Small Talk With Random Folks?

[Saint Nick]

Every once in a while. Its definitely not uncommon around here. People around here are generally pretty friendly, unless we're talking about driving with each other on the roads, then we're just mean, vile creatures.

But, in a relaxed setting, a lot of people around here will talk with one another -- even randomly. I'm in Omaha, Nebraska.

 

[alkemyst]

depends...I am pretty social.

If I am busy though or just don't want to be bothered I simply let them know.

 

[Platypus]

this happens to me all the time; I try to accommodate them.

 

[Lola]

Originally posted by: Platypus
this happens to me all the time; I try to accommodate them.

Have you ever been in a situation when you have been talking for a few minutes and they want to keep chatting? The converstaion then goes on for another 20 minutes?

This happened at Home Depot last fall. This women was looking at the flooring in the same aisle as us and she must have talked for a good 20 or 30 minutes. I am not the kind of person to just walk away, so there we stood. I know she was just trying to be nice, and she seemed lonely so we let her talk.

 

[skace]

Originally posted by: Lola
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?

NO. I LOOK SCARY.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

Someone asked me to reach something for me on a higher shelf. Does that count?

 

[Miramonti]

I usually don't mind it unless they follow me afterwards.

 

[Nitemare]

Originally posted by: theplaidfad

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?

boobs != moobs

 

[jaqie]

Originally posted by: Lola
Have you ever been in a situation when you have been talking for a few minutes and they want to keep chatting? The converstaion then goes on for another 20 minutes?

Oh, you mean those conversations. If I am not in a hurry and the conversation isnt horribly boring, I tend to keep talking/chatting/listening. If I am in a hurry I make sure I show it, and if they continue I eventually tell them I really gotta go, but its been great talking to them. I tend to do similar if they are incredibly boring.

 

[Svnla]

I only speak with cute chicks.

If strangers say hi, I will say hi back but that's it if they are not cute/single/female.

Edit: Exceptions for MILFs

 

[mb]

The only kind of small talk I dislike is when the cashier and/or bagger comments on or asks questions about my purchase.

Cashier: that looks good.
Me: It is.

Cashier: Haven't tried that before.
Me: It's new.

Bagger: That's a lot of <insert random item I'm out of>
Me: Yup.

 

[Deeko]

I hate small talk. I don't like making small talk with my friends. In Philly it wasn't a problem - that's how we're raised, haha, you don't so much as make eye contact with people you don't know unless it's absolutely necessary.

Then I moved out to Seattle and EVERYONE is overly friendly and chatty. It's not right I tell you. I mean, I'm friendly and talk back...I worked commissioned sales a few years back so I've acquired the skill, as unnatural is it feels....but I don't like it damnit!

 

[jaqie]

Originally posted by: mb
Cashier: that looks good.
Me: It is.
Cashier: Haven't tried that before.
Me: It's new.
Bagger: That's a lot of <insert random item I'm out of>
Me: Yup.

*chuckles*
Yeah, but I guess I'm different, I find that kind of cashier chatter entertaining.

 

[sierrita]

Originally posted by: 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.

I'd probably chat right back to you, nothing better to do in stuck traffic; might as well talk to some weirdo.

 

[Descartes]

Where I was raised, it was something you'd just have to expect. In fact, people find it quite cold if you don't say anything, be it the bathroom or the grocery store.

I enjoy it for the most part. I tend not to be a person to initiate the talk, but I will give the usual, "You having a good day?" type of thing to random people. If they take it beyond that, then I'll engage in the conversation.

 

[ViviTheMage]

sometimes....helps if you are hot ^_6

 

[wheresmybacon]

I'll be polite, but I don't usually like talking about nothing unless I'm talking to someone I'm interested in.

I was once told by an ex-gf that she was scared of me at first because I "looked mean". This might be true since thankfully I'm not chatted up by strangers too much. *shrug*

 

[PlasmaBomb]

I have been mistaken for an employee at numerous venues, the latest being on saturday at a merchandising store for the north west 200, does that count?

 

[Linflas]

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?

Hard to live in the south and not have this happen. I enjoy it and one of the things that has really changed in the part of Virginia I live in as more people move here from other parts of the country it has become more rare to encounter this type of friendliness.

 

[m1ldslide1]

Originally posted by: Deeko
I hate small talk. I don't like making small talk with my friends. In Philly it wasn't a problem - that's how we're raised, haha, you don't so much as make eye contact with people you don't know unless it's absolutely necessary.

Then I moved out to Seattle and EVERYONE is overly friendly and chatty. It's not right I tell you. I mean, I'm friendly and talk back...I worked commissioned sales a few years back so I've acquired the skill, as unnatural is it feels....but I don't like it damnit!

That is the first (and probably last) time I've ever heard that sentence. Talk about cognitive dissonance. I grew up in Portland area and my family is all from the mid-west. It was total culture-shock every time we went to visit - generally you don't talk to strangers in the PNW unless you're homeless.

Well, maybe that's an exaggeration, but not far from the truth. The anti-social nature of PNW has been discussed in other threads.

 

[Deeko]

Originally posted by: m1ldslide1

Originally posted by: Deeko
I hate small talk. I don't like making small talk with my friends. In Philly it wasn't a problem - that's how we're raised, haha, you don't so much as make eye contact with people you don't know unless it's absolutely necessary.

Then I moved out to Seattle and EVERYONE is overly friendly and chatty. It's not right I tell you. I mean, I'm friendly and talk back...I worked commissioned sales a few years back so I've acquired the skill, as unnatural is it feels....but I don't like it damnit!

That is the first (and probably last) time I've ever heard that sentence. Talk about cognitive dissonance. I grew up in Portland area and my family is all from the mid-west. It was total culture-shock every time we went to visit - generally you don't talk to strangers in the PNW unless you're homeless.

Well, maybe that's an exaggeration, but not far from the truth. The anti-social nature of PNW has been discussed in other threads.

Maybe you don't understand how unfriendly the east coast is. If you make eye contact with someone having a bad day you'll actually get threatened. Maybe it's even friendlier in the midwest than it is here - I did notice when I was driving out here that people in North Dakota were particularly nice - but people in Seattle are easily 100x more friendly and chatty than people in philly.

 

[jaqie]

That's odd. I'm on the east coast (Raleigh, NC) and people here are quite friendly. Maybe thats just your particular area, Deeko?

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: Kalvin00
I am a guy, so no, people don't do that to me

But no, not really.

Same here.

I don't ever feel that need to fill in a silence for the sole sake of ending it. I wouldn't mind riding an elevator 100 floors with someone and not speaking a word. I really don't need to hear or deliver an update on the weather, or make some trivial observation about someone's shoes. Yeah well. To each his own.

Originally posted by: mb
The only kind of small talk I dislike is when the cashier and/or bagger comments on or asks questions about my purchase.
Cashier: that looks good.
Me: It is.
Cashier: Haven't tried that before.
Me: It's new.
Bagger: That's a lot of <insert random item I'm out of>
Me: Yup.

Cashier: That looks good.
Me: It sucks.
Cashier: Haven't tried that before.
Me: You shouldn't. It's really horrible.
Cashier: Why are you buying it?
Me: Because life is suffering and I am a sado-masochist. Want to come over to my place tonight?
Cashier: *not there anymore, has gone to summon security to have you removed*

 

[Deeko]

Originally posted by: jaqie
That's odd. I'm on the east coast (Raleigh, NC) and people here are quite friendly. Maybe thats just your particular area, Deeko?

I think it's a northeast thing. Philly, maybe NYC as well.

 

[djheater]

Originally posted by: Kalvin00
I am a guy, so no, people don't do that to me

But no, not really.

I'm in my thirties and people do occasionally do this to me. I probably freak them out because I was raised in the south where idle chit chat is the norm so I can go at it with the best of them, however I'm an introvert by nature and don't generally seek it out. I go to the self checkout when possible.