I live in the UK and have never visited the USA. So - I just wanted to check something with you guys...
In the UK - people are pretty shy when it comes to allowing strangers to start a conversation with them. People are protective of their 'personal space'. At least during the day - things are a bit easier in bars and nightclubs during the evening. Even then it helps to have a convenient reason to start a conversation. For example being stuck next to someone for a really long time whilst waiting to get served at a bar.
Now - is this different in the US? I remember seeing on TV that in America - strangers seem more relaxed and comfortable with starting a conversation with each other. And the Americans I have met seem to have to more robust social skills, and are more talkative with strangers than the people I know in the UK.
I mean - could you approach a girl in the street in America and just start a conversation with her? Would that be seen as especially unusual in America?
Since over here in the UK - I have never seen that happen. And wonder if it is because people are more reserved and less sociable (at least at first) here in the UK?
Would love to hear from anybody with experiences of the UK and the US to see if they think there are any differences when it comes to approaching a stranger during the day?
Also - I know Europe quite well. And it seems people in Europe are alot more approachable during the day than in the UK. But that might be because as a tourist - I have the slight novelty factor which made it seem less unusual for me to be talking to a complete stranger. Still - I think the difference is a real one.
I mean in the UK we have 1 CCTV camera for every 32 people. Which suggests a certain paranoia when it comes to dealing with people you don't know.
Lastly - the only time, during the day, here in the UK that strangers will tend to converse with each other. Is when they are on a bus or a train and are going to be together for an enforced period of time. Even that can be pretty rare - and is usually restricted to the older people. I never see young people on public transport who are strangers striking up a conversation. Except if the bus/train were to break down or something.
But even that is a long way from an out-right cold approach during daytime...
On a side-note. You only have to take the Tube in London to see how unsociable and paranoid about 'weirdos' British people can be when sharing personal space with each other.
Anyway - just curious if others have noticed any differences between the UK and US when it comes to approaching strangers?
Cardguy
In the UK - people are pretty shy when it comes to allowing strangers to start a conversation with them. People are protective of their 'personal space'. At least during the day - things are a bit easier in bars and nightclubs during the evening. Even then it helps to have a convenient reason to start a conversation. For example being stuck next to someone for a really long time whilst waiting to get served at a bar.
Now - is this different in the US? I remember seeing on TV that in America - strangers seem more relaxed and comfortable with starting a conversation with each other. And the Americans I have met seem to have to more robust social skills, and are more talkative with strangers than the people I know in the UK.
I mean - could you approach a girl in the street in America and just start a conversation with her? Would that be seen as especially unusual in America?
Since over here in the UK - I have never seen that happen. And wonder if it is because people are more reserved and less sociable (at least at first) here in the UK?
Would love to hear from anybody with experiences of the UK and the US to see if they think there are any differences when it comes to approaching a stranger during the day?
Also - I know Europe quite well. And it seems people in Europe are alot more approachable during the day than in the UK. But that might be because as a tourist - I have the slight novelty factor which made it seem less unusual for me to be talking to a complete stranger. Still - I think the difference is a real one.
I mean in the UK we have 1 CCTV camera for every 32 people. Which suggests a certain paranoia when it comes to dealing with people you don't know.
Lastly - the only time, during the day, here in the UK that strangers will tend to converse with each other. Is when they are on a bus or a train and are going to be together for an enforced period of time. Even that can be pretty rare - and is usually restricted to the older people. I never see young people on public transport who are strangers striking up a conversation. Except if the bus/train were to break down or something.
But even that is a long way from an out-right cold approach during daytime...
On a side-note. You only have to take the Tube in London to see how unsociable and paranoid about 'weirdos' British people can be when sharing personal space with each other.
Anyway - just curious if others have noticed any differences between the UK and US when it comes to approaching strangers?
Cardguy