Do you talk to strangers in stores?

[disneysteve]

We were in Target recently buying DD a new watch. While standing by the watch cases, a woman came over also looking at watches. She just started talking to us - "I'm looking for a new watch too. I like the ones with small faces, even though I have trouble seeing them." She made a couple of other comments while we were there. We just kind of nodded and tried our best to ignore her.

Not to sound rude or antisocial but I always find it a little weird when strangers start talking to me out in public like that. I also find it distracting. We were trying to figure out what DD wanted while this lady was talking.

The same thing happens often in the supermarket. Someone will just out of the blue start a conversation, asking about a particular product, etc.

And before you jump in and suggest that maybe these people are mentally ill, I always consider that possibility and I'm always polite. But when I'm out, I don't expect strangers to strike up a conversation about which brand of olive oil is best. I just want to do whatever I came for and be on my way.

 

[foolishmortal]

my wife hates when I do this!!!!!

Of course Denver is a HUGE sports town and most of my wardrobe consists of Jersyes Tees Hats, etc... So guys around here always just stikre up a convo about the teams eachother are wearing. My wife thinks it's a cult and we are brainwashed into having to talk to eachother about sports.

 

[AllyandJack]

I hate that. I was buying a pillow a few months ago and some lady came up to me asking me questions about which pillow I thought I was going to buy and why I needed a new pillow and telling me all about her pillow problems.

Then she made some comment about how my neck was like her neck so we should get the same pillow.

I left without the pillow because she wouldn't go away.

 

[remyandhollandsmommy]

Weelll, I grew up in the South and it is normal to talk to "strangers" LOL. I still do it up here and my friends think I am crazy for striking up a convo with people at the store. Hmm, I never even considered people would think I was mentally ill for being polite and friendly LOL.

 

[snoopy]

I can think of about 100 million things more offensive than someone striking up a friendly conversation with me in a store. Doesn't bother me in the least.

 

[tiggersmom2]

Weelll, I grew up in the South and it is normal to talk to "strangers" LOL. I still do it up here and my friends think I am crazy for striking up a convo with people at the store. Hmm, I never even considered people would think I was mentally ill for being polite and friendly LOL.

LOL....I was gonna tell Steve he might not want to venture down here. That is normal in my neck of the woods.

 

[Stitch Inside]

Weelll, I grew up in the South and it is normal to talk to "strangers" LOL. I still do it up here and my friends think I am crazy for striking up a convo with people at the store. Hmm, I never even considered people would think I was mentally ill for being polite and friendly LOL.

Yep, there are very few "Strangers" here in the South.

 

[Bichon Barb]

Sure, I talk to other store patrons on occasion.

For example, I'm in a clothing store, and a woman next to me picks up the same shirt as I do, I'll comment "Isn't it a great color!" or "What a deal!"

Or maybe I'm in line to check out, and there is a royal PITA giving the sales clerk a hard time and holding up the line. I've been known to turn to the person waiting behind me (who I sense is also getting impatient) and give my eyes a big roll. Which usually results in a grin or a reciprocal eyeroll from the stranger.

Oh, BTW, I'm waiting to see how long it takes before someone mentions that not talking to strangers is one of those "rude Yankee things".

 

[snoopy]

LOL....I was gonna tell Steve he might not want to venture down here. That is normal in my neck of the woods.

Normal in my neck of the woods too and while slightly south of the Mason-Dixon line, we're not considered Southerners here in D.C.

 

[MosMom]

Doesn't bother me at all. I don't assume anyone who talks to me is mentally ill either.

 

[GoodFairies]

I would never think someone is mentally ill because they asked me about a watch or a brand of food item.

 

[poohbears5]

I'll take a friendly person over rude people any day.

 

[Bichon Barb]

I KNEW IT I KNEW IT!!!!

It took me a while to type my post. Well, at least we weren't called rude.

BTW, I notice a lot of times it's a senior citizen who strikes up the conversation. I try to be especially nice and patient in that case. Can you believe I'm actually from New York State!!!!

 

[Skywalker]

My husband and I are opposites on this. He is a real "social talker." He has no problems striking up conversations with strangers and does it all the time. It drives me crazy.

Me, I would never in a million years just start chit-chatting to a stranger. It is just SO not me. And when people I don't know come up and start having conversations like the OP described I react the same way. Smile - nod - and hope they just go away. And that is because I'm afraid I do often assume they are nuts.

 

[disneysteve]

I don't assume anyone who talks to me is mentally ill either.

Just to be clear, I didn't say I assume they are mentally ill. I just anticipated someone mentioning that as a defense. I don't think these folks are mentally ill. I think they are just being overly/inappropriately friendly.

Is it a Northern thing? Might be. I kind of expected our Southern friends to post opposing views.

 

['Canes Fan]

since moving down here from Illinois, I've learned that's the big difference from the north from the south. here, I've learned that people are a lot friendlier and engage me in different situations daily. I actually like it better and find myself opening up. people here make eye contact and ask you "hi, how are you?" in parking lots. it took awhile to get used to, but it's cool actually talking to people in public. I've picked up items in Target and had people walk over to tell me to buy it or not to buy it. at first, I thought it was rude. now, I realize they're just being nice.

and this is from a 36 year old guy.

 

[Tina]

I grew up in Michigan, where I would have thought this kind of behavior to be odd. I would never have considered talking to a stranger in a store. Now things have changed. I've lived in Virginia for 10 years and its completely normal. I do it all the time.

 

[Jennasis]

Wow...even considering the notion that a person is mentally ill because they try to strike up a converstaion with you is just BIZARRE!

You can always just walk away from the "offending" person or just ignore them.

I am from LI, New York originally. The land of "stare at your shoes, don't make eye contact, and DON'T talk to strangers." Everybody was concerned about themselves. Well we moved to NC 2 1/2 years ago (DH, Dmil and I). Dmil tells me after a few weeks that people are "staring at us! They must sense we're Yankees!". I pondered this idea and then after watching more closely on our outings I told her "they aren't staring at you...they are smiling and nodding at you. They're making eye contact and acknowledging you (heaven forbid)."

Down south it is not only common, but almost expected for "strangers" to start talking to one another unprovoked. In the north, not-so-much. Sad. Here, if I ask a cashier at Walmart "how ya doin'?" they will actually TELL me (including details of health, family problems, school issues etc...).

 

[MosMom]

I'm not from the South either. I just don't think chatting with someone is being inappropriately friendly. Smacking their butt and saying "Howdy there! That is some deeeelicious cereal, you should try it!" is being inappropriately friendly.

 

[tar heel]

Betcha never lived in the South, Steve! Of course, I talk to people who are standing two feet away from me looking at the same item I am. I also talk to people in the grocery line, elevators, sitting in waiting areas, AND at WDW. I'm not sure what to think about the mentally ill comment -- yikes.

Here's a related question. When I'm driving up my street and meet someone walking their dog or pushing their baby in a stroller, I wouldn't dream of not waving. Ditto for when we're both walking, although I'm usually going to actually say "hello" then. There are some people in my neighborhood who don't respond, and I wonder what is wrong with them. Would you folks who don't talk to strangers respond?