Radio 2 in the Park 2024

[Lucinda]

Do you talk to strangers in your area? Is it acceptable to strike up conversation with someone on the bus/train/in the street?

I was just reading this article http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7518853.stm and the responses to it.

It says that in the north of England and Scotland it is more acceptable to talk to strangers than in the South East. In London certainly, people assume that anyone speaking to them in public is begging, mad or trying to mug them. Even making eye contact with someone on public transport is taboo in most circumstances. This makes it difficult to meet anyone new.

I was wondering, as a human geographer, whether this is part of the change in big cities with large amounts of immigration and media-fuelled fear of crime and 'others' or if London/the south has always been like this. I noticed when I was in Canada that people were a lot more friendly. The BBC article also points out that older women are more likely to be talkative and young people/young men are least likely to be. I find that older people or parents with children are most likely to talk to other people.

[Grace]

I often share a quiet giggle with strangers if we both happen to witness something funny, and I think I must look quite approachable because I often get asked directions etc, and I sometimes get people moaning at me in shops if they can't find their size (in a nice way).

Oh, and I occasionally get given the eye and return it, it's nice, harmless and can generally brighten up both the people's day. That happened yesterday with the most attractive (male) shop assistant ever, I noticed him looking and smiled inwardly and looked back.

The longest conversation I've had with a stranger was when me and my brother were on a London>Southampton train and two slightly drunk guys came and sat with us. They were really chatty, and I near enough got both of their life stories. And then the woman across the aisle from us joined in, after hearing what school I went to (one of the guys asked because he didn't believe I was 15 at the time) and said she used to teach my music teacher.

[Jono]

I love it when some people start up a conversation with me. I was at Latitude this weekend, and I loved being able to talk and joke with those in the queue waiting. Yesterday afternoon our train wasn't coming until 2.05pm and we'd arrive just before 12pm. I had been in the queue with a group of people going to Nottingham who were going via Norwich. They offered me food, and at the station we chatted about when the train would come.

Then we sat down and a girl going the same direction joined us and we spoke of Kids TV favourites and about university and what we enjoyed at the music festival.

Being on my own for those three hours would have been hell, but it was made a lot more enjoyable by these guys. I don't think talking to strangers is bad at all...

[Bumble_85]

People definitely talk more to strangers in Hull than they do at home. I always forget when I go home though. So even if I've seen someone every day for the 7 years I caught the bus to school or sixth form they still give you a funny look even if you just say hello in passing to them.

It's odd.

[KingTutsWWH]

I'll speak to anyone really. Well I'm on here aren't I?

Boring journeys go sooooo much faster if you're lucky enough to have someone interesting to chat to. I have found that people here in Britain are not as talkative as in Spain, but have also noticed that northerners are far friendlier than Londoners. Boyf and me always natter away to the guys at the local supermarket - we get some pretty good exclusive offers too!

I generally end up having a conversation whenever I use public transport. However, a 5 hour flight next to someone rather dull/opinionated can be hard work. Pretending to fall asleep is the the only way out. Snoring and dribbling are optional. Haha

I also always say "thanks" whenever someone shouts "guapa" (pretty) at me in the street in Spain. Hey, it's a compliment.

[Jono]

I like it during times of stress for people to get together and moan. When the buses break down I love how we all moan to each other.

[Hugh.]

I talk to random people quite often in Liverpool, and people come up and talk to me just cos they sit 2 rows in front of me or something at a football match. When I was in Barbados every person I passed would talk to me though.. it's crazy

[phoenix]

Its perfectly acceptable to walk up to someone in a club and talk to them. I do that all the time. Most people at clubs here are really nice.

In Washington DC I went to see Ferry Corsten and I talked to a person in line outside and asked her if she liked Ferry Corsten and stuff, and she reacted very weirdly. Another time after a show in DC some people talked to us about how great the DJ was and offered us cigarettes.

One time on a plane to San Diego, California it was one of those planes where two rows of seats face each other. I think thats a brilliant concept. The people across from us commented on the laptops my brother and I were using and we told them they were lent to us by our high school. We talked to them for a while.

Another time on a plane to Fort Lauderdale, Florida I talked to the person sitting next to me. She was flying home to Fort Lauderdale and her brother worked for a big record label.

I cant wait to go on international flights. That will be so much fun!

[Lucinda]

Strangely enough, I was on a train yesterday and someone started a conversation with me.

I was listening to my mp3 player most of the journey and was mostly surrounded by office workers. A few stops before the end of the line however, this rasta guy with dreadlocks got on the train with his friend. The guy had a joint in his mouth, unlit, the entire journey, and smelled like he hadn't washed for a few days. Just before we reached the end of the line, I put my mp3 player away, and he asked me, "Are you from Bedford?" (Bedford being where the train was) and I said no, I'd never been there before. He said he thought he recognised me from around there but it must be someone who looks like me. Then he asked me what I was going there for and then said he hoped I enjoyed my time there. So there we go, I had a conversation with a stranger.

[superchris0110]

Do you talk to strangers in your area? Is it acceptable to strike up conversation with someone on the bus/train/in the street?

I was just reading this article http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7518853.stm and the responses to it.

It says that in the north of England and Scotland it is more acceptable to talk to strangers than in the South East. In London certainly, people assume that anyone speaking to them in public is begging, mad or trying to mug them. Even making eye contact with someone on public transport is taboo in most circumstances. This makes it difficult to meet anyone new.

I can confirm in the South east that this is the case, well it seems that trying to talk to anyone without them thinking you're mad is near impossible!

[Emma]

Around where I live, it's not so common for strangers to make conversation with you whilst using public transport; it's far more likely they'll stop you in the street to talk to you. I do find though that it is mainly older people that do this, especially when my fellow Spar workers and I are out on our lunch hour. Part of my job is also to go on the tills, so that means I speak to strangers too. And older women are definitely the most talkative in my experience!

[midnight]

I talk to people all the time in Scotland here. If im in a queue at a shop or something I usually talk to the person next to me or talk to random people in the street or on a train. Its definately not seen as a sign that someone is mad up here.

It also seems quite acceptable for strangers in the holiday park I work at to talk to each other when in a queue or sitting in the pool, and to help each other out - helping someones kid onto a flume or helping kids to find parents etc. I add this as I think it shows that people from other areas of the UK are possibly happier to talk to strangers than they make out as they think the people around them will think they are weird or something when it is very possible that the other person feels the same.