Small Talk With Random Folks?

[Lola]

Yesterday I ran some errands and found myself being "chatted up" by random people at each store I went to.

At a local fruit market, the lady at the register started talking about an item I bought.
At Target, a gal in the makeup aisle started a random conversation.
At Trader Joes two different folks chit chat with me as well. One was an employee, another was another shopper.

I try to be very approachable as I have no reason not to be, yet often times I want to be left alone just to shop. This happens about 75% of the time that I am out some place.

So, does this happen to a lot of folks as well? If you do encounter a situation like this, do you smile and conitune the converstaion, do you ignore the person? What is your typical reply?
Is this really that common? Do you feel uncomfortable making small talk with random folks?

 

[Kalvin00]

I am a guy, so no, people don't do that to me

But no, not really.

 

[mugs]

I talk to them, but don't do anything to extend the conversation.

 

[Amused]

Happens quite a bit with me, too. Sometimes I'm in the mood and chat back, other times I'm not and just give short answers.

 

[daveymark]

you don't like that people are outgoing and sociable? sounds like a nice neighborhood to me.

 

[Jeraden]

Depends on my mood. Sometimes its nice to have a person be friendly and engage in some chit chat. Other times its annoying, especially if its some total loser. If I have something appropriate to say, I'll strike up conversation too. Especially if its in a store and we are both looking at a similar item and trying to decide, or I see someone about to purchase something I own/hated/etc. Generally its just something brief, not some time-consuming life-story type conversation. But I usually like when people are friendly.

 

[lokiju]

Originally posted by: mugs
I talk to them, but don't do anything to extend the conversation.

Same here.

 

[se7en]

You should spike your hair straight up, wear all black and sport a DIE MUTHAFKER shirt if you want to be left alone

Idle chit chat is just kind of friendly and I have no problem with it at all. I mean sure we could all be faceless drones wandering through life w/o speaking to anyone but what fun is that? Now its one thing if they go on forever but just a few small comments exchanged is the way the world should be IMO.

 

[Lola]

Originally posted by: daveymark
you don't like that people are outgoing and sociable? sounds like a nice neighborhood to me.

Oh no... never said that. I enjoy when people are courteous and pleasant to be around, however, it seems to happen a lot no matter where I am. I find it somewhat of a compliment that it happens so often as well.

I know others have joked that just because I am female, but I find it hard to believe that it is the only reason.

I just wondered if this was the "norm" for other people too. If it was, how do you respond? If not, what WOULD you do?
A good amount of the time, if I am shopping, I want to get in and get out. There have been times that someone will carry on a lengthy conversation that leads to spending a great deal of extra time in the store.

 

[dainthomas]

Originally posted by: Lola
Yesterday I ran some errands and found myself being "chatted up" by random people at each store I went to.

At a local fruit market, the lady at the register started talking about an item I bought.
At Target, a gal in the makeup aisle started a random conversation.
At Trader Joes two different folks chit chat with me as well. One was an employee, another was another shopper.

I try to be very approachable as I have no reason not to be, yet often times I want to be left alone just to shop. This happens about 75% of the time that I am out some place.

So, does this happen to a lot of folks as well? If you do encounter a situation like this, do you smile and conitune the converstaion, do you ignore the person? What is your typical reply?
Is this really that common? Do you feel uncomfortable making small talk with random folks?

stop being hot.

 

[Miklebud]

Yeah, are you attractive? That could have a little something to do with it. It doesnt happen often to me.

 

[theprodigalrebel]

I'm usually the guy starting the conversation.

"Damn, it's like a sauna in here."
"Damn, that TV looks fucking awesome."

Sometimes, I even roll down windows/pull up my visor and talk to other motorists while stuck in traffic, "What the fuck? Did a cow die in the middle of the road or what?"

You guys would probably think I was some weirdo.

 

[Skunkwourk]

Happens to me a lot, I look young so Im a prime target for older folks. While waiting for my car at the dealer and reading a magazine I got chatted up by a 92 year old. He had some interesting stories but ended up repeating himself a couple times. Still he mentioned all his siblings had died as well as his wife, and that he didn't do much anymore, so I figured I could do a lot worse by not talking.

 

[Tim]

A tad bit of small talk never hurt anyone... that is unless the person you replied too follows you around the store after the conversation, but everytime you turn to see if they're there, they look up and whistle. Then you see them at the checkout... they're looking at you again, you go to your car, and they follow you, then they pull out a plactic butterknife and hold it too you while making you get in. They make you drive to an old rotted out abandoned building downtown, where they proceed to tell you that they haven't been okay lately and just wanted somebody to talk to while they make you pee in a cup and watch as they drink it followed by them biting off your fingers and watching you slowly bleed to death all the while complimenting your choice of clothing for the day.

 

[rezinn]

I used to live in california and you'd never have it happen. But after moving to the midwest, it happens just about every day. Its really very nice and makes me feel like the world is a happier place, even if I am sometimes annoyed when I am trying to do something and an old lady is asking me about the weather.

 

[ClarkJF]

I would quite frankly be happy if all retail employees of any sort were replaced by robots.

 

[E equals MC2]

Originally posted by: rezinn
I used to live in california and you'd never have it happen. But after moving to the midwest, it happens just about every day. Its really very nice and makes me feel like the world is a happier place, even if I am sometimes annoyed when I am trying to do something and an old lady is asking me about the weather.

I live in NE along with fellow Massholes and I've always wanted to experience this as I've heard plenty of students/friends from the south bitching about how we don't talk to strangers up here.

 

[hanoverphist]

Originally posted by: Lola
Yesterday I ran some errands and found myself being "chatted up" by random people at each store I went to.

At a local fruit market, the lady at the register started talking about an item I bought.
At Target, a gal in the makeup aisle started a random conversation.
At Trader Joes two different folks chit chat with me as well. One was an employee, another was another shopper.

I try to be very approachable as I have no reason not to be, yet often times I want to be left alone just to shop. This happens about 75% of the time that I am out some place.

So, does this happen to a lot of folks as well? If you do encounter a situation like this, do you smile and conitune the converstaion, do you ignore the person? What is your typical reply?
Is this really that common? Do you feel uncomfortable making small talk with random folks?

i talk to people everywhere. about half the time i start the conversations, the other half others start it up. sometimes i look unapproachable and no one talks to me at all. ive found that people in cashier jobs will be more chatty, they get bored i think and like the conversations. i know i used to when i was a cashier. if youre getting random people (guys) starting convos with ya in stores, they are most likely hitting on you.

 

[Nitemare]

You are a blond with boobs, get used to it.

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: Lola
Yesterday I ran some errands and found myself being "chatted up" by random people at each store I went to.

At a local fruit market, the lady at the register started talking about an item I bought.
At Target, a gal in the makeup aisle started a random conversation.
At Trader Joes two different folks chit chat with me as well. One was an employee, another was another shopper.

I try to be very approachable as I have no reason not to be, yet often times I want to be left alone just to shop. This happens about 75% of the time that I am out some place.

So, does this happen to a lot of folks as well? If you do encounter a situation like this, do you smile and conitune the converstaion, do you ignore the person? What is your typical reply?
Is this really that common? Do you feel uncomfortable making small talk with random folks?

you must have a friendly face and seem approachable.

i get asked questions like i work in the store no matter what store i'm in. i just tell them i don't work here and if i can direct them to what they are asking about i will.

i don't feel uncomfortable with small talk from random folk. i can't say as i've had anyone continue on the conversation long enough for me to want them to get out of here. i just act polite, nice, and get the same in return.

i do dislike going to local stores and running into A LOT of people who know me only because it takes forever to get what was a little errand done.

 

[Tim]

Originally posted by: Nitemare
You are a blond with boobs, get used to it.

I'm a blonde with boobs but nobody makes small talk with me...
Is that because I'm a man though?

 

[jaqie]

I actually enjoy talking to the civil folks that I meet wherever, but sometimes I don't feel well enough to do so, and when that happens, I tend to tell them I would love to talk but I feel awful, and that Im sorry.

 

[Alyx]

Originally posted by: Lola
Yesterday I ran some errands and found myself being "chatted up" by random people at each store I went to.

At a local fruit market, the lady at the register started talking about an item I bought.
At Target, a gal in the makeup aisle started a random conversation.
At Trader Joes two different folks chit chat with me as well. One was an employee, another was another shopper.

I try to be very approachable as I have no reason not to be, yet often times I want to be left alone just to shop. This happens about 75% of the time that I am out some place.

So, does this happen to a lot of folks as well? If you do encounter a situation like this, do you smile and conitune the converstaion, do you ignore the person? What is your typical reply?
Is this really that common? Do you feel uncomfortable making small talk with random folks?

I don't know if it is just me but this doesn't usually happen. I think I look out of place when I'm alone in most stores, I just don't enjoy shopping. I am 100% the get in and out again type of person. So I probably move fast enough to keep away from conversations.

On the other hand I fit in semi well if I'm in some sort of a hardware store, I almost always end up in a conversation when I need to go get something. *shrug*

 

[BoomerD]

My wife is one of those people who can (and usually will) talk to anyone. She has "friends" in most of the grocery stores we do business in, as well as several other retailers. Me, I'm a guy...run in, buy what I want, run out...no time for chit-chat, no "shopping,", just "get er dun."

 

[OdiN]

Originally posted by: rezinn
I used to live in california and you'd never have it happen. But after moving to the midwest, it happens just about every day. Its really very nice and makes me feel like the world is a happier place, even if I am sometimes annoyed when I am trying to do something and an old lady is asking me about the weather.

You lived in the wrong part of California then.