Speak to strangers.

To my ACs’ embarrassment I have always spoken to strangers!
I have met some really interesting people often on the train to and from London on the many occasions when DH was in the Royal Free or, more often now, when I am at a theatre or cinema matinee -usually on my own.
Sometimes a harmless pleasantry is sort of brushed off (so what) but more often than not the other person seems happy enough to chat.
The advantage of being 76 with white hair is that I am no way regarded as “chatting someone up” and if anybody secretly thinks “Sad old biddy” - well tant pis (or so much p*ss ) as we used to say.

I often speak to strangers , in the supermarket , cinema , leisure centre. I find it an easy thing to do.

I do already. I’m just mindful to be polite and chatty. Only a sentence or two as in “oh I do like your dress”. It’s a cheerful way of interacting.

I speak to strangers too.
Or at least give them a smile.
I do find, could just be where I am, that peeople are smiling at each other more than they used to. Which is nice.

On this site, I have been a bit horrified on occasions, of the number of posters who write on certain threads, "we keep ourselves to ourselves", as if it is some kind of virtue.

I often recall a train journey some years ago....I was reading my book and a woman (much older than i was at the time!) sat opposite.
She began chatting.
At first I was slightly "miffed" as I was enjoying my book etc but found her so interesting, I really enjoyed our talk.

When we arrived at our destination, as we walked down the platform, she thanked me for talking to her and said she lived alone, ours was the first 'conversation' she'd had in some time.

I've never forgotten that...

In the past I’ve aways spoken to strangers, in shops, on buses, at the doctors, when walking the dogs, it was just a normal thing to do to me but it’s not now. I find people are more suspicious, and definitely not so friendly.
Possibly just a sign of the times perhaps mobile phones have taken over their lives but I have noticed you don’t have to smile at a child now as I did not so long ago and the mother moved away from me.

I love talking to strangers now but didn’t do so in my youth. It makes the time pass more quickly if waiting for a bus or in the hospital waiting room. I hate walking past people who do not even acknowledge me with a smile .

Always speak to strangers that’s very often how strangers can become very good friends

I took my 23 yr. old GD swimming at my Club last week. She worn an itsy-bitsy leopard print bikini.
People who usually ignore me became very friendly, especially those of the male gender.

I speak to anyone and everyone - love it !

I'm just the same as you, crazyH! I'll always talk people.

I have learned the hard way not to try and speak to strangers unless they speak first. I am always polite if people talk to me and answer properly without shutting them down. I gave up initiating conversations when I was repeatedly either ignored or eyed suspiciously if I tried.
I sometimes wonder if people think I am trying to sell them double-glazing or something if I speak to them.

I always speak to strangers, and have not met any suspicion thank goodness but am aware it’s mostly me who initiates conversations.
Many years ago I talked to a woman on a station platform, while waiting for the train. I realised she came from the same country as my mother, introduced them and they remained friends for decades, until my mum died.

If I am allowed to say lovely...that's lovely silverlining48

One of the plus sides to the area I live in now is people are that bit more inclined to talk with strangers. Living alone, as I do, I had little option but to talk with strangers right, left and centre during Lockdown (as I'd found a noticeable number of those I had thought I was friends with were far too bothered about Lockdown guidelines and not bothered at all how I felt - as someone living on my own and were just leaving me to "sink or swim").

Cue for I was chatting so much with anyone/everyone that was acting normal during that time that I made a noticeable number of new friends. Best party ever - with around 130 people - at the time the Welsh limit was 30 people.

A poor lad came to my house selling home improvement stuff. We ended up chatting for over an hour ( probably longer) because he’d seen a placard in my porch from a protest march I’d been on. He was just out of university studying history so we discussed lots of things. I hope he didn’t get into trouble given that he wasn’t able to sell me anything. I absolutely treasure conversations I’ve had with complete strangers. I’ve been on a couple of sighthound dog walks recently and have ended up talking with people that I’ve found so much in common with. I hope I didn’t talk too much and got on their nerves ?

After my husband died . I always spoke to people and smiled. I was always glad to be spoken to . You never know if you are the only person they speak to all day. Well into my mid teens I was an introvert as I was born disabled and bullied for 5 years at high school. Meet my husband to be .

After he died I have always spoke out loud to him everyday as I was worried if I didn't speak I wouldn't want to.
I talk to people but don't pry into their lives if they want to tell me things then fine especially if we have experienced the same thing . I have had people thank me for talking to them. My brother says I have verbal diarrhoea. But if anyone has read my posts I ramble on . But it's me like me or not I don't care .

People taking to me has helped me so talking to others hopefully help them. Being widowed at 45 had to do a lot of firsts on my own . So joining a new group or talking to someone at bus etc does phase me . I am 66 now .

I have had 4 seizures each time it took my speech for hours . First time it happened didn't realise I wasn't talking . Thought I was it wasn't until I saw my daughter crying and said mom you aren't saying anything that frightened me that I would never talk again . So haven't shut up since 😅.

fancythat

On this site, I have been a bit horrified on occasions, of the number of posters who write on certain threads, "we keep ourselves to ourselves", as if it is some kind of virtue.

@fancythat - your comment elicited a grim smile - always the same type, dull, self satisfied, ghastly clothes, mean, pinched people
yes! as though it is a virtue, exactly, setting up an instant barrier.
Bully for them I say, thank goodness.

MayBee you could nerve get on anyone's nerves talking . I should know I loved talking to you . 🌹

Thanks Whiff. Loved chatting to you too x

Yes, I left an art group recently as I had been there for a year and no one had really made the effort to find out anything about me. A couple of women were happy when I listened all about their hollies and how amazing their kids and grandkids were but that was about it. The woman who ran it did not really make any effort to comment on my work and I felt it was a complete waste of my time. I go to another craft group and the leader is lovely. She includes everyone, celebrates everyone, and new comers are made very welcome. Needless to say, I still go there.

Both of my sons have been known to caution me before an outing "you are not going to talk to everyone are you mum" to which I reply without fail "yep, probably"

I've recently given up my car and travelled some distance by rail.. I had really wonderful long conversations with young people on both journeys.. I always have short chats with people on the bus but these were quite in depth with them telling me about their lives and problems.. such a privilege..