If you were single...

[Sheree Bobbins]

would you talk to a stranger in a mall's lounging area?

I had some dim sum from the takeout restaurant at the mall yesterday. I sat down in a group of 6 lounge chairs to munch on my delectables.

A middle-aged man who was seated at a smaller lounging area came over and sat right across from me (all the chair were empty).

I finished off my dumpling and left to go. I think it is dangerous to meet people at the mall. I didn't intend to talk to a stranger. It would be different if there were people around.

Anyway, my point is, don't try to talk to me at a mall as I don't think that's a sane way to meet new people. Who knows what was on his mind?

 

[Serena]

I would have said hi. But if he looked weird I wouldn't have though. It just depends.

 

[MariDisney]

I wouldn't hesitate, and don't hesitate to chat with strangers in public places. If it felt creepy, I'd leave, though. And, I'd make sure the person wasn't following me. I think the vast majority of people are safe and friendly.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I talk to strangers all the time. Now if they are odd, I make a quick exit. However I am married and I am not looking to pick someone up.

 

[Caradana]

Personally I don't find the mall any weirder than a bar, but [for me] a lot used to come down to the vibe I got from the guy. How was he?

 

[pearlieq]

I think him coming over there was a bit agressive, for lack of a better word. It violates what I percieve are social norms, and that would have set off warning bells for me.

Now, if he just happened to be sitting near you or you were both waiting for your order and there was a casual "hey" that maybe led to a conversation, that's fine.

Assuming they follow the "rules", I like talking to strangers. I've met some neat people and passed many happy minutes learning about people I would never have ordinarily met.

 

[Robinrs]

Did it FEEL strange? If so I don't see what it has to do with being single. I talk to people everywhere I go, my son's line is "you make friends EVERYwhere, Mom".

BUT if someone is infringing in on my private space, now THAT would bug me.

 

[Sheree Bobbins]

Personally I don't find the mall any weirder than a bar, but [for me] a lot used to come down to the vibe I got from the guy. How was he?

I got no vibe from him, positive or negative. But, I forgot, people do pick up people in a bar. What's the difference where you pick up a stranger. A stranger is still a stranger, in a bar or in a mall.

 

[SandrA9810]

Working at Disney, you learn how to approach and start up a conversation.

I really don't care.
It could've been that he didn't like the conversation going on in the other group and wanted to get away from it.

The other night I was in the hot tub at the beach club. Had a nice conversation with an older couple, then a high school kid came and sat down. He joined in. Then this little brat of a 9yr old girl comes over and starts saying rude things, splashing the water, and over all being very loud and obnoxious. And left as quick as she showed up. Unfortantly the older couple left and the high school kid wasn't very interesting to talk to.

But on the flip side, I met two different families and had a lot of fun with the kids. I sat and had lunch with one family (i paid for my own food), and the other one even let me go to thier room to watch tv while it rained. Both times it was the kids that wanted me to go. And I told them it had to be up to thier parents. Of course being at Disney, I felt much safer.

 

[Sheree Bobbins]

I think him coming over there was a bit agressive, for lack of a better word. It violates what I percieve are social norms, and that would have set off warning bells for me.

Now, if he just happened to be sitting near you or you were both waiting for your order and there was a casual "hey" that maybe led to a conversation, that's fine.

Assuming they follow the "rules", I like talking to strangers. I've met some neat people and passed many happy minutes learning about people I would never have ordinarily met.

I felt it was aggressive. He looked perfectly fine but then so do a lot of predators. I like talking to strangers too.

A more casual scenario as you describe would make me feel a lot more comfortable about talking to him.

 

[Sheree Bobbins]

I wouldn't hesitate, and don't hesitate to chat with strangers in public places. If it felt creepy, I'd leave, though. And, I'd make sure the person wasn't following me. I think the vast majority of people are safe and friendly.

Wow. That's a very good point you make about not making sure the person didn't follow me out of the mall. That is a very good safety tip!

 

[Sheree Bobbins]

I have talked with one man in hot tub when I was by myself. It wasn't a big tub and I didn't feel all that comfortable talking to a stranger at a hotel hot tubs. He was from Kentucky and seemed like a nice gentleman. Then my husband joined us and I felt better.

Rude behaviour by others in a hot tub is irritating.

 

[NMAmy]

Well, I'm married and I'll talk to pretty much anyone anywhere.
I mostly tend to attract little children and elderly gentlemen.

DH was ill when we were at WDW. I walked over to Epcot for a fish & chips lunch on my own and was sitting in the garden in the UK area. An older gentleman came over on his ECV and started chatting. His wife joined us about 15 minutes later. They were lovely people. When I got back to the room, DH apologized that I had to eat on my own. I told him I had a lunch date. DH said, "Was it a little boy or an elderly man?"

OP, unless you got a weird vibe, I'd have just assumed someone was being friendly, not trying to pick me up.

 

[Nancyg56]

I talk to everybody. I am married but I have always chatted with anyone who talks to me. If the conversation is awkward I leave or cut the conversation off.

I think a lot of people just like to be friendly.

 

[KimR]

I don't see anything weird about it, but like previous posters have mentioned, it would depend upon the vibe the guy was giving off.

Now here's creepy for you: I was at the mall and had stopped by a bench for some reason I can't even remember. A guy came up to me (I think he had been following me) and asked to see what was in my packages. OK, now that's weird. I gave him a funny look and told him it was just clothes. Then he proceeded to ask me if I would like to go to a hotel with him. Seriously. He was foreign, so maybe that was perfectly acceptable where he was from but I felt like giving him a lesson in effective American pickup lines right then and there. Honestly, it would have been kind of funny if it weren't so creepy. I declined his offer, btw. I seem to attract weirdos.

 

[wvjules]

OP you sound a bit paranoid. Not every stranger is out to kill/rape/attack you. Some people are just friendly and talkers.

 

[JessicaR]

I talk to everyone. That situation wouldnt make me uncomfortable. You can meet some very lovely people randomly. I'm also married.