6 ms·

For me the easiest place to talk to strangers is at a dog park. You instantly have a shared interest, something to talk about, and little else to do. The dogs t

For me the easiest place to talk to strangers is at a dog park. You instantly have a shared interest, something to talk about, and little else to do. The dogs take on the role of ice breakers in the same way that toddlers do. People who would rather be left alone usually go elsewhere. If they change it to the United Nations Plaza and Dog Park I think the diplomacy would go more smoothly.

maroonblazer 6y ago
And there are so many places where there's shared interest or context. Waiting in line at the grocery store, browsing in a bookstore (or any store), at a farmer's market, the DMV... There's practically no environment where one couldn't spin up a conversation based on a shared experience.
- kyawzazaw 6y ago
  > Waiting in line at the grocery store > at a farmer's market these are different though since it is more of a chore or an errand
  - maroonblazer 6y ago
    Farmers markets are most definitely not a chore in the Pacific Northwest. They tend to be more expensive than grocery stores with much less to choose from.
- 3np 6y ago
  Is it safe to assume that you're in NA? I recognize that it's way more culturally accepted with random conversations with strangers in the USA (something I really do appreciate with US culture whenever I have visited, BTW) than what I'm used to back home. I don't think I've ever seen it happening in all my life over here. 99.9% of people will assume you're a creep/dangerously deranged individual and/or flat-out ignore you. There pretty much needs to be in a social context, preferably with alcohol, for people to accept being talked to by strangers. Not that it should stop anyone from trying as I think it's a positive thing, but the barrier is a lot higher.
  - re 6y ago
    I think the population density matters, it's not uniform across the US. In larger cities I think the norm is more to keep to yourself and not to engage random strangers in conversation. I wouldn't be surprised if that pattern is common in other parts of the world as well.
    - maroonblazer 6y ago
      Population density may be a factor but I think it's also cultural. E.g. I spent 2+ decades in the deep south and "southern hospitality" is definitely a thing. I then moved (back) to Seattle and conversation with strangers was/is much more difficult.
      - 3np 6y ago
        Spend some time in small-town Japan and Seattle will feel like a beach party town in that sense ;) Loads of hospitality and warmth once you break through the ice, but the first steps are hard
  - justtemporary 6y ago
    I’m from Melbourne, Australia and was recently in the United States. I definitely found American strangers far more likely to randomly struck up conversations with you in public spaces. I spent just over 5 months there between California and Colorado, and was constantly caught off guard by strangers trying to stop and talk to me - usually older adults. Not wanting to stereotype too generally, but from talking to other Aussies about it we chalked it up to a higher level of self-confidence over there. I know I definitely struggle to talk to strangers, though in part because you really just don’t know what you’re going to get sometimes! It was the part of travelling that I thoroughly enjoyed as a young 20-something. I was thrust into situations (hostels, bars, etc.) that forced me to overcome my shyness.
    - speedplane 6y ago
      Time is an illusion. Science tells us it's linear, measured in precise nano-seconds. But humans measure time differently, it's based more on the depth of connection we have to others. You can have a life-changing event in a day, or waste away doing nothing for a decade. The more connected one is to the surrounding people and environment, the denser and more fulfilling time becomes.
capableweb 6y ago
Agree! Getting a dog was the best thing I ever did as a introvert who wanted not to be a introvert. It forced me to go outside multiple times per day and gives me a chance to talk to people who also have dogs without feeling like I'm intruding when talking to them. It has done wonders for my introvertness.
flas9sd 6y ago
the standup feature "Nanette" by Hannah Gadsby has a superb piece on a conversation at the Dog Park in it. Really recommended

maroonblazer 6y ago

And there are so many places where there's shared interest or context. Waiting in line at the grocery store, browsing in a bookstore (or any store), at a farmer's market, the DMV... There's practically no environment where one couldn't spin up a conversation based on a shared experience.

kyawzazaw 6y ago
> Waiting in line at the grocery store > at a farmer's market these are different though since it is more of a chore or an errand
- maroonblazer 6y ago
  Farmers markets are most definitely not a chore in the Pacific Northwest. They tend to be more expensive than grocery stores with much less to choose from.
3np 6y ago
Is it safe to assume that you're in NA? I recognize that it's way more culturally accepted with random conversations with strangers in the USA (something I really do appreciate with US culture whenever I have visited, BTW) than what I'm used to back home. I don't think I've ever seen it happening in all my life over here. 99.9% of people will assume you're a creep/dangerously deranged individual and/or flat-out ignore you. There pretty much needs to be in a social context, preferably with alcohol, for people to accept being talked to by strangers. Not that it should stop anyone from trying as I think it's a positive thing, but the barrier is a lot higher.
- re 6y ago
  I think the population density matters, it's not uniform across the US. In larger cities I think the norm is more to keep to yourself and not to engage random strangers in conversation. I wouldn't be surprised if that pattern is common in other parts of the world as well.
  - maroonblazer 6y ago
    Population density may be a factor but I think it's also cultural. E.g. I spent 2+ decades in the deep south and "southern hospitality" is definitely a thing. I then moved (back) to Seattle and conversation with strangers was/is much more difficult.
    - 3np 6y ago
      Spend some time in small-town Japan and Seattle will feel like a beach party town in that sense ;) Loads of hospitality and warmth once you break through the ice, but the first steps are hard
- justtemporary 6y ago
  I’m from Melbourne, Australia and was recently in the United States. I definitely found American strangers far more likely to randomly struck up conversations with you in public spaces. I spent just over 5 months there between California and Colorado, and was constantly caught off guard by strangers trying to stop and talk to me - usually older adults. Not wanting to stereotype too generally, but from talking to other Aussies about it we chalked it up to a higher level of self-confidence over there. I know I definitely struggle to talk to strangers, though in part because you really just don’t know what you’re going to get sometimes! It was the part of travelling that I thoroughly enjoyed as a young 20-something. I was thrust into situations (hostels, bars, etc.) that forced me to overcome my shyness.
  - speedplane 6y ago
    Time is an illusion. Science tells us it's linear, measured in precise nano-seconds. But humans measure time differently, it's based more on the depth of connection we have to others. You can have a life-changing event in a day, or waste away doing nothing for a decade. The more connected one is to the surrounding people and environment, the denser and more fulfilling time becomes.

capableweb 6y ago

Agree! Getting a dog was the best thing I ever did as a introvert who wanted not to be a introvert. It forced me to go outside multiple times per day and gives me a chance to talk to people who also have dogs without feeling like I'm intruding when talking to them. It has done wonders for my introvertness.

flas9sd 6y ago

the standup feature "Nanette" by Hannah Gadsby has a superb piece on a conversation at the Dog Park in it. Really recommended