Do you talk to people in bars, coffee shops, or other public places? (father, talks)
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I like to strike up random conversations with strangers when I'm out in public places. I go to a lot of bars, coffee shops, and shows and talk to people. I get a wide range of responses, from people clearly uninterested in conversation and others I seem to hit it off with.
I meet the most interesting people. Inventors, race car drivers, old war veterans, screen writers, film documentary industry folks....I wish I had a tape recorder sometimes. I've always been open for conversation but more so now that I'm retired. Yesterday I met a lady that holds the USA 5K track record for her age group...I won't reveal her age, but she didn't look it.
I like to strike up random conversations with strangers when I'm out in public places. I go to a lot of bars, coffee shops, and shows and talk to people. I get a wide range of responses, from people clearly uninterested in conversation and others I seem to hit it off with.
Do you enjoy talking to strangers?
We seem to attract people and animals. I guess we are irresistable, and look like folks others want to know.
We get a lot of invitations too. Sometimes it's great, and sometimes it's not.
Having conversations with a perfectly willing stranger is more than just a pleasant way to while away the time. It's almost a moment of grace in world where self-absorption has become the prevailing motive.
To me, the most rewarding conversation I had with a stranger came when I was on a long flight out to the west coast. I was on the aisle and a frail, elderly woman came down the aisle and indicated she was my seat mate. I helped with her bag and we waited for the plane to take off.
At first, I was reading over a speech I was going to give, but then asked the obligatory questions about what her plans would be in L.A. As it turned out, it was her very first plane ride ever. She was from Mississippi and was flying to the coast to meet her granddaughter, who promised her a tour of Hollywood and all the other attractions the city had to offer. And then I learned more about her.
She had gone out to Japan in her early 20s because her father was a general in the occupation, and she told me amazing stories about postwar Japan. She told me about coming home to marry her high school sweetheart and starting a chicken farm. She told me how she drove civil rights workers around at night during those terrible days in the early 60s, having them hide in the trunk of her car. She told me what farm people name the various cloud formations. Because of her, I use the term Buttermilk Sky ever since. She had known Eudora Welty and James Faulkner. And when we arrived in LA, she insisted I meet her son-in-law, introducing me as the "very nice man who listened to my boring stories all the way out here." I corrected her and said I wasn't bored at all.
Here's the thing. All people are interesting. Every single person. Both from their life experiences and what makes them tick. As someone once said, all people have their own private struggles and need the world to support them. To simply hurry past them because you can't be bothered is to rely deny yourself a deeper, richer, and more empathetic existence.
no, I do what o have to do and go. I am usually pre-occupied with my thoughts and what I have to do next, and unfortunetely I am not interested in anyone.
I do not go to bars, ever, I hate them.
I do not make small conversation with people waiting on line or walking in the street
My partner however, talks to everyone and everyone talks to him.....
I like to strike up random conversations with strangers when I'm out in public places. I go to a lot of bars, coffee shops, and shows and talk to people. I get a wide range of responses, from people clearly uninterested in conversation and others I seem to hit it off with.
Do you enjoy talking to strangers?
Where I come from, this is normal (San Francisco Bay Area). People are friendly, neighborly. I had a hard time living in Seattle, where this type of friendliness doesn't seem to be accepted. People who aren't into this are missing out on some real day-brighteners, though. You can run into some real characters, if you're open to it.
Having conversations with a perfectly willing stranger is more than just a pleasant way to while away the time. It's almost a moment of grace in world where self-absorption has become the prevailing motive.
To me, the most rewarding conversation I had with a stranger came when I was on a long flight out to the west coast. I was on the aisle and a frail, elderly woman came down the aisle and indicated she was my seat mate. I helped with her bag and we waited for the plane to take off.
At first, I was reading over a speech I was going to give, but then asked the obligatory questions about what her plans would be in L.A. As it turned out, it was her very first plane ride ever. She was from Mississippi and was flying to the coast to meet her granddaughter, who promised her a tour of Hollywood and all the other attractions the city had to offer. And then I learned more about her.
She had gone out to Japan in her early 20s because her father was a general in the occupation, and she told me amazing stories about postwar Japan. She told me about coming home to marry her high school sweetheart and starting a chicken farm. She told me how she drove civil rights workers around at night during those terrible days in the early 60s, having them hide in the trunk of her car. She told me what farm people name the various cloud formations. Because of her, I use the term Buttermilk Sky ever since. She had known Eudora Welty and James Faulkner. And when we arrived in LA, she insisted I meet her son-in-law, introducing me as the "very nice man who listened to my boring stories all the way out here." I corrected her and said I wasn't bored at all.
Here's the thing. All people are interesting. Every single person. Both from their life experiences and what makes them tick. As someone once said, all people have their own private struggles and need the world to support them. To simply hurry past them because you can't be bothered is to rely deny yourself a deeper, richer, and more empathetic existence.
Great story!
It makes me think of the wonderful homeless vets and people who may be rough in speech, but have great stories to tell!
Unfortunately, the response of the majority is to stick their big arrogant schnozzes in the air in disdain and walk away.
I LOVE talking to strangers! Here in the Bay Area, it's widely accepted to strike up conversations with strangers which is why I fit in so well. I can't even say how many times in my travels I've been saved by my friendliness. People are pretty amazing when you give them a chance.
I LOVE talking to strangers! Here in the Bay Area, it's widely accepted to strike up conversations with strangers which is why I fit in so well.
YESSS! I suffered some culture shock when I left the Bay Area, and discovered that in a lot of other places, people don't do that! I don't understand it. LOVE the Bay!
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