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I moved here three weeks ago and don't really have any friends.
I'm always unsure because I think people don't wanna talk, but I tried it for the first time in the subway today and actually met someone, so I'm asking you, New Yorkers: is that "don't bother me" face real or are you actually dying to talk to someone if you're, for example, sitting at the park?
I might strike up a conversation in the subway with someone sitting there quietly riding for a while, but I would definitely have my guard up on the street, where I have been approached too many times to count from someone who wanted to sell me something, scam me, or ask me for money.
Best way to strike up conversation in the street is to ask a question like "do you know how to get to such and such" or "do you have the time". If you start with "Hi how are you, do you like sports?" people will think you're a fruitcake. I made a good friend in a new town (and as a result, his friends) just from asking when the next bus was due.
Chatting to people at bars is a better idea. There are plenty of people who go and sit at a bar on their own and are more than happy to speak to someone new (plus alcohol makes most people friendlier anyway).
I moved here three weeks ago and don't really have any friends.
I'm always unsure because I think people don't wanna talk, but I tried it for the first time in the subway today and actually met someone, so I'm asking you, New Yorkers: is that "don't bother me" face real or are you actually dying to talk to someone if you're, for example, sitting at the park?
If you catch someone here in the right context and environment it's actually pretty easy to strike up a convo and people are actually friendly and chatty. That's the key though, if someone is busy and short for time don't bother them or you will likely get a short or even rude response.
Best way to strike up conversation in the street is to ask a question like "do you know how to get to such and such" or "do you have the time".
"Do you have the time" is too old-fashioned to be believable. Everyone has a cellphone these days and shouldn't have to ask. If I get asked "do you have the time" I either say that I don't, or I say, "It's around 2 pm" or whatever time (since I usually have a pretty good sense of what time it is without having to look at my phone). I surely don't pause for conversation or take out my phone to look.
But I get your overall point. I think many conversations start with a common experience, like not being able to understand the garbled announcements on the train.
They will think you're thirsty or needy in some way
and look at you crazy like you have 3 heads.
That's why women don't speak anymore in public,
for the most part.
The internet and cell phone killed any chance of
public socialization we had left as a human race.
Some say headphones over humans. Another words,
no one wants to be bothered by random strangers.
That's why women don't speak anymore in public,
for the most part.
What exactly is it that you are saying changed that resulted in women not speaking in public anymore? How and when did you observe that women don't speak in public? This is one of the strangest comments I've seen.
Unless you mean that you're trying to speak to women who are out and about and they don't reply, but back in the day they used to. In which case...maybe it's because you got old?
They will think you're thirsty or needy in some way
and look at you crazy like you have 3 heads.
That's why women don't speak anymore in public,
for the most part.
The internet and cell phone killed any chance of
public socialization we had left as a human race.
Some say headphones over humans. Another words,
no one wants to be bothered by random strangers.
It's a cold world.
co-sign
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