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Initiating Conversation With Strangers

post #1 of 42
8/27/08 at 2:43am
Thread Starter 
Hey All,

First time poster, long time lurker. Does anyone have any tips for ice breakers with complete strangers? I go to a fairly large university and have had 0 success in meeting new people. I consider myself reasonably attractive and [obviously] well-dressed, I've just never had much self-confidence in group settings.

Any help is appreciated.
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post #2 of 42
8/27/08 at 3:01am
How about joining organizations that you have interest in?
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post #3 of 42
8/27/08 at 12:11pm
College is the easiest time to meet new people. Talk to everyone. Go talk to professors at their office hours. Show up to class early and talk to the people that sit by you. Join clubs, intramural sports, etc. Go to the gym. Talk to everyone there. Talk to people in the elevator. If you live in a dorm room, leave the door open while you are in there and people will talk to you as they walk by.

EVERYONE around you is wanting to talk to people too. EVERYONE is in the same situation you are. Just start talking.
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post #4 of 42
8/27/08 at 12:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Milhouse View Post
College is the easiest time to meet new people. Talk to everyone. Go talk to professors at their office hours. Show up to class early and talk to the people that sit by you. Join clubs, intramural sports, etc. Go to the gym. Talk to everyone there. Talk to people in the elevator. If you live in a dorm room, leave the door open while you are in there and people will talk to you as they walk by.

EVERYONE around you is wanting to talk to people too. EVERYONE is in the same situation you are. Just start talking.

This. Covers all your social needs.
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post #5 of 42
8/27/08 at 12:18pm
yup. nail.head.hit.
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post #6 of 42
8/27/08 at 12:21pm
I joined a club where the people had the same interests that I did. I graduated 2 years ago and those people (although they all live far away) are my best friends. I have no doubt that I will remain in touch with them indefinately.
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post #7 of 42
8/27/08 at 12:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Autoclave View Post
Hey All,

First time poster, long time lurker. Does anyone have any tips for ice breakers with complete strangers? I go to a fairly large university and have had 0 success in meeting new people. I consider myself reasonably attractive and [obviously] well-dressed, I've just never had much self-confidence in group settings.

Any help is appreciated.

i wish i knew what i know now when i was in college. enjoy college and just go talk to those that are in your class, dorm, sports, whatevers.

although just going up to complete strangers and unknown students and stuff is a bit strange, it is easier when you have something to talk about like classmates and dorm mates.


join whatever organizations are out there for you: chess club, spanish club, hiking club, religious club, etc. go join whatever you can sensibly.
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post #8 of 42
8/27/08 at 12:57pm
Making friends has been covered above. I want to highlight how much of a good idea it is to talk to your professors and get to know them. They can be good mentors and will be useful later in life. I neglected to do this and regret it. Then again, I was generally not passionate about the classes I took, which is probably a prerequisite to speaking intelligently with a prof.
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post #9 of 42
8/27/08 at 1:26pm
Courage in a bottle.

Drink heavily before social events, and the words will flow. You will be the life of the party and meet tons of cool, desirable people.
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post #10 of 42
8/27/08 at 1:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by gnatty8 View Post
Courage in a bottle.

Drink heavily before social events, and the words will flow. You will be the life of the party and meet tons of cool, desirable people.

This may have been posted sarcastically but its not far from the truth when it comes to college.
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post #11 of 42
8/27/08 at 4:20pm
As long as your the drunkest guy at the party you will always have fun.

If you dont learn to talk to people while in college - a place that was practically built for random social interactions - then you will have no success at it when you leave. This is your testing grounds, make it happen.
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post #12 of 42
8/27/08 at 4:54pm
Most importantly: Smile. It'll help. Who wants to talk to ? Everyone wants to talk to .
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post #13 of 42
8/27/08 at 6:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by premo View Post
Most importantly: Smile. It'll help. Who wants to talk to ? Everyone wants to talk to .

this is very true
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post #14 of 42
8/27/08 at 6:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Davidko19 View Post
As long as your the drunkest guy at the party you will always have fun.

http://www.styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=75840
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post #15 of 42
8/27/08 at 7:21pm
And don't forget, europeans are annoyed at americans open and friendliness for a reason (i'm paraphrasing my euro friends on that one) Think of the obvious question you and every cashier, bagger, doorman, fast food employee ask each other. 'Hi, how're you doing today?' 'Good, how about you?' That conversation is practically knee jerk to all of us, just say it to someone you actually want to talk to.
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