Talking to Strangers?

[TheEpitome1920]

Do you speak to people you don't know?? i.e. walking down the street and say "hey" to someone you pass? I was talking to my fraternity brother about this and he said while he was in Houston it was considered offensive if you didn't speak to people.

[Lil' Hannah]

I say hi to people in my apartment building and at work, but I wouldn't feel obligated to acknowledge a stranger if we just passed on the street. I don't have a problem talking to strangers though if we're standing in line together or something of that nature.

[Dionysus]

HELLLLLLLLLL NO!

I wish I could though....sometimes (like if I see an attractive guy) If someone speaks first, I'll speak back, of course.

I'm not too crazy about strangers talking to me either, unless I'm at a party or in class or at church. But, out in the streets, no.

Yes, I say hello or something to acknowledge their existence.

[_Opi_]

Depends.


Guys in Detroit are a little to friendly sometimes. But yeah, I do occasionally smile or say hi.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally posted by TheEpitome1920
in Houston it was considered offensive if you didn't speak to people.

I think this is kind of a Southern thing. We used to go camping/canoeing every year in southern Missouri (Current River, for those who are familiar)...and when we were riding the bus up the river, the bus driver, every year would ALWAYS wave at every car he passed. This one driver cracked me up because he had this one-finger, hands never left the wheel wave-thing. And I've noticed in the few days I've been here, (although there are A LOT of Yankees here) people tend to do this more in Charlotte, NC then they did in Peoria, IL where I'm originally from.

[UHPhiMu05]

it is most definitely a southern thing. Nothing wrong with saying hi or acknowledging that someone is there.. I'm from Houston so I'm used to it. It's not like you are expected to hold a conversation with those people.

[ADPiAkron]

Originally posted by AlphaFrog
I think this is kind of a Southern thing.

I live in the north and I do it! I guess that is because I have been that way all my life....I will talk to anyone at anytime, anywhere!! haha I guess it is my nature! My mom always tells me that back as far as kindergarten she would have to stop me from talking to "strangers" at the grocery store all the time! haha

[Dionysus]

It's not only a southern thing, I've noticed that three other subgroups of people are also more likely to speak to stangers.

ETA: I just remembered, it's actually three subgroups. The irony is that I'm in two of those three and I'm still very reserved.

[Senusret I]

If random eye contact is made, I speak.

When I was at the club last weekend though, this random guy gave me a handshake. Now THAT threw me off.

[_Lisa_]

I attempt to make casual eye contact w/ every person I pass whether its on the street, at work, the mall, etc. If I make eye contact w/ the person I'll say hello & if I know them a little better I might ask how they are doing. Regardless of whether I get the chance to say anything I always smile @ people I pass.

[Kevin]

I don't know if it's a southern thing. I wouldn't call Oklahoma a proper southern state. However, if you're on an elevator, it's not uncommon to have a brief conversation with the people on it.

[ZTAngel]

If I'm walking down the street, I won't say hello to the passerbys.
When I walk by someone at my apartment complex or in my office building, I'll say hello. I'll say smile at the people that I pass by in the aisle of the grocery store.
I've been known to conversate with people while waiting in line at a store.

[lauralaylin]

Originally posted by ktsnake
I don't know if it's a southern thing. I wouldn't call Oklahoma a proper southern state. However, if you're on an elevator, it's not uncommon to have a brief conversation with the people on it.

This may be a dumb question, but coming from a place where this would be a little weird, what would you think of to talk about? The weather? I'm really curious. It makes me nervous when random people start talking to me, or even making eye contact. Everyone just ignores everyone else in Boston. But when people do start talking to me, I'm so thrown off, that I don't know what to say.

[Kevin]

Originally posted by lauralaylin
This may be a dumb question, but coming from a place where this would be a little weird, what would you think of to talk about? The weather? I'm really curious. It makes me nervous when random people start talking to me, or even making eye contact. Everyone just ignores everyone else in Boston. But when people do start talking to me, I'm so thrown off, that I don't know what to say.

Oh, just any perceived thing in common. If I'm at the courthouse and it's a jury trial day, I'll strike up a conversation with one of the random jurors. If I'm at the county clerk and in the elevator, we might just talk about the weather or something to do with the county. Or if they (or I) have something unusual in their hands, say I'm bringing flowers to a judge that's sick (which was the case last week) someone might ask me about it. Mostly just random chatter.

Sometimes it happens and sometimes not.