“What do YOU normally SAY or DO, when a STRANGER SPEAKS to YOU?”

There are some acquainted friends that can be a stranger to me. For the reasons that some of them hide something. However, it spices up life in knowing them more.

I agree. It is a different kind of story if young kids talked by a stranger. We can't tell what's in the mind of a stranger towards them. In fact, kids would not be able to handle such a situation with a stranger. I am not trying to be negative about strangers. But there are some bad things that happened because of them. For the old ones, I do agree that some of them wanted someone to talk with. It was a sad part for some elders who cannot have someone to talk to. They need this not to feel lonely.

@LadyDuck I give my empathy to these people. As long as they are polite when asking, then there will be no problem. I had met so many patients like this before. Most of their family members never dared to see them in the hospital.

@Shavkat Many people in our days live alone. I immediately notice when someone at the grocery store comes to me with an excuse, to ask about a product, or to read a label. They are lonely people who want to talk to someone.

I can relate to that. I am not a Manila boy. But I had experienced some bad things here. I was also a victim of being snatched off a wallet while riding on a bus. I can't blame myself since I came from the mountainside of our country. It was my first time to experience this. Thus, I had learned something from it though.

@Shavkat true, when I was in the University almost all those victimized were classmates who came here from the provinces to study in Manila.

@louievill I guess we are so naive souls at that time. That's the reason why my parents didn't allow me to study university in Manila because of this concern.

For me, I also consider what place will the conversation takes place. If it is not an appropriate place, I might as well escape from talking with the stranger.

Same here!

@WiseGhots A small talk is fine. If it is too personal questions, I think it is a bad thing.

@Shavkat Haha!

I agree with that. We need to be vigilant of not giving personal information.

@Shavkat You are totally right about a child being inexperienced and innocent.

@dfollin Thanks for agreeing.

With the above mentioned, I do agree with you. Being a child is totally a different story when talking to a stranger. For the reason that they are not that experienced to deal with these people. At a young age, innocence is still there. As for an adult concern, we can able to handle the situation with our full control.

@Shavkat Yes, that's what I am talking about. Some of the people who contacted us had a hidden agenda. They seemed very friendly at first, but their real intention was different. They wanted to find customers for tuk-tuks or shops. Sometimes two people worked together. One of them initiated a conversation and the other one was ready to continue when the contact had been established. Some of them were very persistent.

I can relate to that. When I went to China, many local people asked so many questions especially if they heard the tourists speaking in English. Some colleagues warned us not to entertain them much. They might have some hidden agendas. I am not saying that it happens only in this country. It is also happening in other countries, too.

@Porcospino I do think that some people were born to be bad. If we can only have a detector in finding them, it would be nice. I had seen people for a couple of times that they do this scheme. My best option is to stay away.

@Shavkat yes,it really is,i was always playing alone in before,nowaday,i barely let my daughter alone.

@wanghui I think you should be with her at all times.

I always give this advice to my little niece. Our world is not the same as it used to be before.

I agree. I can make friends easily in public. But, it wasn't too close to open my life to him or her. A good gesture always results in a good impression.

I think we are in the same boat. I do love looking at people in a near or a far distance. It entertained me when seeing them. It was like observing their moves and behavior. It is my past time doing this in the park. I am just sitting there and try to check them out without approaching them. When I was in teens, I don't speak to strangers. It is simply because I am an introvert. As the years go by, I surpassed the shyness and now, I can able to be flexible to all types of people in this world. of course, I need to be more vigilant to strangers. It takes time to give the so-called 'trust' to them.

What is your first reaction? I am sure you were shocked and wanted to do something.

@dya80dya Sometimes it is best to ignore it.

@Shavkat I was shocked and I didn't say anything.

I do think that our stage of being alive will change from a child to an adult. It changes how we deal with different sets of people. As long as we know that we are safe talking with strangers, there will be no dilemmas. Having extra careful is also a good way to attain security. Some people are good actors out there and we need to have the skill to determine it. It is a gift that we need to enhance.

@Acefun Indeed. Some people are born to hurt innocent people. We need to know how to fight back.

@Shavkat I agree that there are scammer will put out spell and instruct you to do something that will harm ourself such as withdraw money from ATM or bank branch or even go back home to surrender your valuable personal belonging. I think with the self-awareness we can detect any unusual conversation and leave immediately. Yet, always open to people is a good option.

I haven't experienced this. For the reason that I haven't traveled to areas in Mindanao and Visayas part. I heard it is also fun to travel to these parts of our country by ship. It would be easy to make new friends here, too. Have you tried to travel by ship?

@YawinaRada You have a lot of fun experiences in traveling. It has been a long time that I didn't pack my backpack. I am a backpacker. However, I don't have enough time to do this activity for now. In time, I wanted to experience what you had mentioned. It would be fun if I can able to explore our own country's places than going across the border.

@Shavkat , yes I experienced solo travels by ships. I even tried going to Cebu City from Misamis Occidental via Dipolog, Dumaguete, Cebu South and vice versa (bus, ship, tricycle, etc). It was so tiring - - more tiring than land trip (bus) from Davao City to Zamboanga del Sur. As much as I like Cokaliong, I am not fond of the tourist area where two cots are placed together. There are no curtains that serve as partition for privacy purposes. There were many times that my cot mate was a male and I was always amused during sleeping time. Some snored so loud and there were instances that when I turned around, I almost screamed in shock when his sleeping face was there facing me. I would feel that I'm in a honeymoon somewhere with a stranger HAHAHAHAAHAHAAA...! The conversations would be hmmm... I don't know, minimal? (Like: asking for locations or where is his/her destination, etc). Basically, it depended on the mood to be honest. There were times that I would just read books or listen to music, a signal that I didn't want to talk to anybody hehehehe. But what I noticed though is...I could have personal conversations with people on the bus than I'm on a plane or ship. Come to think of it..I don't know why haha..

I do think that it is fine to mingle with strangers. If it turned out not right, then it is time to walk away.

@TheHorse

@Shavkat That's the way I feel.

I do not have any problems making new friends to strangers, too. We cannot able to make this friendship if not talking to them. If we can sense that it is not right, then it is better to stay away from them.

@just4him

@Shavkat True.

Indeed. Socialization is the course of action to meet new people in our lives.

@Hannihar I think it is normal to meet these people in stores. I feel more comfortable talking with the clerks than buyers though.

@Shavkat I used to have to deal with strangers when I sold I had to find other stores so met people I did not know and also meet new people at times.

I do agree with you on the part that it is something not right. Then, it is better to stay away from a particular stranger.

@hillhjill I agree with you.

@Shavkat yes very true, but that don't happen to often.

@fluffy69 It is true for some people who are living in the capital of my country. I am not pulling down my state. But it does happen here.

I know what you mean. I heard some news about this. It was really a big problem for the victims.

@Shavkat i dont know if it’s true but i just avoid eye contact when they talk to me.

Can you tell me why? Thanks.

@jprtist Very well said. It does depend on what situation where are in. However, some people are so agitated in small details. They need to conceal their feelings first before overreacting to it. I had met people like this and ignore them for so many occasions. But then, if they attacked me deliberately, the evil side of mine will be unleashed. Thank you for sharing your thoughts about this topic.