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Where is the best place to go to engage in polite conversation with random strangers? (lemmy.world)

submitted 8 months ago by N0t_5ure@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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I've been working on myself after coming out of a toxic long-term relationship that destroyed my social network, and am quite rusty at engaging with people I don't know. I'm also an introvert by nature, but am capable of overruling that nature and engaging with people when I consciously try. At this point I feel like I just need to boost my experience and restore a level of comfort in engaging with people I don't know. When I go out (by myself), I tend to go see live music, which is fun but generally not conducive to conversation. Ultimately I'd like to restore my rusty social skills for the purposes of interacting with members of the opposite sex, but at this point I just need to work on engaging with people in general. WHat say you, people of Lemmy?

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[–] BakerBagel@midwest.social 3 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I'm a big advocate of bars. Just sitting at a restaurant bar, hotel bar, or at a local watering hole is a good opportunity to make small talk, chit-chat, and just kill time in general. People aren't expecting a long term conversation with you, but most are happy to chat while they wait for a drink or their meal. If it is slow, see if the bartender is chatty. Typically they will be bored and not wanting to do any side work and will be happy to talk with you since it looks better to their boss than looking at their phone.

And honestly, i have had some great times at concerts talking up the people around me. Get to the show and wear merch from a similar band and you'll have loads of people let you know how much they love that band/artist. Ask people standing around you if they are local or had to travel to get there. I feel like i am a shy dude, and i know for a fact that i am awkward as hell, but i have a lot of great interactions with people this way.

[–] Witchfire@lemmy.world 4 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I honestly love bars for the social aspect above all. You can strike up a conversation with almost anyone

[–] BakerBagel@midwest.social 3 points 8 months ago

Yeah, especially if it's local and you can go there regularly. I'm very fortunate that my little rural town has a great bar scene since there are multiple colleges here, and prices are very low ($2.75 for a bottle of Strohs or Rolling Rock, $6 craft pints). I don't have cable, so i will usually go to my favorite bar to watch major sports events like the All -Star game, world series, playoff matches, or if ny Cardinals are playing a local team and my MLB is blacked out. Literally all it takes to start a conversation is vocally comment about a play and half the guys in ear shot will give you there opinion as well.