Do You Feel awkward making small talk with a stranger?

No, I am quite comfortable with strangers if they are able to converse intelligently. I consider myself to be gregarious even though I am really an introvert and more than happy to be alone in a crowd.
 

Seems like many of us senior ladies will strike up conversations anywhere. Was shopping for a robe one day & ended up chatting with another old woman about knee replacements, LOL. standing in line places, drs & other business offices etc. Nothing heavy, just recognition of our shared humanity & live experiences. Don't remember doing stuff like that when I was young or early middle age.
 
I'll talk to anybody if they act like they wouldn't mind. In the checkout line; waiting for a bus etc. BUT NOT in the elevator or the restroom; we're in and out of there and not much time to chat.
 

Debby said:
I wish it was as easy for me as it is for you! I usually take a book or wear sunglasses just to avoid eye contact which might...shudder.....lead to talking....oh the horror!!!

Not that I'm afraid of the people I see (I live in a province that has a reputation for niceness and politeness) more like I'm afraid my brain will simply turn off and I won't have anything to say if they start. You're very lucky you know. I've been trying for 60 years to get over this and it's still an issue. I even forced myself to accept the nomination to be the daily vacation Bible school teacher two years in a row just so that I'd 'have to get over it'.........but it didn't work :(.

I'm finally at an age where I've given up worrying about it....this is me....take me or leave me.......
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I can't vouch for this anecdote but my mother used say that as a 3 or 4 year old I once went up to a neighbour who was weeding his garden and informed him that I was going "to talk his head off". It must be innate.
 
I talk to people when shopping in the country area where we live, and I volunteer at a rather large museum and enjoy talking to people who visit from all over the world. I have mentioned before many travel to this area to check out or update their Cornish heritage at the the museum which has a lists of names, photographs of many families dating back from the 1800's This area is known as Australia's Little Cornwall
 
Never had a problem making small talk, but I can sense when others feel awkward or don't want to be bothered, and I back off. But I can wall into a room full of strangers and feel comfortable striking up a conversation. I’ve done it many times. I don't talk in elevators, other than "which floor"?
 
I always enjoy meeting new people and striking up conversations with strangers. When I do go to town I know pretty much everyone, but on occasion there is a new face and if at all possible I'll strike up a conversation with them.
 
I like to talk to people in elevators. It usually surprises them but I figure it's not going to be a long conversation so it can't get awkward. Not for long anyway. :)

My husband talks to people everywhere including Dr's waiting rooms, which can be full of some pretty sad looking people sometimes. It's nice to bring a smile or laugh to people waiting for chemo or whatever.

 
I won’t initiate conversations with strangers, but will respond to others should they do so, at least up until a point. If I perceive that they’re trying to latch onto me, I want them to seek entertainment elsewhere.

My most common stranger-initiated convo comes from short-statured ladies asking me to fetch objects from high store shelves…
 
Fyrefox said:
I won’t initiate conversations with strangers, but will respond to others should they do so, at least up until a point. If I perceive that they’re trying to latch onto me, I want them to seek entertainment elsewhere.

My most common stranger-initiated convo comes from short-statured ladies asking me to fetch objects from high store shelves…
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That would be me then... :sneaky::D
 
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I'm known by my family as Mrs. Have-a-chat. I like to start up a conversation with staff in a coffee shop. They seem to like it and I always ask their names., so next time I'm there they always greet me. Once I sat down next to a man who started up a conversation with me asking "Do you come here often"? I said "only sometimes," and he asked if I was married. I got a little apprehensive., he then asked if I could guess how old he was. I noticed the dyed hair and trying to be kind, said "About 70" to which he said "No, I'm "82". I thought "In your dreams". He then handed me his business card and said, "If you feel like going out sometime, just call my number". After he left, I tore it up and have never been back to the place.
 
I am very comfortable talking with strangers. My kids used to joke that I could stay on the phone longer than anyone on the planet chatting with a 411 operator (those information calls/411 operators .. remember those?)

It’s true. I could. And did. One particularly memorable conversation was a half hour long phone call with a 411 operator in which she broke down about her marriage and I gave her a shoulder to cry on and I then directed her to a couple of excellent books on the subject. I originally called to get directed to a pet store that specialized in snakes. 😂🤷‍♀️
 
All winter long we ride chairlifts and gondolas so we get 10-15-20 chances per day to talk to strangers. Since most everyone is happy on holiday it's usually pleasant and there is lots to talk about since we having skiing in common.

In the old days I actually used the "singles" line which allowed a person to fill out the chair to meet young ladies. It was pretty fun.

"May I join you, please?"
 

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