Not being from a big city originally, I am very open to meeting and talking with strangers. How else do ya make friends unless you are friendly, as the saying goes.

I wonder why when in my city, I walk down the street, smile at people, open doors for elderly women and young women, step aside to let people pass. But, it seems that most people do not do this and will not even look you in the eye. I feel the younger generation is a sad one. Not all of them, but many of them will not smile at you, say hello or excuse me, hold the door for others and are extremely hard to get to know. As a black male, I would expect older white women to be more fearful and hard to talk to, but that isn't the case in Philadelphia. Here, most young white women and black women will not look at you. Will not smile or say hello. Older white women are different. They reach out and grab my hand when they have trouble crossing the street; aren't afraid to strike up a conversation at a community event, cafe or smile on the street.

It is a strange change of events. Why do the others just stare into space and walk on by?

By Melirosa (208.48.12.181) on Thursday, August 2, 2001 - 10:20 am:

i have absolutely no qualms over striking up a conversation with a perfect stranger.i find people interesting and i talk to everyone. the more people you come in contact with and speak to, the better, i say. so to answer your question, no... i do not feel strange at all about talking to people i have never met before.

By Pimpsnack (32.97.122.226) on Wednesday, August 1, 2001 - 10:26 pm:

Sure, why not? I speak with people all the time....perfect strangers no less.

By Frangiapani (203.54.207.164) on Wednesday, August 1, 2001 - 02:58 am:

What would you do? Sometimes I'll make eye contact with someone and then he or I just pass on by and nothing comes of it. Has anyone just walked up to a total stranger and started a conversation without feeling a bit strange? Sometimes I'd love to just stop and say hi or something, but I just walk on by....

what would your reaction be?