To find it wierd when DH does this..

[Sassyb0703]

My DH randomly instigates conversation with strangers in a given environment (ie pub, supermarket queue, drs surgery) inappropriate and/or embarrassing..it makes me squirm. Am I just uptight ?

My grandfather would chat to anyone - used to scare the bejeezus out of people in the supermarket (was quite deaf so VERY LOUD) and once actually held another man's hand in a pub because he found out his wife was ill! He was particularly friendly to children and would invite them back to his hotel with him on holiday! Imagine that nowadays!!! He was just a lovely man who had no boundaries, but in the nicest way.

My mil loves to strike up conversation with strangers. It makes me cringe a bit. It's quite funny when people make this face at her, but most of the time people do chat back. If people start talking to me I'm happy to talk back, but I wouldn't start it myself.

I think it's odd too. I'd just give non committal answers and go back to what I was doing.

I always chat to people in doctors waiting rooms, on queues, in the supermarket etc

It's totally normal in Ireland. Not odd at all, in fact it would be odd not to here!

I can't believe some people think it's embarrassing!

Ilovenewts It isn't odd at all. I think it is odd to find friendly people odd.

OH is quiet and doesn't instigate conversation with strangers, but if someone starts a conversation with him he will quite happily chat back.

DH always manages to find someone to natter away to no matter where we go. I think he secretly looks forwards to the weekly tesco delivery as he tends to have the poor drivers taking in the step for a good half hour. ( we have ours delivered late and are usually one of the last drops so the drivers aren't in a rush - overtime) he even finds people to talk to on the tube. No one ever talks to anyone on London Underground.

I'm the complete opposite, headphones in, head down and extremely wary of anyone not holding big issues that speak to me.

Mine only does this when drunk, and does THAT make me squirm, oh well, we love 'em.

I love friendly people. I think people like this brighten up so many people's days.

Where is the towpath thread please? Either a link or a pointer - it's not in the last few pages of AIBU. Cheers!

I hate talking to random people, I have issues. But I think the idea is lovely and we should all be friendlier!

A woman spoke to me at football today, I responded and felt scared so ended the conversation nicely and moved away she seemed lovely, I hope I can talk to her again at some point. As much as it freaked me out, I am grateful because the last 2 times I've been out have gone badly (last week at football one of the other mums was obviously slagging off my hair as I walked in, which I would normally be ok with but as all my energy was being used just trying to keep calm being out of the house it really upset me) but I am determined to overcome these fears.

I used to be perfectly fine and just preferred not to have random people talk to me, and after a rough patch in life and another baby it's turned into something much much bigger, so you really should try an appreciate and admire people who are friendly to everyone.

I have randomners talk to me alllllllllll the time. It's the hair- huge, red, curly and impossible to tame miss.

Yesterday's examples- Supermarket, pub, washing hands in restaurant toilets (well, in the sink, I'm not a deviant), corner shop man and walking up a hill. All in one day.

I like it.

I'm friendly, my husband doesn't do small talk. Tbh, I think he borders on rude.

I just don't understand why you would want to have a random chat with a total stranger ?

I'm originally from Sheffield, we talk to everyone !

My OH does something similar. He makes a comment in too loud a voice in the hope that someone will pick up on it and continue a conversation or will give away too much information for the same purpose.

Both of these make me cringe but when I've mentioned it to him he just sulks and says that at least he's been sociable (unlike me!)

I often get random people talking to me - I keep my headphones in and read my Kindle when I am out and about so that people DON'T do this - but it doesn't seem to work!

I know people mean well, but I wish to fuck they wouldn't do this!

Everybody chats to each other in queues in Glasgow and you will generally get at least one wee wummin's life story on your lunch break if you go out to the shops!

I've seen an awful lot of bewildered looking tourists this past week

People always talk to me in these situations.
My OH is always shocked at how often it happens to me.
Why? Because I smile and I don't mind people talking to me at all.
It's nice to have a friendly chat with randoms.

I very rarely exchange more than one sentence with a stranger. "Hot isn't it" is ok. Anything beyond that is weird.

I'm a Londoner though

I like chatting to random people. Its also my way of balancing the universe as my dad (who doesn't live near me) witters at everyone he meets as his only other RL interaction is with my mum who doesn't speak a lot anymore and doesn't even know his name . It means a lot to him that people chat, and I like to think that stopping for 2 minutes to talk about my dog/ the weather/ the squirrels makes a difference to those people too.

Is my husband committing bigamy with you OP?

He does this and yes, it's nice that he's friendly but honestly it has led to some undesirable people latching onto us.

It does seem to show what a lack of social skills a lot of people seem to have if they find it strange when someone is being friendly.

I'm, what's known as in the North East, a gobshite. I'll talk to anyone but I never embarrass people by doing so.
Yabu if he's just generally chatting.
Yanbu if he's purposely saying embarrassing stuff.