Is it wrong to engage strangers in conversation?? Especially on public transportation!?
922387
All the above comments about this being harmless and a good thing are all very good... however from my days as a commuter I know there is another aspect to this. If most of the other people on your train are commuters then I can think of 2 reasons why they might not want strangers striking up a conversation.\n1. On the train I used to get there you saw the same people everyday, so if you had a conversation with them, then the ice had been broken and you 'knew' them. After that it would feel rude to sit and read your book, or whatever and not talk to them in future. There would be no escape!\n2. When I was commuting my train journey was a part of my day that I used like any other. So I would study for exams, or read a novel or catch up on sleep. I already had plans for that time. So if someone wanted  a conversation with me it meant my plans had to change, without me really having any say in that.\n\nSo I'm certainly not saying that you shouldn't talk to people on public transport, just trying to shed some light on any negative reactions you may be getting.
693058
Yup it is sick,,\n\nAnother common irritant..\n\nWhen you are waiting for the bus and someone asks " has the bus come yet?". If the bus came would I be standing here? lol\n\nthat makes me slap that person..
133400
Rude as hell. \nAny noise that is loud enough to disturb is a pollutant. Plus this behavior smacks of total disregard of other peoples comfort and should be fined/banned/beheaded (kidding :P)!
499444
New yorker's aren't a-holes, we're just very direct and very fast, and tend to get annoyed when others don't keep up. not alot of time for social niceties in the city that never sleeps. We're polite, just NY polite, i.e., a nod of the head as a greeting, taking the hand of a little kid who is scared to cross from the platform to the train, holding a cab for somebody who wants it after you just got out. All done wordlessly with no eye contact and maybe a muttered "thanks". We don't have time to gush, recieve gushing appreciation, or even engage in small talk, but it is nonetheless, our version of politeness.
211198
don't be rude and share with other
384414
Get a friend (or just do it yourself) to lead a sing-along on a train, subway car, or bus and see what happens. This is something I've wanted to do for a long time, but never have as I don't want to get beaten up by people who think I'm annoying. Several reasons why this might/might not be worthwile:\n-It definately breaks the social norm. Not many people like to be heard loud and clear when they're using public transportation.\n-Very few people actually will sing in public. Most people will only mutter or completely ignore you when you ask them to sing.\n\nGood luck :)
117136
Ha ha! I think so too! And to add to the ridiculousness of greetings, how sincere is "How are YOU????" Do some people REALLY care? If you actually told them all your troubles, they would want to run away from you and go get a drink!!\nShaking hands is funny! You're right....but it could be worse! What if the standard greeting was something else...like pinching their fanny!!!
974860
I know exactly how you feel....\nYou know what's really bad though...Is those times you catch yourself doing that...\nI think in most cases it's not intended to be rude.  People just like to make conversation about anything and get so caught up in something they've been wanting to say they forget about being rude.\nAnd in some cases people might change the subject because they can't handle the one that's being discussed....\nYou're right, sometimes it is funny...\nWith your really good friends, you ever notice that sometimes you can have two or three conversations going at once.....and everyone knows what everyone else is talking about...Never missing a beat.. That's hecka cool.\nIt's only the ones who want all the attention on themselves you've got to watch out for...\nGoodaytoyou...\nAnd maybe you should thing about becoming a play-writer! !
771946
Oh definitely yes!  I hate when people (unsolicited) will try to figure out "what's wrong" if I'm not smiling and bubbly.  sometimes there isn't even anything wrong, just that I am thinking of something and need to think it through or that I am trying to finish some project and people keep interrupting.  And those things seem impossible for the cheer-up crew to understand!  So yes, I can relate to that.\n\n      I don't think people should take it upon themselves to try and cheer everyone up in their path, or to butt in and ask what is the matter.  It's OK to do so quietly and let the person know you are there if they need to talk ONCE, but then leave it alone and wait and see if the person actually wants to talk.  If not, there is nothing the cheery one can do and they need to move on to another prospect!
1158540
I say hello to strangers when I make contact also, just a friendly Hello too, nothing to extravagant.  Usually I get a rude grin (usually made by a woman thinking she's better than everyone), rolling eyes or a look like "What the heck are you saying Hi to me for?" People have lost all manners. And also, I was in the store the other day pushing a cart, said "Excuse Me" to this lady and she just looked at me! It was like she didn't speak English or something, I don't know but people are rude nowadays.
467293
I never miss an opportunity to talk to someone. For instances your waiting in line at the grocery store, after looking at what they are checking out with, you could say "That looks good, have you tried it before"? A very outgoing friend taught me this. I have become a different person and continue to do this. In time you will get better at it. You will meet the most interesting people and build confidence in talking to strangers. Use your imagination. We spend a lot of time just waiting, Doctor's office and etc. You can do it and will reap the many benefits.
1138291
Whatever you feel like. I personally don't like contact with other humans, because they expect you to talk to them or smile at them, and I don't feel like doing that to 50 strangers daily, there is no point. \n\nIf you don't smile or say hi and just look away, there's nothing wrong with that. They will understand.
300881
I spent a little time in Tempe, and walking in the bike lanes is a good way to encounter people - people who'll run ya over!  Ever been hit by a bicyclist who's not paying attention?  I have, and despite being a b*i*g strong guy - that hurt!  Get the heck back onna sidewalk, dude!\n\nSome people do want to be surrounded with people.  They function at their best in a room jam-packed with other folks.  They absolutely thrive on the noise, the odor (!), the hustle and bustle, the unavoidable bodily contact, and all that.  And some folks abhor such situations.  Niether type of person is a perv.  Each is perfectly within the "normal" range of social interaction.  Each is, if all else is equal, just as successful at life as the other. Although often the folks who like big crowds of people will try and tell everyone that they're the more successful, studies show that's rarely true.\n\nAfter that's said, I suspect your case is a bit different.  It is a bit unusual to go to the lengths you describe to avoid personal closeness to others, but it is not necessarily a sign of a problem.  If it appears that your aversion to physical proximity to other folks is messing up your life in a serious way, then you may benefit from some counselling.  Ya probably don't need medication, so don't let the idea of immediately being prescribed a pill scare you away from looking for someone with professional credentials to help ya out.\n\nOkay, so you're not sure you have a real problem.  The mental health professional can help you ease your mind in that regard - I, too, tend to shy away from large groups as well as some individuals - and I'm a health professional!\nSome groups I just don't want to deal with, and some individuals, putting it bluntly, scare me.  Oh, I'm perfectly capable of defending myself physically, unless the other dude is a real giant - but I'd just rather not have to confront that possibility.  Did that for years in the Army and I'm just tired of it.\n\nI tell you all this knowing that you have your own reasons for avoiding certain groups and certain individuals, to help you realize that you aren't necessarily "abnormal".  But ya know - it really might help to clarify that with a mental health professional.  If there's really nothing terribly wrong, he or she will help you realize that and you can go on living the sort of life you choose, rather than trying too hard to live as you think others expect you to.  Easiest way to get started is to visit your county office of mental health and ask to speak to an intake person.  Don't be afraid of telling the receptionist why - that helps them set you up with the right professional person.  And don't wait - get your questions answered and get on with your life.  Good luck!  Man, I'd love to be in Arizona right now, instead of wet, chilly ol' New York State!  You lucky, yo!
1017893
I'm not an expert at this, but my initial feeling was that you must be feeling guilt about something.  I don't know who the girl may be representative of -- just someone that you care about, I guess. The strangers may represent people in general, and that you're worried about their opinion of you -- especially since you've done something you're feeling guilty over.  Your feelings of helplessness may be represented by the unresponding driver and passenger, and maybe your impression of the world in general...that it's a cold, unfeeling place.
1127573
I've mets dozens of celebrities (it happens a lot when you grow up in L.A.)  Usually, if there's a reason to actually talk to them, I just say Hi and go from there.  If there's no reason to, I just leave them alone.  They're just people and I think that it would get really tiresome to have everyone approaching you all the time everywhere you go.
624347
There are a lot of rude people out there.  I don't know if it is just distraction, everyone so busy and rushing and not paying attention.  Or is it just simply lack of being brought up with manners?  I would just ignore it and take the high road by being polite.  If everyone does this, the world will be a better place and maybe it will catch on.  In the end, they are the one that looks bad to anyone observing and you can feel good that you aren't them.
667573
I've found it best to just give them a long blank stare for a second or two and then politely excuse yourself from the conversation.  In this day and age there is no reason for anyone to think that a comment like that is appropriate in any setting.  Once you've excused yourself the person who said the comment should fully understand that you did not approve of their actions and that you will not be a part of it.