Talking to strangers

When travelling or in shops, I frequently get asked where things are, directions for where someone wants to go or something about the place we are visiting. I think I must look like I know what I am doing, I belong whereever I am or as my family says an "Information Booth".

I think tese posts really nail the many reasons we talk to strangers and why tey talk to us.

Its all about connection and being part of humanity. A wonerful thing to share.

My late BIL who worked in central London, but came from the north like me, said that people in London were “just like trees”. Too many to take any notice of.

I noticed ages ago, that strangers were randomly smiling at me. Then they started to ask me if I was Jane MacDonald. It happens all the time and I’m flattered as I’m older than her.
I’d prefer Sophia Loren, but you can’t have everything!😁

Grandmabatty

It's a Scottish thing too! Particularly the West Coast. It was common to speak to people as you pass them or at a bus stop etc. I think it's less common nowadays because people hide behind their phone.

Absolutely! I lived most of my life in Lanarkshire and then moved to East Lothian. People at bus stops would talk but not quite as readily. And I would get the comment that “You’re from the west aren’t you. They chat more”! Of course the different accent gave that away too. Amazing what a difference an hour distance can make! I’ll chat anywhere if I find a willing participant. 😁

BlueBelle I too live on the East Coast and find people so friendly and chatty!
I wonder if it is winter 🥶 and we are all locals. Daughter finds it embarrassing but is not local.
Happy New Year to all chatter boxes!!

Deedaa

My son has always been horrified by my speaking to people. He's nearly 50 now and still hasn't got used to it. I really shocked him one day, as we were coming out of lockdown, when I walked across a carpark to speak to a nun. "Why were you talking to that NUN?" was his horrified question. I explained that I'd met her in a cancer support group and just wanted to know how she'd coped with lockdown. He still wasn't impressed.

Love this 😁

I am following my mother’s footsteps and talk to strangers when I can. It is cathartic. My daughter is the same. You can make somebody’s day by having a chat 👍

Magenta8

I walked over to my DDs for tea on Christmas day. There were not many people around. I wished a man who was walking in the opposite direction "Happy Christmas." He stopped and stared at me for a second and then said "Pardon." I repeated my greeting and he just said "Oh" and walked on. The other two people I greeted blanked me.

People are not very sociable round my way. It reminded me why, most of the time, I don't bother.

Sadly this seems to be becoming normal here in Denmark too, My generation was brought up to converse in buses, trams, or trains or at the stops as a matter of common courtesy, in the same way as we offered to help those struggling with heavy luggage, awkward parcels or small children.

Now, you hardly dare approach anyone with a child for fear of being suspected of paedophilia!

700 metres away from my home, once I cross the Danish-German border the old rules hold good. Total strangers wish each other good day, shop assistents wish you a good weekend, Happy Christmas or New Year, or whatever else is appropriate, and strangers use the formal pronoun to each other, as do all children when addressing a grown-up who is not a member of their immediate family.

There are so many lonely people these days, it seems to me an awful pity we no longer engage in social chit-chat with those we meet in the street.

Greyduster

It used to puzzle DH that we couldn’t go anywhere without me striking up a conversation with a total stranger. I used to tell him it was a Yorkshire thing, but he was Welsh and from my experience over the years, it also seems to be a Welsh thing!

I always nod and say good morning as I pass or wait at the bus stop wherever I am which often turns into a natter but you should see me abroad when I hear Welsh spoken!

I’m off like a shot to ask where they’re from etc and my daughter used to be mortified 🫣 so I explained that there are only around half a million Welsh speakers in the world and most will be in Wales at any given time so we’re duty bound to acknowledge each other across the water!

My DH hates my doing that! He gets cross when I talk to the checkout operator too. I walk around with a smile and people smile back.

My daughter gets hugs from children when she walks around and they talk to her randomly. I was with her when a young lady with Down's pinned he to the wall with a big bear hug, much to the mortification of her mother, but we spoke to her and asked about her day.

I live in a big city so people don't often chat with you. However a young lady who was an Emirates cabin staff employee asked me the way to the station. She said that she was so excited; she was going to Stratford upon Avon to see Shakespeare's birth place. Another time I got chatting to a couple in Dublin airport lounge and they said that they were going to America to judge Irish dancing competitions. It turned out that they were going to Boston then on to the town near New York where my daughter runs a dance school. (Ballet, jazz etc but not Irish dancing)

Walking the dog, waiting at a bus stop if I’m trying to save on parking, looking on supermarket shelves or in Bon Marché, people often talk to me. It’s nice to chat. Eric, a man with the very friendly spaniel made me laugh today when he said We must stop meeting like this. as we crossed paths on the way out and back again.

No problem with strangers talking to me. Find it happens in the least expected places and by people who I had quickly and wrongly assessed as not being a talker.

I think it does vary from place to place, I grew up in Lancashire and it was very normal to chat at a bus stop or on the bus, but when I went to University near London people looked at me as if I had 2 heads if I chatted to them.
I visited my DS and family for Christmas and walked to church with my DD and my DS's children. Everyone we passed said 'Happy Christmas' and my grandson seemed surprised and asked why. We just said "It's what you do on Christmas day" however I do find Yorkshire folk pretty friendly.

My family are from an Ireland and although I was born in U.K. I am very happy chatting to people I don’t know.
My daughter now lives in Scotland where I find folk are great for greeting on street and chatting in shops. I do feel some parts of the country are more likely to embrace it. However it’s not for everyone and so I’m reluctant to generalise

She probably said it to get you to giggle.

Aveline

Yikes monk08 what did you do?

Smiled and carried on walking laughing to myself it takes all sorts.

My Irish uncle, who lived in rural Southern Ireland, used to find it amusing when he came here that people passed by without acknowledging others.

Round here we talk to each other but not so much in the city. I often also bump into people I do know which is nice. Being part of a community is important to me.One of my grandsons asks if I know the people I speak to and is amazed when the answer is no. He is standoffish but I suppose people might be suspicious of young blokes smiling and chatting, probably think he was a perv or something. Sad state of affairs.

Yikes monk08 what did you do?

A passing stranger looked straight at me and said I've had my teeth cleaned, then showed me a mouthful of teeth.

lixy a country bus I was on was great fun. Most of us passengers knew each other by now due to being regulars. We were all enjoying the last journey before Christmas and, for a laugh, Freddy the driver went twice round a big roundabout! The squeals!

Yes, Aveline the bus stop is a great place for unexpected chats. Here we have one bus so I have met lots of people who live close by but I wouldn’t otherwise have run into while waiting for the bus, and the journey into town is usually quite jolly.

Once the driver lost his way - thought he was driving a different number bus - and navigating back to the expected route around the town’s road works was a real team effort!

I find people who pass you and look well away, frightened to death in case they make eye contact really strange. To be fair, the only time we experienced this was on a visit to London. We were trying to find our way to the National Army Museum in Chelsea and asked four people for directions (this was prior to the miracle that is Google maps!) all of whom snubbed us without replying. One actually looked quite alarmed and put the palms of his hands towards us as if to say “back off”! The last person we approached was a charming lady who was a local resident and offered to take us there - we weren’t far off as it happened. DH and I met and married while working and living in London and I remember people being a lot more friendly in those days.

I've had some terrific conversations with people I've got chatting to at the bus stop, in shop queues or on the bus. These unexpected random chats really brighten up the day.