Talking to Strangers - The Yellow Bench, Bus Banter and Other Places

[C. Flower]

I've heard a few people mention the yellow bench in Mountjoy Square recently.

It has painted on it "By Sitting on this Bench I am Open to Conversation with a Complete Stranger"

A woman called Amy asked Dublin City Council to do it, after she heard the idea from a Ronan Harrington, a communications consultant in London.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...322322691.html

It seems to be working.

The John Murray Show this morning also featured "Bus Banter" an embryonic project by DCU students encouraging people to chat at bus stops.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...316916342.html

Talking to strangers is easier of forums than face to face, but I suspect that a lot of forum chatters are also chatty in the flesh.

My grandmothers spoke to virtually everyone they met and I have had some of the best and most amusing conversations of my life with total strangers.

Will stranger-chat continue, and thrive, or will it be wiped out in a few generations by the sheer size of urban populations, and by ipods and other mobile devices ?

[fluffybiscuits]

Heard about this on the Tom Dunne show on Newstalk too. A lot of people are making conversations at the said bench apparently!

Forums have a huge role to play. Like minded people meet like minded people. Online facebook, gumtree and here have all provided me with an ample opportunity to meet people in real life I would have otherwise never known , I met my other half through the web!

Random chats are a dying art. Some of my good friends are people whom I met at bus stops (two), football matches (one), travelling (lost count) etc. Get out there and get to know your neighbours. Most people like a bit of distance and that is all well and good but a little bit of neighbourly love goes a long way

[C. Flower]

The story of the homeless man was very sad. The journalist seemed to accept it as natural.

[Dr. FIVE]

encouraging people to chat at bus stops.

uugh

[fluffybiscuits]

The story of the homeless man was very sad. The journalist seemed to accept it as natural.

Its a sign of the times, people do look down their noses at others . I have to admit if Im cornered by someone looking for change I dont tend to give it as I will support the charities. There is one homeless guy though, an American guy who hangs around James St Luas stop some mornings and he seems like the happiest guy alive with his bottle of cider and fasgs and he talks, but he engages people in actual conversation and I have had the pleasure of talking to him a few times Nice guy he is The art of conversation is dying, its being replaced by e mail, text and phone but the internet is still keeping some avenues open.

Does anyone here talk to strangers? Cass I bet you would be successful at chatting to people in circumstances like the bench or on the bus, you seem the approachable sort

[C. Flower]

Its a sign of the times, people do look down their noses at others . I have to admit if Im cornered by someone looking for change I dont tend to give it as I will support the charities. There is one homeless guy though, an American guy who hangs around James St Luas stop some mornings and he seems like the happiest guy alive with his bottle of cider and fasgs and he talks, but he engages people in actual conversation and I have had the pleasure of talking to him a few times Nice guy he is The art of conversation is dying, its being replaced by e mail, text and phone but the internet is still keeping some avenues open.

Does anyone here talk to strangers? Cass I bet you would be successful at chatting to people in circumstances like the bench or on the bus, you seem the approachable sort

Apparently, according to studies, most Irish people think that the only appropriate situation in which to chat to strangers is when extremely drunk, in a club.

[fluffybiscuits]

Apparently, according to studies, most Irish people think that the only appropriate situation in which to chat to strangers is when extremely drunk, in a club.

We are a socially conservative people. Its like a man chatting up a woman. Man likes woman, man gets bladdered , heads over and talks as he is too tongue tied when sober. Irish people have low self esteem...

[Holly]

Generally speaking, Irish people are not as friendly as some other nationalities.

[C. Flower]

Generally speaking, Irish people are not as friendly as some other nationalities.

New habits can be learned

But I think the big difference is between rural and urban people. In rural areas there are never many strangers about.

It takes a leap of faith to talk to a potential nutter in a park in the middle of Dublin.

[Baron von Biffo]

It takes a leap of faith to talk to a potential nutter in a park in the middle of Dublin.

But enough about Leo Varadkar...

[homer]

People in rural areas are more likely to start conversations, even with people they have not met before.

Often problem initiating conversations on long train journeys or flights. On a flight checking on the inflight entertainment or opening a book should be taken as a hint. Sometimes not.

Generally we should talk more with each other. That yellow bench in a great idea.