Mum always told you not to talk to strangers, but should you still follow this advice as an adult? It seems that most of us do. A famous survey on social anxiety published in the New York Times in 1984 showed that people's biggest fear was walking into a room full of strangers. The fear of dying only came third on the list! Would you rather die than meet new people?
2007-09-23 03:44:35 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
Mom's advice for a child is totally appropriate. The fear of the unknown/strange can be a self-preservation type fear. It's normal to the extent that it doesn't overpower the ability to speak or listen to people in a confident peaceful manner. This overpowering fear exhibits itself at times as prejudice, suspicion and hatred. I can listen and speak to anyone because I learned it by observing my parents. They were each very different from alot of the people they communicated with but that never held them back from being gracious and sociable in their own ways.
The "fear of talking to strangers" for me growing up was stuttering. So your question could also be interpreted like that.
I think there was a time that the fear of death paled against the fear of speaking in front of people ...never mind strangers!!! I learned with much God given support to overcome this by developing new mental, physical habits to replace the learned sick ones and now I can't shut up...lol. Good to see you back earthangel_ria!
2007-09-24 04:12:49 · answer #1 · answered by fred[because i can] 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I love to talk to strangers.My mom would freak if we did that as kids.
My husband is a stoic European and hates it when I start up a conversation with someone in public.Of course the person has to have to right vibe or I don't want to talk to them.I don't care if they are male, female ,old young and a different race then me, as long has I have a feelthat they are freindly too.
2007-09-23 08:21:29 · answer #2 · answered by Marilyn T 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i guess because with a stranger you never know who they are or what they are capable of....but me personally i am not afraid to die...just on what causes it..For example, I don't want to be burned to death.
2007-09-23 03:57:38 · answer #3 · answered by A Texas Girl 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋