What topics do you avoid when talking to strangers?

I avoid strangers.

Why?

They want me to talk to them.

And that is bad? You are a very friendly person with an interesting perspective and life experiences.

Thank you, @Unbroken. I appreciate that. I don’t really avoid strangers, but I do find it hard to strike up a conversation with them.

I avoid politics and religion like the plague. I tend to steer conversations with strangers to topics I know a bit about, or I simply ask about them and listen.

Unless I’m with close friends, I avoid topics I have a strong opinion on…e.g. climate change, animal testing, education, etc. I wouldn’t say I go to all lengths to avoid these, but I try to steer clear off them.
If the conversation comes to a stand-still, I, like @Hawaii_Jake, try to ask about the other person. I hate small talk, though, so these situations are hard for me to manage.

It can be hard @HawaiiJake you are taking a chance and sometimes you might get stuck for a few interminable min with someone you dont want to be.

I like religion and politics with some people but it is a risk. I do hate the job one or the family one which seems everyone’s fall back.

Religion. But, if the other person brings it up I’ll participate if it is just a general discussion or interest in a religion.

Also, it depends if it is a stranger at a friend’s party, or a stranger on a plane who I will never see again. The stranger I will never see again I would be much less guarded and easy to talk about anything and everything as long as they weren’t cookoo for coco puffs about any one topic.

~Telling them the truth…. And I keep on moving.

Unless the context argues otherwise, I avoid just about anything (a) personal, (b) controversial, or (c) likely to be perceived as “intellectual.” I typically look for common ground, even if only in the shared environment, whether social, professional, or more or less random.

For the most part I don’t want to talk to people who happen to be traveling beside me. I’d rather read or doze or think my own thoughts than listen to someone’s banal chatter and try to respond to it. I don’t happen to think that the best use of shared time in all situations is to exercise our faculty of speech.

However, especially when I’m stuck in a social situation, I remind myself that everyone I meet (without exception) knows something I don’t know. I often look to learn something by asking a pertinent question or making a leading remark. Sometimes you can get more by using what little knowledge you have than by frankly admitting ignorance.

Interesting.

I have never thought about this but there seems to be an ingrained innate wariness involving strangers.

@Jeruba I do like that philosophy, finding that one gem is the daunting part however. And finding it interesting… Lol but you do thus far seem the must approachable of the posters.

I don’t avoid strangers very much. I can usually read people fairly quickly. It bums me out some when I stop to help someone, say with car problems, an accident, etc, and they’re scared of me.

I love to discuss controversial issues but most people are taken aback by certain topics.
I usually have to modify my naturally gregarious, anything goes personality style. Keep it light as the vast majority are intimidated by my intellectual bents. lol

Kids and pets. “My cat did the most amazing thing today! Let me tell you all about it for the next three hours.” Noooo thank you.

Nothing about politics, religion or gun control until I know them better—and even then, maybe not.

^^^ Wise elephant not risk being poached. lol

@Adirondackwannabe are you a biker? Or just physically imposing? Lol.

@Coloma I love controversial topics as long as no one takes offense even if there is disagreement. I have a penchant for those convos.

@Haleth I totally agree. Well mostly. My cat is the cutest and if there is nothing else to talk about…. Lol. No I get what you are saying. I have a coworker who does this to me all the time. I am an animal lover and occasionally a YouTube vid on the matter is entertaining but I rarely discuss it ad nauseam.No one finds your loved ones as interesting as you do. Kids on the other hand… Pictures and schedules and potential.. bugh, do you have a life beyond that esp since I can’t even reciprocate.

@Unbroken I’m neither. I’m 6’1” but slender. I have really intense eyes when I’m annoyed, but I’m really a pussycat.

@Unbroken Yes, rollicking and lively not defensive and all ego hurt. Pffft!

Oh….today I saw this obnoxious kid in the meat isle at the grocery store poking holes through the packages with his finger while dad bobbled along oblivious. I really, really, wanted to say something but dad was like the size of Mt. Rushmore, monster dude with a little monster. Talk about “meat heads.” lol

@Adirondackwannabe I was teasing. It’s funny I shaved my head and found people were more wary of me though I am unassuming and quiet. It’s frustrating, esp if it is a part of your appearance that can’t be helped. I am referring to your height.

@Coloma you stopped by a silly thing as imposing size? Well it is good your showing caution, hate for you to disappear from fluther, it’s not like we would be reading a headline about a lady being stomped to death or brutally injured by a behemoth and know it was Coloma.

@Pachy longgone and JLeslie

Follow up. So what do you talk about? A few examples of your go to topics, please.

Night guys. I’m beat.

@Unbroken I told the butcher to check for poked packages but yeah, you never know and while I am usually outspoken just didn’t want to deal with the meat head. lol
Now….the other day I went right up to some nimrods truck in a parking lot after he walked right in front of me and told him he was traveling in the duh zone and was lucky he didn’t end up under my car. Confrontation depends on my mood.

Yeah…headline reads: ” Woman clubbed to death with leg of lamb in meat isle.” “Bystanders say it was offal.” lol

I like talking to strangers. People are interesting. Only talking to people that I know seems a bit limiting.

The only ahem “topic” I remember avoiding is this one homeless man’s exposed genitals. I honestly don’t think he was a pervert, just not entirely all there. He was really smart and funny. Just, you know, smelled a bit and had his stuff hanging out. We had a lot of interesting conversations throughout my years at school. Just made it a point to keep looking above his neck.

Anything that might strike a nerve. No politics, religion, etc… I try to “read” them first and “feel” their aura, and will typically just try to be humorous and light hearted. Sometimes, a stranger being kind and making you laugh just makes your day. Although, if I’m in a black mood, I tend to avoid conversation or even eye contact at all cost.

@WillWork how often are you in a black mood? digs for some godiva chocolate lol. No I am the same body language is so telling, if you take time to read it. But if I’m in a black mood please leave me be.

@Nimis I agree people are so interesting. Today the convos with strangers I had were all odd. They both offered suprises. One was a foreman who did yoga and was intelligent and gentle though he looked like the hulk..

Or another fellow who looked like a homeless drunk, and possibly had mental issues relating to heavy drug use. But he was religious and and had an interest in anthropology and loved James Campbell. I kinda got roped into convo there but I was in a good enough mood to be gracious and not be judgemental.

@Coloma you are a gas! (I don’t know why I said that other then it popped in my head as I was reading your comment.. and it was an odd enough expression for me to think that I couldn’t resist adding it, first time for everything)

@Unbroken: Joseph Campbell, perhaps?

Absolutely, Jeruba. I recalled this flub shortly after but was engaged in other activities, thanks for the correction.

@Unbroken Well, the other person, as mentioned. Apart from that…hm. It depends. Sometimes I tell funny stories about the clients of the lawyer’s office I work at. Another topic I can go on about is South Korea, since I lived there for a while. A lot of people ask questions about what that was like. And if all else fails: “The weather we’ve been having, eh? And how about that local sport’s team?”

I would avoid anything personal, political, or controversial.

haha..Jumpin’ Jill Flash, she’s a gas, gas, gas….

I would not talk about politics or religion.