Hells Bells - it's happened!!

Why stop talking to people..? Sometimes it's the only conversation I get, talking to 'strangers'..... have always done it since young, and talk even more to people now I'm an 'oldie'!!!
Haven't quite got to the stage of fumbling in my purse though!!!! lol!

Has anyone heard of the Coffee Companions website? You can download chat mats to use in cafes, on trains etc. Although it does sound like most of the ladies on here have no problems starting a conversation!

Go for it. Some of the most interesting and also some very deep conversations have been had with people met briefly on trains, boats, planes, bus stops etc. How many times have we all had chats with other women in the endless queues for the Ladies loo as men breeze in and out in 2 minutes? Lovely girls bonding moments. Just respect those people who don't want to talk-they have their reasons.

Yes, that's me too. If I cannot speak to my friend on the phone, I would speak to no one, only the dog, all day.

Some years ago I got into conversation with a man on a train, who eventually divulged that he was meeting someone in London who had cheated him out of his life savings and he ( my travelling companion) was planning to kill him! Did my best to talk him out of it and he gave me a peck on the cheek when we parted!

When my daughter and I used to travel by bus to meet my mum, we would have bets as to who she would be chatting to at the bus station. It was either someone she knew or a complete stranger. She couldn't just stand and wait. Now I realise I do the same thing.
The other week I was waiting for my partner and looking in a jeweller's window and was joined by an old lady. She started telling me about her late husband and how they had got engaged, where they got the ring and then about her sons who were living in Australia. Then she asked if I wanted to go and get something to eat with her. I felt so guilty saying that I couldn't as we were on our way somewhere else. I often wonder if she found someone else to chat to later.

I don't remember my mother ever standing and chatting in the street...nor my older sister ( 11 years older ,so another generation really). But me I'll talk to most people, but some I'm more in-tune with. If it's just moaning or gossip I don't want to know... but idle chit-chat or interesting stuff I' m your woman. By the time I've got three miles into town some people feel like old friends! Wink

I think we talk more to people at bus stops, etc as we get older as we've gained more confidence. I certainly didn't converse much as a teenager - I was brought up to be shy and not say boo to a goose - not particularly helpful when it comes to coping in everyday life.
We don't say much in doctors' waiting rooms as we're scared we may be asked about our ailments which could be rather personal! After all wouldn't it be embarrassing if we said that we'd got a funny rash somewhere private? place

Now I have my free bus pass I travel to town and back every day, enjoying the chatter

Knowing I'll have to pay I remove my wallet from my pocket so I do not delay those behind me.

I can do this while chatting and often do.

Pockets are a wonderful invention.

I just hope I never turn into one of the old dears (NB I am well past retirement age myself!) who like to have a leisurely chat at the supermarket checkout or the post office - when there's a long queue behind them. Or who take ages to find their purse when it's time to pay, instead of having it ready.

At least nobody gets held up around here waiting for someone to find their change for the bus fare. You can't pay with cash here - bus pass or Oyster or contactless card only.

But I do notice a lot of delaying cash-fumbling on buses where dd lives - and the young are just as bad as anyone older.

this made me laugh because my mum was like that too! I used to inwardly cringe when she started and you could tell if people weren't interested, but on the whole it was well received. Now, sadly, that she is no longer here, I think we need more of this sort of interaction. We are more isolated from one another , and what with folk going around the streets with their phone glued to their ears nobody has time just to say a simple "Hello isn't it a lovely day" sort of thing. I moved from a town to a large village and have noticed that people here always say hello when passing. You just never know when a kind word might make all the difference to someone.

When I was a very busy young mum I was rushing out of a shop and an elderly lady held the door open for me and made some comment about the weather. I said a few words to her, and then she took my arm and said I was the only person she had spoken to that week. I have never forgotten her, and I wished I had taken it further than a few lines of conversation and asked her to go for for a cup of tea. I might well have been the last person she ever spoke to and I think about that too as she told me she was ninety three. yesterday a very elderly trembly gent on a frame stopped to pat my dog and then talked for about fifteen minutes ; I'm not sure of all that he was saying but we parted with a smile. Getting back to the point of this thread - yes I do talk to people, my Mum wasn't overly sociable with anyone so I try not to be like her - a reversal of what kittylester is saying I think!

Me too.... anyone and everyone. My DD always used to be embarrassed when I did it but hey she does it to now.

I always feel better if I have had a little chat with someone. I don't think you should try to stop (unless you carry on doing it as people's eyes glaze over or they start slowly backing away!)

Well of courseI had to explain to the lady next to me in the TKMaxx queue why I was buying a £3 watch (my other one had been sent off for repair). Quite a bargain though, eh?

I chat to anyone, at bus stops, shops, cafes .
There was one time I was talking to an elderly gentleman at the bus stop but he started to go on about immigrants and was rascist to black people so I walked off.

I've definitely become more of a chatterer as I've got older and have had some very interesting conversations on public transport. My mother always had a tale to tell about her bus journey to visit us - one day she had a chat with John Logie Baird's daughter.

I live in France and much as I try I can't get to grips with the language so chit chat is virtually impossible. I really miss just talking about anything/everything with strangers at bus stops, at supermarkets etc. Keep talking to whoever you can As another post commented that might be the only conversation someone has that day.

Visiting DiL came back from our village shop in a state of panic because 'strangers' had said hello to her.

Don't give it up, or conversation will die. Humans are sociable annimals and we have to teach our children how to converse face to face.

Annoys me when they answer their phones when they are at the checkout. At least when you are talking you have 2 hands to pack.

Carry on Kittylister, I do the same, even though I never thought I would. I find most people are happy to have a bit of banter about something or other. Also the other person may be very lonely & will be pleased to have some interaction. As Ajanela says humans are social animals, we can become depressed if we don't interact with each other.But I do have to remind myself not to go overboard & rabbit on too long, you can usually tell by someone's body language (??hopefully)

When I was younger I used to hate it when people chatted to me in a queue or on a bus etc. I used to think they were strange people. However, now I am happy to chat away and sometimes I think maybe those people are lonely and the only chance they get for conversation is when they are out and about. I think it's lovely kitty

I've always found it easy to chat, never pass any-one without saying hello, but I was brought up in a village. I now live on the outskirts of a lovely small Devon town, very friendly. I always have a word for every-one, as others have said it might be the only person they've spoken to that day or even that week.

Some years ago I rang DM over the Christmas/New Year period, she couldn't get out as the roads were covered in snow & ice, she lives in a very spread out village in Yorkshire (she is 88 & no longer drives). She hadn't seen any-one for over 2 weeks, her only contact was myself & DD ringing her (we both live in Devon so can't pop in, 300 miles is a long way to go for a coffee). I make a point of ringing her several times a week.

kittylester I can't see what's wrong with being sociable, as long as you read people's body language and shut up if they don't want to talk. There are some very lonely people out there and it's possible you are the only person they converse with on the day. Over the years, I've had some very rewarding conversations with total strangers.