Do talk to strangers....:)
By arkaf61
@arkaf61 (10881)
Canada
August 13, 2009 6:00pm CST
I can't believe that I was on the phone for almost one hour today! ... and with a stranger!
That's not exactly me, but I had the most wonderful conversation today. It wasn't planned, I had actually called Bell to check how come I wasn't able to see the phone numbers when call waiting was activated. I am supposed to see the number calling, but I wasn't able to.
I called costumer service and he put an order to check. While it was going trough we started making small talk just to pass the time until it was done, but as the time passed we kept talking and talking . I know know a lot about his family and his home projects, that he likes to cook, that like me he dislikes the way advertising is luring consumers for things they don't need. I learned that his kids seem to be having the same silly ideas than mine and that he's buying a new sofa on the weekend. We even exchanged recipes -he was a cook and met his wife at the restaurant where both worked -.
I don't usually talk for so long on the telephone and much less with someone I don't know. But it was such a pleasant time.
We're so worried nowadays about this and that. We worry that the strangers that greet us in the street want something from us, we get upset if someone bumps into us, we go out of our way to not talk to people we don't know. But it didn't really have to be so.
I remember when I was a kid, everyone talked to everybody, everyone had a smile to everyone else, people weren't afraid of telling parents that their child was really cute and even to offer a candy with parent's permission. Wasn't it wonderful?
I know that we have to be cautious. I know things are kind of dangerous nowadays. But at the same time I wonder. I feel like I want to live dangerously. I want to smile to strangers, I want to not be afraid to answer to the old gentleman that seems to be lonely and has so much to say. I want to hug the cute toddler that fell down right beside me, without being worried that my hug might be taken the wrong way.
Have you ever talked to a stranger over the phone for some time?
Did you live dangerously today?
4 people like this
20 responses
@jfernandez (22)
•
14 Aug 09
This is a funny one. I have talked to complete strangers before. Actually, the bank i do business with has young women on their customer service lines, so when i call them i usually break off into a little small talk. I dont mind talking to a pretty sounding girl, and girls can be fun to talk to...if I'm not busy.
@dpk262006 (58676)
• Delhi, India
14 Aug 09
Hi ark!
It is nice to know that you had such an 'animated' discussion with a stranger on the phone that you started a discussion on this issue. You are right in a way that there should be no hesitation in talking to strangers, smiling at a old man, cuddling a toddler, however, our lives and environment are getting scary and complicated day by day. We continue to ponder over bad events/happenings/news and we develop a kind of 'resistance' towards strangers, though everyone may not be harmful to us. You please continue to enjoy your life, as you feel like, even if you are chatting with a stranger, you never know, s/he may become closer to you later and s/he may no longer be a 'stranger' to you in due course.
@dpk262006 (58676)
• Delhi, India
17 Aug 09
Yes, negative news make an impact on our mind. It is nice to know that you had a memorable experience with that stranger.
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
14 Aug 09
You are so very right. Our main instinct is still there to feel free to do all those things, but then we're bombarded with news showing us how it's not as safe as all that and we often refrain from doing things out of fear or at least caution.
Oh well I'm glad I threw caution to the wind yesterday LOL It was really nice.
I don't know his name, I will never talk to him again, but regardless it was a great exchange of ideas and opinions.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (91975)
• United States
14 Aug 09
That's pretty darn cool. I remember when I ordered flowers for my mother (her birthday I think), I was at her house when the delivery came because at the time, she worked. When she opened up the flowers, they were the wrong ones! So I called customer service and I got a guy who definitely had a personality! Neither one of us could figure out how those flowers got to me. The card inside was from a man to his ex wife asking for another chance! And let me tell you, those flowers would not have convinced her. We chatted not for an hour, but for a good while. And then a little bit later, he called back! And we talked for a little bit again.
2 people like this
@magic9 (980)
• China
14 Aug 09
hugh ! I can read that you really enjoyed your "small talk" today.
I had similar experience but not from a service assistant, who never speak things out of the range of their work in my culture--China.
It was about at least 5 years ago that one afternoon I received a phone call from a stranger who was supposed to call someone else. But he tried to talk to me though he realized that I was not the person he meant. We talked over one hour, maybe whole afternoon. see? It's kind of relaxing to relate to a stranger.
On another occasion I telephoned a pawn shop because my Longine wristwatch was stolen and I doubt the thief would sell it somehow. So I called many pawn shops that day and one young fellow showed sympathy to my experience and he said something beyong his work duty, which was a comfort for me at that time.
2 people like this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
14 Aug 09
It was very relaxing you're right. I guess it's basically enjoying the surprise of finding someone that shares some of the same ideas and opinions with us while at the same bringing out some differences on things we never really thought about, but make sense.
1 person likes this
@linkmaster111 (74)
• United States
14 Aug 09
I don't really like to talk to strangers often because, in general, I'm a pretty shy guy. But sometimes I feel outgoing and like to be loud and talk to people. I prefer, however, when people talk to me first because it makes me feel like they actually WANT to talk to me and I don't have to be afraid of getting rejected. I remember a time when I was on a school bus and all the seats were taking but one next to a girl that no one knew. I just randomly talked to her and we eventually became very close friends and even dated for a time.
2 people like this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
14 Aug 09
I am not exactly shy as a rule, but I never talked to someone I didn't know over the phone for so long.
I do talk to people on the bus etc all the time.
I think that sometimes both are waiting for the other one to say something and in the end none talks. A waste sometimes :)
As for the phone conversation, it just came quite naturally while we were waiting for the computer to do its thing. One subject led to another and another ... and it was really great talking :)
@whyaskq (7523)
• Singapore
14 Aug 09
Often I do not talk to strangers especially if the call is often "uninvited". The call is often ended within few seconds as the callers are mostly salesperson, agents or telemarketers. There was only once I talked to a telemarketer as if we were friends. It was a long long talk and guess what... the guy did not get my deal. I got information for a part-time job instead. I feel at times it is just more than affinity for one to have a long talk with a stranger. That's the beauty of the world we live in.
2 people like this
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
14 Aug 09
That has happened a time or two, but I wouldn't call it dangerous as long as one keeps one's wits about one. I can get fairly chummy with a stranger without feeling the need to reveal a whole lot of vital personal information. That is where I draw the line.
2 people like this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
14 Aug 09
Yes, you are right, of course.
I am usually the person people tell things to rather than the one that reveals all secrets.
I don't usually talk for long on the phone, so it surprised me how the time passed and what a pleasant conversation.
Glad I am not the only one that did this :):)
1 person likes this
@divkris (1156)
• India
14 Aug 09
I'm amazed that you even shared recipes in this 1hour conversation! Things are not the same - i think people were simpletons in the olden days and they could n ot think beyond what was taught to them. It is not the same way right now - when there is invention there is destruction. When the internet was born the hackers were born - so, when people get to know many things they interpret the smae thing in differnt ways - one may take it in a holistic way, i may take it in a spiritual way and one can even think in a criminal way.
So as far as you are confident with the stranger's intentions and attitude i think it is safe to converse and emote the way you like to 
2 people like this
@psycospaz (320)
• United States
14 Aug 09
I love when that happens. I have actually met one of my really good friends that way. He called my phone on accident (wrong number) and we just started to chat. About an hour later he told me to save his number in my phone and we could talk again. I didn't call him back for months, actually I called him back because I forgot who the number belonged to in my phone. So I called him and we talked again. And that did it, we were like friends, just to find out he lived about 20 minutes away from me, so we now get our families together for weekend cook outs and stuff.
I know what you mean by living danerously, but stopping and chatting with that lonely old man can be the most rewarding time you have ever spent. I volunteer regularly at the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) and at a local nursing home. I love their stories and it makes me feel good knowing that I can bring a smile to their faces!
2 people like this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
14 Aug 09
I'm really happy that I am finding more people with great experiences talking to strangers :):)
I actually chat a lot with people I don't know but it's usually people I meet in the bus or in the bus stop and stuff like that, but over the phone it was the first time for me :)
You are right, that lonely old man or lady often have the most wonderful stories to share, that I know :)
@fayeliu08 (34)
• China
14 Aug 09
Some time online charting, I will talk to strangers, but the phone.
I can't believe that.
1 person likes this
@hmfryklund (389)
• United States
14 Aug 09
To be honest, I think I could talk to just about ANYONE on the phone for a long length of time lol. I talk better and longer on the phone than i do in person, I have no idea why, that's how I have always been. I remember talking on the phone with a few friends I had met online and I could talk to them for over 4 hours a night and not get bored, just because we didn't know each other in person, so we had many things to talk about. So yes, I have talked to strangers on the phone, and definitely got a long length of time! lol...
1 person likes this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
14 Aug 09
I actually think it's great that I am finding many people that have done the same. It tells me that there is hope for people after all. That we're not all getting closed up in a cocoon for fear or worry.
I don't usually talk for long on the phone, but at times I have with my family, this was the first time I talked for so long with someone I didn't know, but I found it a very rewarding conversation:)
@Nicolas309058290 (14)
• China
14 Aug 09
I really can't believe that,it's crazy!!!Everytime I came across a stranger via a phone I am only talk one sentence.It was that you make a wrong phone.But I think that talk to a stranger must be interesting~~~~
1 person likes this
@Syfudin (7)
• Singapore
14 Aug 09
Over the phone? Not really. But in buses? All the time! I don't know why why it keeps happening to me and I sometimes wished that this 'thing' would stop. Recently (I live in Singapore), I took a bus ride from my place, Woodlands (way up north in Singapore), all the way to Pasir Ris (way up east in Singapore), and I was minding my own business when the guy who was standing next to me (this bus service is always so crowded!), commented on the t-shirt that I was wearing. I was like, rolled my eyes, Oh no! Here we go! He was commenting on my t-shirt pattern and asked me where I bought it from and the material of the t-shirt and also that the designer must be so creative as to having come up with the intricate designs and everything. Mind you, I am not the kind of person that is unpleasant or even worse, anti-social, but please for the love of God man! It's midday! Hot, sizzling afternoon! It would have been fine if the air-conditioning in the bus ACTUALLY worked! I was trying to take a quick forty winks only to have a total stranger suddenly chatting with you without rhyme or reason on your t-shirt??? Oh come one! Will you at least pity me?? And to make things worse, he was a total stencher and he was standing so cloce to ME! Can you imagine the stench of the Pit of Eternal Despair coming from his armpits?? Look, I CAN talk to total strangers now and then but there HAS to be a time and place for everything right? And to talk to one on the phone? For an hour? My God! I salute you! I can't say that talking to strangers is what you would deem as 'living dangerously' but there are other things in life more dangerous than that. So yes, I have lived dangerously. And what are they? Can't tell you...
1 person likes this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
14 Aug 09
Hehe not the most pleasant bus ride I'll say :)
I don't usually talk to people I don't know over the phone. But it came about naturally and each thing we were saying seemed to bring something else out that was related and as I said we even traded recipes LOL I actually just downloaded a book the he suggested I should get and indeed I found great recipes there :)
The great thing about it, I think, was the fact that none of us was expecting anything else from the other. We didn't intend to become best friends, we didn't even intend to ever talk again, but that hour was just enjoyable and relaxing.
You know when you're talking to even a friend and then there's a bit of friction over something we don't agree with or jsut view differently. Well this was just the opposite, pure relax, just saing something to have the other one come in the same direction and add a few things that could almost have been said by you as well:)
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
16 Aug 09
Overtime I have spent a lot of time talking with various people. Sometimes it is just for things I really need, while other times it is about things that I feel I can see some help in as well. I have spent a lot of time talking to my Realtors broker and finally was able to meet with and talk to him in person, so overall I feel when you know you can count on someone and develop a friendship on the phone it makes it more worth while for sure.
@Stephanie5 (2946)
• United States
14 Aug 09
I talk to strangers probably too much. I have had several conversations like that. I have met some really good people and made some really good friends that way. I once called the internet service provider people and made friends with him and we still talk to this day.
And like you said, it was a very pleasant conversation! I probably won't quit talking to strangers ever. Although there are times when I wish I would of just kept my mouth shut ;-)
Have a great day!
@EliteUser (3964)
• Australia
23 Sep 09
Hey,
Well I never talk to strangers, unless it is a nice kind old lady or something like that. If it is some other person, I try my best so I can avoid them at all costs. I also hate talking to people, let alone strangers. Make sure you have a good day, God bless and Happy Lotting!!
@dbabcook (388)
• United States
14 Aug 09
I used to work in a call center and spoke with many strangers on a daily basis. I did have a few customers that I had a good talk time with and they would always call back and request to speak with me. Many of those conversations would last an hour, sometimes even more. On one occassion I had a customer who kept me on the phone for 1-1/2 hours which I ended up with a supervisor standing behind me telling me to get rid of the call. This made me a bit upset as the call did revolve around the purchase and products but had at several times revolved around family and friends. The supervisor later called me in and gave me grief for letting the call lag on so long. I tried explaining that I had at numerous times tried to get on with the next call but this elderly lady either couldn't hear me or was ignoring me and I didn't want to appear rude as I know how lonely some of these people are. Of course I was repremended but as I look back at it now I don't care because I had a good relationship with this customer/stranger and I know that everytime she called I was making her day by speaking with her.
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
14 Aug 09
Yes, as I noticed how long we had been talking I wondered if he would get in trouble with a supervisor. I hope he didn't.
Sometimes people that are lonely really will take the opportunity to talk even on a call to a call center.
It wasn't my case and still I ended up talking for so long LOL
I think you made that lady's day too, so it had to be worth :)
@Mayuko (1268)
• United States
1 Jul 12
I've never had anything like that happen to me. I really do like the thought of people being really friendly to others, even if they don't know them. I think I'm just bad at making small talk though. I don't really have anything interesting to say or anything going on in my life that I could talk about, so it isn't easy for me to talk to strangers 
