (high-rise contractors, electricians, train/subway repair, mechanics) and know more about their very specific needs than I do as a generalist.

I would think it requires a lot of tongue biting (as right wingers are rarely shy about spouting their nonsensical views).

Most of the population is immigrants from the Caribbean, so its a lot of discussion of CARICOM (I don't know what the acronym stands for but it is basically a loose confederation of states like the African Union.), international politics (Very anti-Chavez) or local politics. (They like Bloomberg.)

Edit: I doubt even 1/2 of them are registered voters in the US, most are here on work-visas.

I've been racking my brain trying to figure it out all afternoon. I just assumed it was an acronym.

Setting does not really matter, I just start talking to people :D Sometimes they are cool with it, other times they look at me like i'm crazy... ehhh. My current room mate hates it, heh, we'll be in line at a fast food place and I'll just ask the person next to me "So... What are you thinking of getting?" heh.

NJ, especially northern NJ has a state motto of- what's it to you?!?

I got it from my dad, he does it to mess with people :D

:hi:

It depends. If I do, it's usually in the grocery store check-out line...

Or at the carwash. I saw a guy with a very cute puppy there yesterday, and I started to talk to him about the pup...

We had a lovely conversation!

And in the grocery check out, if I'm not in a hurry or otherwise preoccupied, I'll talk to whoever is next to me in line, sometimes...

It just depends!

:hi:

at work, grocery stores, the beach, etc.

Perhaps I am wrong but I can sense that people are in the mood for conversation and I will be the first to start in with a comment regarding an article in a paper, or perhaps comment on some person's attire or jewelry (always positive). In almost all cases the person I start talking to perks up and chats along with me.

I have met loads of people that way. I prefer personal interactions like that over anything the internet has to offer, but I know that i am different than most and even my spouse has said that I am just a natural for it. A coworker I have worked with for years just complimented me recently by saying, "people just love to be around you, you just seem to know how to keep people entertained".

But my wife can find out someone's life story standing in a check out line. It is truly amazing. I just stare at her in disbelief when she start's filling me in.

because she had some bumper sticker on her car about being a Pirate.

Takes all the fun out of doing it at work.

I was going to hoist the Jolly Roger.

:rofl:

rural area - you just have to, that is all. Besides chances are you've been "up in the hills" for a while and just need to chatter to another human for a bit:rofl:

I need a shot o' whiskey real bad :rofl:

:P

it would take some heavy equipment to move it!:rofl:

usually over some silly song playing in a store, or over something that looks good at the salad bar at work.

thats how i met the love of my life! i struck up a conversation with her in krogers:loveya:

think I'm crazy. :shrug:

a LOT of people strike up conversation with me. I'm not used to it at all and it can be a little uncomfortable sometimes.

I use public transportation every day. When I'm on the bus, I keep to myself. At the bus stop, I TRY to keep to myself, but some people are just talkative, and the older ones don't really get the whole "I'm wearing headphones. That means DO NOT DISTURB" thing.

Hmm. Wait a second. The original question was about STARTING conversations. Okay, then I'll have to say almost never.

and I will talk to anybody and everybody. Makes my job much less crappy.

Occasionally someone will start up and I usually oblige but when the natural course of the chit chat ends I pretty much clam up. I don't know you and I'll never see you again so why waste each others' time.

:hi:

I like to welcome new members...

And you qualify...

:hi:

Just so you know I'm in a monogamous relationship. I'm flattered but I'm perfectly happy with my man.

Thank you for you interest.

I too am in a monogamous relationship with my man...

44 years worth, in fact...

I was not trying to hit on you!

Just being friendly is all...

Most people here have partners, and are happy.

That made me laugh, if unintentionally...

:toast:

you never know what you might learn...

:evilgrin:

I used to live in London, England, where if you struck up a conversation with a stranger, or even dared to smile at someone you were liable to be labelled a freak, or an escaped mental patient.

Here in south Louisiana, everyone talks to everyone. It was very hard to get used to when I moved here. In fact my husband horrified me with his liberal conversation starting when we first met. Now its just part of everyday life. I have to say, I do like living somewhere where everyone is so open and friendly.

I know what you mean. Very unnerving the ready conversations in the southern areas. Sometimes I liked it and others I was thinking (I just want to rent this movie, not have a discussion on it).

Great ice breaker.

1.) You don't wear a big tricked out nametag that says "Kenneth". (No, my name isn't Kenneth. Really, would you wear the right nametag if you were me?)

2.) Homeless people have never yelled it at you.

3.) What I learned today on the 2-train in Brooklyn: If the Earth was Columbus Circle, where is the Moon? If the Earth was the Globe in Columbus Circle, the moon would be on W 63rd St. So says the homeless guy on the subway who tried to talk to me about sin and Mike Bloomberg.

just love striking up conversations with me, most of the time the conversation is in terms of "help"

Just today, an elderly man started up a conversation with me, the usual "fall might come early" line, which was just a sly way of asking me to help him read the Oil Filter catalog at the store...he had to do an oil change in a Dodge Ram 2001, v8...oil filter number ph16. :D

I owe that to my aspie self.

Well, since I only go into town a few times a month, it might be considered rarely, but almost any time I go anywhere I can get in a conversation with total strangers.

I enjoy talking to people - I've gotten into conversations with people who called the wrong number! :rofl:

Whenever I'm out and about. I can't stand being treated like a number so I think I go out of my way not to treat other people that way, even if they prefer it, heh.

But then again, I interview people for a living so I'm probably just wired that way.

I avoid doing it in a situation where there's no escape though, in case the other person is a blabbermouth, or in case they are averse to chatting and feel trapped by ME.

You need to gauge if the other person is in the mood. I've noticed on planes that most business-type guys won't talk to middle-aged or unattractive women (although they will talk loudly through the whole flight to other men or attractive young women). Now that I'm middle-aged myself, I never speak to businessmen until they speak to me - I can't stand that panicky "oh no! a woman who is over 25 is talking to me! What possible good can come of THAT? What do I do?!?!?!!" look.

and wherever I happen to be. I find most people are usually receptive to a welcome smile and at least a hello, if not a comment on whatever situation we find ourselves in.

Too many people go through life ignoring the others around them as if they didn't matter. Not good for society as a whole.

:hi:

In the grocery store; in almost any line. I usually find really nice ppl all the time. :)

Just for my own information, mind you.

I'll chat back if someone else starts it, but I don't usually start conversations. And if I'm on an airplane I don't even want to talk back. I plug in the iPod earplugs as soon as they let me, because I do NOT want to talk to people on airplanes. For some reason my seat mates are almost always weird. One time a Mormon tried to convert me.

I can be the most charming and personable individual, talking with people and making them laugh, but I really prefer not to be except when I choose to be. I am not a people person because I generally find people annoying. Which is why I cannot understand racism because with so many legitimate reasons not to like people, why would anyone pick race? I am alone, but not lonely and completely comfortable with my own company, but I will pretty regularly talk with strangers because it is basically superficial.

I'm ashamed to say my last interaction may have asking some grown guy "what are you, 5?!?"
(He looked to be college aged, shopping with his dad, getting all excited because he was getting cocoa puffs)

Usually I'm more helpful, less harassing. I tend to buy odd items (jerusalem artichokes, 12 pounds of spinach) and people ask me what I'm going to do with it. If I see people hemming and hawing over an appliance or tool or food item I might offer an opinion if it's something I know about. I sold a food dehydrator at salvation army recently and gave a demo of how it works.

If I see a parent with a crying child, I might make a point of making a sympathetic comment, "I remember those days" or something else that just gives them a sense of solidarity instead of feeling like an outcast.

A week or so ago I spent ten dollars on groceries for the person ahead of me because they couldn't get their atm card to work and it was a store that wouldn't take credit cards. I let them know I'd had problems in the same store - they were the reason I finally broke down and got an ATM card a couple years ago.

I'm a premise sales rep.
If I'm not walking through doors,
I'm annoying people on the phone.

I LOVE meeting and chatting up new
people, but I'm REALLY getting SICK
of trying to talk them into buying
stuff from me......

I actually get into the funniest conversations with people. It makes me feel good to connect in small ways with people I randomly meet. I wish I was like this years ago. I guess there is a certain freedom with getting older.

I was on the bus and seated in the last seat. I go back there to get more privacy and because I am going the whole way. Some guy came back there and I was afraid he'd sit right next to me. He didn't but was close. I was studying; I had procrastinated reading my assignment totally and was catching up. As soon as he saw me pick up the book, he started asking questions. "Oh, is that about research?" I answered him briefly, but was polite. A couple of minutes later, he asked if I was in school and again, I answered where I go and what I am studying. I added that I had to catch up on my work. He laughed and didn't say anything else and got off soon after. I wish I didn't have to be so short with him but I really had to study.

I enjoy talking to people. I work with the public- I work for a local elected & do a good deal of constituent service. You get your share of issues & the occasional whack a doodle , but really most people just want someone to listen to them & treat them with respect.

And the thread got locked because I called him a cracker.

I think if he's a white racist I have the right to call him that.

Wherever I happen to be.

It's just my nature.

I'm an extrovert, what can I say?

:hi: