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My mom talks to everyone. I think it has something to do with Utah County: she lives there and it is sort of required. I do not. I like to be anonymous, if possible. I avoid the bank teller (ATM, please), I love the self check-out line, and I prefer to find out if the store closes at 6 by checking their website instead of talking to an actual person. What kind of person are you?
Loading ...Moving from LA (”Our company policy requires that I smile and help you find the Nutella”) to Kentucky (”What’s Nutella? Sounds like something my kids would like–’course their Dad isn’t around so they give me more trouble. If my parents would just stop spoilin’ them, I swear they give them anything they ask for…”)has required that I learn to relax and chat.
We moved from New Orleans to a mid-Tennessee small country town, and most people are very friendly here. I am the type of person who will talk to ANYONE. My wife is friendly, but says that I am too open about sharing personal information. We are retired, but I work part-time, and enjoy talking to customers. My pet peeve is people who won’t return greetings like “Hi, how are you?”
I think you need another category. I don’t “tell all” to strangers, but I do like to be nice and talk a little. However, it is not to get good service, but maybe brighten their day. I think people in sales and service enjoy a friendly greeting. Suggested category: I like to be friendly but not nosey and am not shy about talking with others.
I comment like crazy on blogs - but only because it’s anonymous. Probably a bad thing, but I’m VERY open online, and not so much in real life. 
Rachel - I am actually between you first and second choice.
Well this is interesting because my children think I can talk to anyone. I do talk to complete strangers in the grocery line or just about anywhere else. But I don’t share personal information or do I make a pest of myself. But that is only in the small town (which is quickly growing), where I have lived for 22 years. Put me in a big city or unfamiliar situation and I become very shy. Go figure!
i actually talk to everyone, but like rachel’s mom i also live in utah. don’t know if anyone out there will understand this, but my dad used to tease me and call me yenta-yenta talibenta. the spelling could be wrong. the name has something to do with being into people’s business. so, maybe i am just nosy, but i like to call it being informed ha ha:)
OK, maybe moving to Utah County won’t be so bad. . . My husband just took a job in Springville, after 22 years at Hill AFB and I’ve been freaking out about it. But I do love to talk, to pretty much anybody. Yesterday a woman from the county knocked on my door to survey my house for tax purposes and we ended up talking about our missionary sons for a half hour or more!
I agree you need another option between 1 and 2. I don’t share or collect intimate details with or from strangers. I also don’t “pretend” to be friendly to get better service - some strangers aren’t providing a service to me - they are just there in line next to me. I am a genuinely friendly person that takes delight in making someone smile - most especially if they look like they don’t want to. If you’ve just had surgery and have stitches-or worse yet-staples in your body, you do not want me to come visit. I can’t help myself and you will laugh no matter how much it hurts - you can’t help yourself.
my kids used to get embarrassed when i would strike up conversations with strangers in line. it tickles me now to see them as adults doing exactly the same thing, - and enjoying it.
I live in San Diego and I talk to everyone. People do remember me and it’s a great way to share the gospel. Because all the people I chat with start sharing back. What to you know new friends. And all I was doing was pumping gas.
I spent the first 18 years of my life in Utah and currently live in Wisconsin…passing through AZ, NM, IA, IL & MI… but do not have the desire to be overly friendly with strangers. I could have written the original post!
I’m like happywife86. My kids used to get incredibly embarrassed as adolescents because I talk to everyone - and love getting to know them. And, now, most of my kids are the same way. I have a couple of more shy ones who aren’t quite as gregarious, but they are still very social. People are just plain awesome!!
I don’t go out of my way to talk to strangers, but I don’t purposely avoid it either (well, not usually; sometimes I’m just not in a talkative mood). I do use the ATM and self-checkout as much as possible, but only because they’re usually faster. The funny thing is, I was HORRIBLY shy as a kid. I wouldn’t make eye contact for anything and only spoke if spoken to. I had to work really hard to force myself to become more outgoing.
There needs to be a choice that you like making small talk sometimes, but you aren’t exactly the lady who can find out how she’s related to anybody within 5 minutes.
yeah i like to give a small talk to someone its just that through that i can overcome some of my insecurities in my life and my shyness
We’re friendly in Texas and in the South in general! You make small talk with people standing in line with you, when someone asks, “How are you?”, you look at them and ask them, “How are YOU.” When walking or jogging you say hi, or at least nod your acknowledgement of another’s presence. One doesn’t give out names, addresses, etc. but there is a certain comraderie, a “need”, if you will, to touch base with another Sometimes the small talk leads to missionary experiences which is GREAT!!!
I talk to strangers ALL THE TIME. It drives my husband crazy! Gregarious, that’s me!
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