5 ms·

Is there a non-paywall version? I can’t read the article but my gut reaction is this: talking to strangers is dangerous. https://xkcd.com/642/ https://xkcd.com

Is there a non-paywall version? I can’t read the article but my gut reaction is this: talking to strangers is dangerous. https://xkcd.com/642/ https://xkcd.com/642/

nafix 5y ago
I'm not sure how you came to that conclusion, but that's a sad way to view the world.
e40 5y ago
That’s not the message of the cartoon at all. Quite the opposite.
bordercases 5y ago
Go away. Stop talking to us. We don't know you.
Cthulhu_ 5y ago
"I didn't read but I will make assumptions and pass judgment" Please reconsider your behaviour on the internet; this is one reason why there's so much misinformation around.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
- underseacables 5y ago
  Gosh that really made you upset didn't it.
  - borski 5y ago
    Yes, because it is no different from "didn't read the article, but I heard vaccines contain chips and so I don't want one." Point is: read the article. It makes an argument. Think about that argument, and then if you'd like, respond with derision or excitement or anything else, but get informed about the topic first. In this case, the topic is the contents of / arguments the article makes.
    - underseacables 5y ago
      Maybe you should see someone about this, there’s no reason to get so worked up over a message board.
      - borski 5y ago
        Oh, I wasn’t worked up, but this type of response happens frequently on HN, so it’s annoying. Meanwhile, your comment here is rude and bears no value other than to insult me, which has no place here.
renewiltord 5y ago
Haha this is totally just social anxiety. Both ends actually. The belief that the girl next to you on the train is thinking you’re cute and ignoring her and the belief that she’s gonna react like that. A real version of that comic would probably have her thought bubble be like “I hope the meeting at five doesn’t run over. I’ve got to go pick up that camera lens from Best Buy. And what’s traffic going to be like. Should I just get it shipped? Hmm, I wonder if it’ll make it here before the weekend. But I want an excuse to get out of the meeting. Is that too much? Maybe.” or something like that. You know, the same stuff you’re thinking. I have stranger-interactions all the time and most people are actually fairly eager for them. In fact, about the most you’ll ever see is lack of interest, which occasionally happens but will manifest as them being minimally civil. Most people don’t want discomfort anywhere in their vicinity so they won’t confront you. Like they will barely confront you if you cause them harm, they _definitely_ won’t confront you if you’re neutral.
- bittercynic 5y ago
  I've noticed the same pattern - people are usually very polite if you address them - and it makes me more reluctant to strike up a conversation with nearby strangers. If they really don't want to interact with me they might not give me a clear signal, and I might be causing extended discomfort for someone even though they are acting like they want to continue the interaction. I'm trying to get smarter about reading social signals, but for now I just try to make sure not to corner people. I will not attempt to interact with you unless I can see that you have an easy way to get away from the interaction. Are there classes or something available for people who know they're lacking in social skills and want to get better?
  - 0xcde4c3db 5y ago
    > Are there classes or something available for people who know they're lacking in social skills and want to get better? I've looked for something like this before, and haven't really found a good option. The main things people tend to bring up are: 1) Toastmasters. This is is adult-oriented and widely available, but is largely for people who want to improve at public speaking and "leadership". 2) Social skills training. In principle this is exactly the thing you're looking for, but the field is heavily focused on working with children and adolescents; genuine resources for adults (as opposed to self-help / content marketing fluff) seem scarce.
phpnode 5y ago
I'm surprised to see this reaction from a sales person, isn't this a major part of your job?
- underseacables 5y ago
  Actually it’s not, and there’s a difference between talking to strangers for business, and talking to strangers in social situations.
  - borski 5y ago
    On this, I'd agree. Plenty of salesfolks are quite introverted outside of work.
  - nimih 5y ago
    This is true. The average person on the subway or in a restaurant has no real malice or ill intent toward their fellow traveler/patron, whereas the average salesperson or business associate on the job is actively looking to hoodwink you.
bell-cot 5y ago
Try disabling javascript in your browser. At least in the U.S.A., that lets me read most paywalled articles linked from HN. (Yes, cool multi-media content is lost. Parent's complaint was "can't read the article".)

Is there a non-paywall version? I can’t read the article but my gut reaction is this: talking to strangers is dangerous. https://xkcd.com/642/ https://xkcd.com/642/

nafix 5y ago

I'm not sure how you came to that conclusion, but that's a sad way to view the world.

e40 5y ago

That’s not the message of the cartoon at all. Quite the opposite.

bordercases 5y ago

Go away. Stop talking to us. We don't know you.

Cthulhu_ 5y ago

"I didn't read but I will make assumptions and pass judgment" Please reconsider your behaviour on the internet; this is one reason why there's so much misinformation around.

deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
underseacables 5y ago
Gosh that really made you upset didn't it.
- borski 5y ago
  Yes, because it is no different from "didn't read the article, but I heard vaccines contain chips and so I don't want one." Point is: read the article. It makes an argument. Think about that argument, and then if you'd like, respond with derision or excitement or anything else, but get informed about the topic first. In this case, the topic is the contents of / arguments the article makes.
  - underseacables 5y ago
    Maybe you should see someone about this, there’s no reason to get so worked up over a message board.
    - borski 5y ago
      Oh, I wasn’t worked up, but this type of response happens frequently on HN, so it’s annoying. Meanwhile, your comment here is rude and bears no value other than to insult me, which has no place here.

renewiltord 5y ago

Haha this is totally just social anxiety. Both ends actually. The belief that the girl next to you on the train is thinking you’re cute and ignoring her and the belief that she’s gonna react like that. A real version of that comic would probably have her thought bubble be like “I hope the meeting at five doesn’t run over. I’ve got to go pick up that camera lens from Best Buy. And what’s traffic going to be like. Should I just get it shipped? Hmm, I wonder if it’ll make it here before the weekend. But I want an excuse to get out of the meeting. Is that too much? Maybe.” or something like that. You know, the same stuff you’re thinking. I have stranger-interactions all the time and most people are actually fairly eager for them. In fact, about the most you’ll ever see is lack of interest, which occasionally happens but will manifest as them being minimally civil. Most people don’t want discomfort anywhere in their vicinity so they won’t confront you. Like they will barely confront you if you cause them harm, they _definitely_ won’t confront you if you’re neutral.

bittercynic 5y ago
I've noticed the same pattern - people are usually very polite if you address them - and it makes me more reluctant to strike up a conversation with nearby strangers. If they really don't want to interact with me they might not give me a clear signal, and I might be causing extended discomfort for someone even though they are acting like they want to continue the interaction. I'm trying to get smarter about reading social signals, but for now I just try to make sure not to corner people. I will not attempt to interact with you unless I can see that you have an easy way to get away from the interaction. Are there classes or something available for people who know they're lacking in social skills and want to get better?
- 0xcde4c3db 5y ago
  > Are there classes or something available for people who know they're lacking in social skills and want to get better? I've looked for something like this before, and haven't really found a good option. The main things people tend to bring up are: 1) Toastmasters. This is is adult-oriented and widely available, but is largely for people who want to improve at public speaking and "leadership". 2) Social skills training. In principle this is exactly the thing you're looking for, but the field is heavily focused on working with children and adolescents; genuine resources for adults (as opposed to self-help / content marketing fluff) seem scarce.

phpnode 5y ago

I'm surprised to see this reaction from a sales person, isn't this a major part of your job?

underseacables 5y ago
Actually it’s not, and there’s a difference between talking to strangers for business, and talking to strangers in social situations.
- borski 5y ago
  On this, I'd agree. Plenty of salesfolks are quite introverted outside of work.
- nimih 5y ago
  This is true. The average person on the subway or in a restaurant has no real malice or ill intent toward their fellow traveler/patron, whereas the average salesperson or business associate on the job is actively looking to hoodwink you.

bell-cot 5y ago

Try disabling javascript in your browser. At least in the U.S.A., that lets me read most paywalled articles linked from HN. (Yes, cool multi-media content is lost. Parent's complaint was "can't read the article".)