Talking to Strangers

[Josephine96]

I know this topic may sound silly.. but do any of you talk to people you don't know..

I talk to a lot of people I don't know everyday. Whether it's in the grocery store, even at a place like where I go to school... I talked to a girl who was about my age back on Monday night when I was at the grocery store and she seemed pretty happy that someone was talking to her..

I always talk to a lot of people.. Mostly girls and women though {everybody thinks all I do is flirt with girls when I talk to them.. I guess a simple conversation is now known as flirting}

[blizzard]

In the course of my additional occupations, I am afforded the opportunity to talk to strangers quite a bit. As an Auctioneer, I see and meet many new people everytime I perform an auction. Also as a Karaoke DJ, I also meet new people. Yes, some are stranger than others, but I enjoy meeting new people (and talking to strangers) tremendously.

[GalvestonDuck]

It's hard to work in patient care without talking to people you don't know, so of course, I talk to strangers.

My biggest concern is with kids. There needs to be some way to help kids differentiate between "stranger danger" and those who are safe. Sometimes, it's not the stranger who is the problem anyway. Some child predators are people that the children actually know. But when a stranger IS the problem, sometimes another stranger can be the rescuer -- whether it's a cop, security guard, store manager, or just another adult.

It's a sad world we live in when creeps like Joseph Smith are out there. Thankfully, he's in custody so there's one less monster in the world. Unfortunately, it's too late for Carlie.

[furluvcats]

I talk to strangers...have you girls ever noticed when you're in a Ladies Room at a club, or out someplace, that women always strike up conversations while waiting or fixing make up? Everyone is really friendly in Shreveport...I met alot of nice people at the Mardi Gras parade...people just walk up and started talking...lol, it must have been the alcohol ...but I met this one lady whoes sister had gotten married at the start of the parade, thats pretty neat....I think we should be friendly to everyone..say hello as you pass someone on the street...it could totally make their day! I am reserved when it comes to being approached by men though...who wants to be hit on?! Sorry guys for the generalization....lol

[southerngale]

{everybody thinks all I do is flirt with girls when I talk to them.. I guess a simple conversation is now known as flirting}

Yeah, I can relate to that. Sometimes people can confuse my being friendly as flirting.

And yes, I tend to talk to a lot of strangers. Every friend was once a stranger. hehe
Seriously, I talk to people everywhere I go. It's always nice to be able to put a smile on someone's face who is obviously having a bad day, and sometimes you just chit chat and learn about things going on in the area. I also seem to bring up the weather a lot, if there's anything worth mentioning. Imagine that!

[JCT777]

OK, so I am a hermit compared to everyone else in this thread. I have always been very shy, so I find it difficult to talk to people I don't know. Usually other people have to talk to me first.

[Josephine96]

I talked to a girl yesterday for like a 1/2 hour.. Found out at my school she's an accounting major.. She's a pretty girl too lol

[Miss Mary]

Well, personally speaking, the minute I became a Mom it opened up a whole new world. Actually when you're pregnant it starts. Thru the years I've talked a lot of other mom's. Mom's I never really knew at the Park, Mall or grocery store. There's a universal code between Mom's, IMHO. Later I met many fellow PTA moms so it became a sore subject with my kids. I'd see someone I knew from their Elem days, and we'd instantly be talking about what they're doing now - HS activities, looking at colleges, etc. Nina says I even change my personality - I'm all nicey-nice and boy does she like to go into an imitation of me. "Here's Mom in Krogers, running into Bobby's mom from Kindergarten"....ugh. I say hey, leave me alone. Being a Mom is the most important thing in the world to me, even slightly over a wife. Yikes, that sounds terrible. Now all of that said, I don't quite get so friendly with others or strangers, you just need to be a Mom in my community, someone that's familiar from church/soccer/school days, with a couple of kids that are annoying the heck out of you, and you've got my sympathetic smile. It usually opens the door for conversation.

And Shawn, agree with you. It's very hard trying to convey being careful to not to strangers to children.

Mary

[stormraiser]

The area I grew up in, we always said hi to the few people on the street we didn't know and the many we did. When I moved up to Boston, I did that and I got looks like I had just slapped someone's mother. Well, if mama put something there, it doesn't get forgotten easily. So, I keep saying hi to strangers on the street. Out here in Buffalo people are a little friendlier, but it's so dang cold.

[isobar]

Having grown up in Brooklyn, NY, we were taught not only to NOT talk to strangers but don't even make eye contact. City folk are weird about having their space or privacy invaded, cuz there's so precious little of it I guess. It's been hard to overcome that, but like Mary said, having kids throws you into that world of mommyhood. Especially when they're little, the need for adult contact is overwhelming. You latch onto anybody whose vocabulary is a step above "ga-ga".

[Pburgh]

As most of you know, I'm orginally from West Virginia - And as the story goes, West Virginia people are the only people that can make life long friends in a grocery line. Yep, I talk to strangers.

[David]

Actually, I don't talk to many people... mostly because of past expierences where I didn't want to talk, or someone ignored me. I really never get out of the house to talk, anyways.

[azskyman]

I'm finally getting the hang of it. Talking to strangers, that is.

Public speaking was never something I embraced. I hated it in school. Often turned red as a stoplight when I'd get asked a question.

But guess what? Weather changed all that.

I fell so head over heals for studying weather that I began writing articles about it for the local paper. Then I was asked to speak to a school class. And then make a presentation to an emergency services group. And so on and so on.

As long as I talked about weather, I was as comfortable as my favorite shoes!

But alas, people started telling me I had a gift. I could talk to people; bring them together. I could get a response and it was usually good.

Along came politics and government and committees and you name it.

When I learned that I could be myself, not something someone wanted me to be, then I could talk to others. Strangers included.

I'm still a reserved guy. Unlike my posts at Storm2k, my conversations are short and to the point. And I still wait for someone else to jump start the conversation a lot.

Unless, of course, we can talk about weather.

[timNms]

OK, so I am a hermit compared to everyone else in this thread. I have always been very shy, so I find it difficult to talk to people I don't know. Usually other people have to talk to me first.

Are you and I related? I've always been painfully shy. Whenever someone says something to me, I always find it hard to find the right words to say in reply. I never initiate a conversation with a stranger because I'm afraid I'll get the words backwards and they'll come out wrong.

On the other hand, the internet has been great. I've met a lot of people online and have no problem carrying on finger conversations with them LOL.

[ColdFront77]

OK, so I am a hermit compared to everyone else in this thread. I have always been very shy, so I find it difficult to talk to people I don't know. Usually other people have to talk to me first.

Are you and I related? I've always been painfully shy. Whenever someone says something to me, I always find it hard to find the right words to say in reply. I never initiate a conversation with a stranger because I'm afraid I'll get the words backwards and they'll come out wrong.

On the other hand, the internet has been great. I've met a lot of people online and have no problem carrying on finger conversations with them LOL.

I can relate to you both!... especially the way you put it, Tim. Each day, hour and minute I come here I truly feel more and more comfortable corresponding with those of you who frequent this board.

Knowing that there are others here (interested in meteorology) that aren't outgoing make my interaction with some of you greatly appreciative.

[CajunMama]

I've never met a stranger! Everyone's my friend! I just love to talk to people I don't know! I find out so many new things that way!