Talking to strangers...were our parents right?
Do you ever overhear people making ridiculous or false comments in public and have to fight the urge to correct them?
I was at AC Moore the other day and some 20-something was on the phone: "Well just remember, if you go on antibiotics, you'll get yeast infections. Yeah, 'cause yeast is bacteria!"--I admit, I was completely amused that she announced this like it was an amazing revelation--"But you can just eat yogurt, and you'll never get an infection. *pause* Uh-huh. *pause* Oh yeah, I'm sure frozen yogurt would be fine, too."
Don't even get me started on the person at the grocery store telling their kid that apples are a citrus fruit. Great, pass it on to another generation....
I'll strike up a conversation with a stranger under some circumstances, but most people don't like to be corrected by people they know, let alone by some random chick who they always assume has the IQ of a slow-witted puppy. Though I really should train myself to not speak to people unless spoken to first, because sometimes even pleasant comments get people mad at me somehow. There was a woman at the grocery store looking through varieties of baby carrots last month, and I just commented, "If you've never tried the petite ones, they're worth it. They're the sweetest carrots I've ever had, and actually bite-size, which is nice." She then turned up her nose at me and gave me a mini-lecture on how real cooks use real carrots and cut them to size. Uh...the baby carrots were actually six feet away from the regular carrots, in a display all by themselves, so why was she looking at them if she's too good for them? There is no winning. I just walked away.
I never mind being approached in public. Many times someone has seen me picking out jewelry findings or yarn or food products, and asked me an opinion on something about them, or given their own opinion on something I'm debating. I don't find it intrusive or offensive, but maybe I'm in the minority. Does this happen to everyone, or is it just a prejudice against me? I'm aware that I don't look like Susie Homemaker, but that doesn't mean all my expertise lies within the realm of body piercings and demonic summoning.
So what is proper stranger-etiquette? Should you just never speak? Only speak when spoken to? But then, if everyone followed that rule, how would you ever get spoken to...?
I met someone just last week through a random conversation in the fabric section of Wal-Mart. Someone recognized my hat as a moogle hat, and commented on it, and conversation sprung from there. We have a toddler play-date for our daughters next week. Is it no longer normal to meet new friends this way? Are we all doomed to keep within our silent public-bubbles every time we come within ten feet of a stranger?
I'm not very good at the social butterfly thing. And being shot down every time I try is making me want to stay in my cocoon.