Speak to strangers.

I too chat to strangers. Had a good chat to a couple in the Covid jab queue about their bungalow extension on Saturday, swapped contact numbers with a delightful lady in the dentists waiting room recently & a chat to the lady in the next seat at the cinema last night (‘Lee’ do go and see it!). The only folk with whom I haven’t engaged yet are my opposite neighbours - 4 in a row opposite me. 2 years in this house and they still look at me as if I’m something the cat brought in 🐁. Think they must be related as they’re all so miserable. They don’t know what they’re missing 🤣. Life is too short not to chat & be friendly and it’s pretty obvious straight away if they are not interested. Stroll on….

Greta

I have been a member of our U3A group for some time but I'm thinking of leaving. There is a very cliquey atmosphere in the group. People sit with those they know and don't seem interested in others. I have said hello and introduced myself several times but I would be very surprised if anybody knows who I am. Having said that I have friends who go to other U3As and feel very welcome there.

I hate this. Once volunteered at a charity shop, tried hard to fit in but was a well established clique there who made it clear that newcomers were not welcome. So I left and volunteered elsewhere soon finding a bunch of people who were only too happy to include me.
Could you go to another U3A, or join a different club?

It seems important to note that many people are introverts.

I smile, nod, say a word. Allowing others to speak as they wish

I have been a member of our U3A group for some time but I'm thinking of leaving. There is a very cliquey atmosphere in the group. People sit with those they know and don't seem interested in others. I have said hello and introduced myself several times but I would be very surprised if anybody knows who I am. Having said that I have friends who go to other U3As and feel very welcome there.

i am another who talks to people. I see no virue in keeping yourself to yourself. You miss so much that is good and fascinating in humanity.

My DH and I both like striking up conversations with strangers, on a recent trip to Bath we met some really interesting people, from differing walks of life and differing ages. Is easy to tell if a person really doesn’t want any contact but in most cases people are happy to chat. Xx

MrA finds it hilarious that I chat to anyone and everyone, although I am a bit more reticent after seeing all the posts on GN about nosey people who ask questions, people who never stop talking and how rude it is to make personal comments like paying people compliments.

I once met a down-and-out 'deposed Nigerian prince' on a bus in Central London. He kept me so entertained that we both missed our stops and had to get the same bus back the way we had already come.

I am an inveterate talker - to -strangers, to my children's dismay.
It does say, in The Good Book, that , because of this, some have " entertained angels unawares ".

I'm someone who instinctively talks to strangers too, but sadly it rarely leads to a proper conversation as I'm quite deaf & always surprised when I can't hear their replies & with a stranger you can't so easily ask them to speak up or repeat an answer. I'm sure they wonder why I've spoken to them when I can't hear the reply, but I suppose I'm just an optimist.I do smile at people, and children, in a slow queue or walking the dogs, & most people smile back or say hello.

Have always spoken to strangers, all over the world- met some amazing, really interesting people this way. And actually made some true friends.

Would have never met my husband of 53 years (54 together) had I not- so well worth it.

I've recently given up my car and travelled some distance by rail.. I had really wonderful long conversations with young people on both journeys.. I always have short chats with people on the bus but these were quite in depth with them telling me about their lives and problems.. such a privilege..

Both of my sons have been known to caution me before an outing "you are not going to talk to everyone are you mum" to which I reply without fail "yep, probably"

Yes, I left an art group recently as I had been there for a year and no one had really made the effort to find out anything about me. A couple of women were happy when I listened all about their hollies and how amazing their kids and grandkids were but that was about it. The woman who ran it did not really make any effort to comment on my work and I felt it was a complete waste of my time. I go to another craft group and the leader is lovely. She includes everyone, celebrates everyone, and new comers are made very welcome. Needless to say, I still go there.

Thanks Whiff. Loved chatting to you too x

MayBee you could nerve get on anyone's nerves talking . I should know I loved talking to you . 🌹

fancythat

On this site, I have been a bit horrified on occasions, of the number of posters who write on certain threads, "we keep ourselves to ourselves", as if it is some kind of virtue.

@fancythat - your comment elicited a grim smile - always the same type, dull, self satisfied, ghastly clothes, mean, pinched people
yes! as though it is a virtue, exactly, setting up an instant barrier.
Bully for them I say, thank goodness.

After my husband died . I always spoke to people and smiled. I was always glad to be spoken to . You never know if you are the only person they speak to all day. Well into my mid teens I was an introvert as I was born disabled and bullied for 5 years at high school. Meet my husband to be .

After he died I have always spoke out loud to him everyday as I was worried if I didn't speak I wouldn't want to.
I talk to people but don't pry into their lives if they want to tell me things then fine especially if we have experienced the same thing . I have had people thank me for talking to them. My brother says I have verbal diarrhoea. But if anyone has read my posts I ramble on . But it's me like me or not I don't care .

People taking to me has helped me so talking to others hopefully help them. Being widowed at 45 had to do a lot of firsts on my own . So joining a new group or talking to someone at bus etc does phase me . I am 66 now .

I have had 4 seizures each time it took my speech for hours . First time it happened didn't realise I wasn't talking . Thought I was it wasn't until I saw my daughter crying and said mom you aren't saying anything that frightened me that I would never talk again . So haven't shut up since 😅.

A poor lad came to my house selling home improvement stuff. We ended up chatting for over an hour ( probably longer) because he’d seen a placard in my porch from a protest march I’d been on. He was just out of university studying history so we discussed lots of things. I hope he didn’t get into trouble given that he wasn’t able to sell me anything. I absolutely treasure conversations I’ve had with complete strangers. I’ve been on a couple of sighthound dog walks recently and have ended up talking with people that I’ve found so much in common with. I hope I didn’t talk too much and got on their nerves ?

One of the plus sides to the area I live in now is people are that bit more inclined to talk with strangers. Living alone, as I do, I had little option but to talk with strangers right, left and centre during Lockdown (as I'd found a noticeable number of those I had thought I was friends with were far too bothered about Lockdown guidelines and not bothered at all how I felt - as someone living on my own and were just leaving me to "sink or swim").

Cue for I was chatting so much with anyone/everyone that was acting normal during that time that I made a noticeable number of new friends. Best party ever - with around 130 people - at the time the Welsh limit was 30 people.

If I am allowed to say lovely...that's lovely silverlining48

I always speak to strangers, and have not met any suspicion thank goodness but am aware it’s mostly me who initiates conversations.
Many years ago I talked to a woman on a station platform, while waiting for the train. I realised she came from the same country as my mother, introduced them and they remained friends for decades, until my mum died.

I have learned the hard way not to try and speak to strangers unless they speak first. I am always polite if people talk to me and answer properly without shutting them down. I gave up initiating conversations when I was repeatedly either ignored or eyed suspiciously if I tried.
I sometimes wonder if people think I am trying to sell them double-glazing or something if I speak to them.

I'm just the same as you, crazyH! I'll always talk people.

I speak to anyone and everyone - love it !

I took my 23 yr. old GD swimming at my Club last week. She worn an itsy-bitsy leopard print bikini.
People who usually ignore me became very friendly, especially those of the male gender.