How Often Do Random Strangers Start Up Conversations With You?

[willpower]

Originally Posted by eglbc

never (live in long beach,ca)
Me neither (a bit north of you), although I'll say hi first to almost every person I pass on the sidewalk. It just seems polite.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: No media files are hosted on these forums. By clicking the link below you agree to view content from an external website. We can not be held responsible for the suitability or legality of this material. If the video does not play, wait a minute or try again later. I AGREE

TIP: to embed Youtube clips, put only the encoded part of the Youtube URL, e.g. eBGIQ7ZuuiU between the tags.

 

[HgaleK]

Originally Posted by pimpmystyle

So it varies by neighborhood too. Interesting. I hear Minneapolis is very friendly too. Look for a 'friendliest cities for tourists' thread soon. Scratch that, look for a 'friendliest cities with hottest coeds in mud wrestling tournaments' thread coming soon.

Then hit up Austin and stay in the downtown area. I'd come in summer if I were you- so much tan leg running around in those tiny little cotton shorts, and a stupid amount of drunk sororitutes at night

 

[Britalian]

"random stranger"?

 

[patrickBOOTH]

I must have that face, because friends constantly comment on how people just don't like to leave me alone.

 

[Find Finn]

Daily dog owners are a chatty bunch and if I'm in a crowd of a thousand people I'm the one people ask for directions, it even happens when I'm a tourist myself.

 

[ektaylor]

Quite a bit, I would say. Of course, it varies with where I'm living.

Living in Berkeley/Oakland, most unsolicited conversations came from older residents of the more upscale neighborhoods (i.e., Berkeley hills, Rockridge, Claremont, and the like). I was (and am) interested in food and cooking so most of these conversations took place in the local butcher, bakery, or wine shop in the Rockridge area of Oakland. Students at Berkeley tend to keep to themselves and very rarely make the leap to start or acknowledge spontaneous conversation. Consequently, relationships of any decent sort can be difficult to find. I blame the hyper-competitive culture and the fragmented social experience birthed in the isolating work-intensity the university encourages (of which, I was a willing participant).

In Seattle, people are friendly but extraordinarily passive. As corresponds, conversation is rarely volunteered out of what I suspect is this strange unambitious timidness which seems to weave the city together. There is, however, a "progressive" and overly-excited sort that pepper the Pacific Northwest. These types routinely engage in unwanted conversation as a superiority thing. They sense your approval of their wayward ways and launch a reactive preemptive strike. I should also say, I've received more compliments on my clothing in Seattle/Bellevue than anywhere else--this are almost always from the mouth of an older gentleman two or three times my age.

 

[aphextwin07]

when I'm overseas or somewhere cool it happens pretty often, but here in the US it's a rare occurrence. Florida seems to be an exception though, since just about every stranger i've encountered there seems like a best friend you've known your entire life. i never really bought into the whole southern hospitality thing until I spent some extensive time down there.

Originally Posted by ratboycom

I smoke, drink, wear sunglasses, have a semi permanent lack of expression on my face (often misconstrued as a frown), and am about a head taller than most everyone I encounter, so no, strangers do not initiate conversation, ever

hahaha, this recalls the guy on public transport. in this hilarious/awesome webcomic i saw on digg ages ago, happened to find it after some searching:

 

[GSquared]

I wish more. Usually I am the one that is starting the conversation, on the bus, at sporting events, at the airport. I do it out of curiousity and really enjoy it. At the same time, it is always a good network builder.

 

[latkaguy]

Do the voices in my head telling me to kill, kill, kill count?

 

[pseudonym]

I only talk to people who wear interesting clothes/accessories (but not as interesting as me).


/trollin

 

[jingco]

Originally Posted by GQgeek

I know that Ed will have fun with this, but men stop me in the street to tell me how good I look.

Seriously though, I've had a few ask me who my tailor was or tell me that my overcoat is really nice... Seems to happen every 2-3 weeks. Don't think any of them were SFers... I wish women would do this more often instead of men.

It depends on what you wear. I got this red feather hat, I get a lot of compliments from women. It's almost an extension of my head now. My buddy wears a lot of flashy suits and women approach him too. Peacocking works.

 

[k1d.]

never (houston, tx)
everyone always say i look intimidating.. or hard to approach
i ono how thats the case.. im only 5'5

 

[NAMOR]

Originally Posted by willpower

Me neither (a bit north of you), although I'll say hi first to almost every person I pass on the sidewalk. It just seems polite.
+1. I live in Suburbia where everyone drives. This limits your opportunities as their aren't too many face-to-face interactions. Good or bad.

 

[JayJay]

More often than I like.

 

[Garbage Mouth]

Never (Brooklyn/NYC)

Everyone's too busy with their lives to shoot the **** with a stranger