Would you talk to strangers on buses, bus stops, trains etc?

Question

Hey, I was just interested in whether you would be confident to talk to people that are next to you in public places like Bus stops, Buses, Trains etc. Because when I'm sitting at bus stops or on buses I get bored, and often see other people like it too, and think it's crazy how people sit next to eachother yet never talk to eachother just because they haven't "met" them yet. Yet how can they meet them if they don't talk to them? I find this behaviour strange, yet most people find me strange for talking to them, I don't ramble on with crap or anything I just make conversation. I think the world would be more interesting and people would understand people more if they talked to eachother, and I think people would learn more if they talked and listend to eachother. What about you?

Answer 1

This is a very good question because it gives us a chance to notice how we think of other people. I am a middle-aged man and I live in a major city. There are some people that I never try to talk to, such as people who seem to be looking for a hand-out, people who are busy, young women. But if I am at a public place, I will probably be open to talking to others who appear to be doing what I am doing, like waiting to see a show, traveling on a bus or a train, various situations. I don't think of these people as strangers because we are sharing some experience and I see nothing wrong with communicating about that experience. I do notice that some people don't look like they want to be bothered and I don't bother those people- in particular, young women who will probably only think that I am trying to flirt with them no matter what I say. I do a lot of music and entertainment events and I always feel like it's okay to greet people that I meet at those places. I also think it is appropriate to offer my help to people who appear to be struggling with something, but I usually have to stop myself short of offering to carry baggage because people who don't know me don't know that I'm not a thief. So my talking to people that I don't know is very situational. My basic rule is that it would be very rude for me -as a grown man- to be entirely closed to talking to people as though I was worried that they were going to hurt me somehow, but at the same time I understand that some people are more vulnerable than I am, so I don't push the issue of talking to people who won't feel comfortable talking to me. I talk to "strangers" if I can do it in a polite way. Make sense?

Answer 2

yea, to ask about the time if i'm not wearing my watch. But that rarely happens to me, even if so, i could check my cellphone for the time.

anyway, yea, i agree with the fact that "how can they meet them if they don't talk to them". Well, for me (as a student), i do few strange at first when i stepped into secondary school for the first time, cuz most of my classmates are from a different primary school. So, most of my classmates were strangers (at that time, about 5 years ago). So, bcoz we were sitting together in the same class, thats why we had to talk to each other, and soon, got to know each other. The point here is that, i've to talk to them bcoz im gonna face them the whole year in school.

This is different from bumping into some stranger at bus stops, buses, etc. In these places, we, i mean every person is there for their own purpose, for example, I'm in the bus heading to XXX, while the person sitting next to me heading to YYY. So, to me it's like, there's no point getting to know this fella.

Answer 3

I agree with you a hundred percent, people should let down their guard a little and act a bit more sociable.
I do speak even if I know I'll probably never see the person again. I've met some of the most interesting people.
And some of my friends and family are shocked to see people they've seen many times that have never spoke or cracked a smile, laughing, talking or calling out to me to just say, "Hello". I love it. True, I meet some snobs and jerks, but the good people I meet
make it worth while.

Answer 4

Only in a long plane trip, or in a train, to keep myself from getting bored. But you are right, conversation is good, however some people are too pushy with this and wanna talk to others even when it's obvious that the other party has no interest in continuing the conversation.

Answer 5

Me; I'll talk 2 any1.
Regardless of Colour, Creed or Appearance I'll talk 2 every1.
I agree it makes a boring wait less of a bind if U chat about the weather, sport, how late the Bus is, anything in fact.

I tend 2 attract the Nutters which is also fine, nutters R people 2!

Answer 6

I have met some very interesting people from talking to strangers. However, I really hate it when you are stuck next to someone on a plain etc for a long time and the person next to you insists on telling me their life story!

Answer 7

Of course!What is wrong in talking to strangers?Just saying Hi or How are you,could start a conversation and I'm sure it will help you to gain more friends and you wont be bored while on the bus.As long as you dont talk your personal information,I think thre's nothing bad about it.I'd rather talk to them than having a bad breath coz of not letting oxygen on your mouth.

Answer 8

It depends on where you live. I grew up in large city and would never talk to a stranger. Now I live in the least populated state in the US and it is considered really rude not to say hello to people. People are just scared to say hi in big cities, is all.

Answer 9

I talk to people on the bus ,in stores, everywhere! The world is full of very interesting people.

Answer 10

Haha, I would. But some people are can be quite unfriendly and might think that I'm crazy. In school, I talk to the toilet cleaner, which not many other students would. Ahaha...