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In Japan, you don't just walk up to people and strike up a conversation. Foreigners might, but native Japanese largely don't. To establish some so
by JohnBooty 9y ago
In Japan, you don't just walk up to people and strike
up a conversation. Foreigners might, but native Japanese
largely don't.
To establish some sort of repertoire, you need to share some
sort of acceptable social context with that person: went to
school together, played on a sports team together, work
together, etc.
I'm from the Northeast U.S. (though I've visited friends in a decent number of cities in this country) and this sounds 100% like every place I've ever lived in or visited.
Are there really places in the world where total strangers strike up conversations and form friendships with people on the street, on the bus, etc?
I'm 41 and I don't think I've never experienced that and I'm a pretty social guy!
Aside from random "how about this weather?" chit-chat, I don't think I've ever befriended somebody outside of an existing social context like school, clubs, workplaces, online communities, fellow pet owners, neighbors, etc. Closest counter-example I can think of is my mom, who become good friends with a cashier at the supermarket she shopped at twice a week.
- golergka 9y ago> Are there really places in the world where total strangers strike up conversations and form friendships with people on the street, on the bus, etc? Israel, 100%. If you're new in the country, you'll end up getting a lot of random people that you literally meet on the street or in public transportation, helping you with a lot of stuff in your life.
- Inthenameofmine 9y agoDefinitely in Southern Europe. I met some of my best friends in random encounters.
- zimpenfish 9y ago> Are there really places in the world where total strangers strike up conversations and form friendships with people on the street, on the bus, etc? I know several people who have formed "commuting friendships" when they've been on the same train day in, day out which then turned into "real friendships" distinct from the commute. (Personally I would never strike up a conversation but crippling social anxiety is a bugger like that.)
- caio1982 9y agoActually MANY countries are like that. I have visited several and I would say only anglo-saxon countries fit your description (and Japan). If that’s a thing with foreigners I don’t know but at least in Brazil even between locals this easygoing relationship is true. A friend of mine once got invited to a guy’s friend wedding in the evening after having met him in the morning, then they became soccer matches buddies and all.
- pault 9y agoI just spent four years in Belize and you can't walk out your front door without having a conversation with a stranger. It is the happiest place I've ever lived, despite horrible corruption and grinding poverty.