We have a neighbour a few doors away on the other side of the road that we have never spoken to. Simply beacuse we have never been introduced to each other, although our neighbour next door knows him well. The man has a greenhouse in his front garden and a small veggie plot which is always overflowing with vegetables. I have often admired his veggie plot and envied his greenhouse as I have gone past. This neighbour loves Queen and plays it as loud as possible when cleaning his car. Singing loudly as he works on it. I admire that as he doesnt give a stuff to what others think. Yestderay this was happening as we were clearing our front garden and I though 'why not go and say hello' so I did. What a nice man! we got on like a house on fire he said he hadnt popped over to say hello for the same reason as me 'shyness'. He gave me loads of veggie growing tips, we swapped plants I promised him some chicken poo for his garden and if I have any spare eggs in the future he wants to buy them. A new friend for the price of forgetting 'shyness' why are we so shy in this country?
Good for you, we are a reserved people I think.perhaps that is why we hold back.
June.
Maybe, if this gets around, you will have emboldened others to try this interesting and sometimes fruitful sport ;D
I don't know,
I was told by a friend she had been informed I was stand-offish, I'm not, just don't like rejection, probably a childhood thing ???
good thing I got over it ;D
Quote from: manicscousers on May 24, 2011, 10:26:32
I don't know,
I was told by a friend she had been informed I was stand-offish, I'm not, just don't like rejection, probably a childhood thing ???
good thing I got over it ;D
Do you suppose internet forum usage is loosening people up? Considering the number of total strangers we now "converse" with daily, most of whom are pleasant?
I put it down to the generally inclement weather in this country which means we are ususally rushing from one sheltered place to another, whereas in other countries they can stand around outside more and (like you the other day) pop over and have a chat with someone.
Plus as you say we are often frightened that the other person "may not like us" ::) A the chances are even if the do react in a "stand-offish way" it's just that they are a bit insecure/shy also
All the best
Sue
well i'd have made a special effort to engage him in long conversations, if only to stop him from singing Queen songs.....
unless he could squeeze them into the conversation.....slugs got your courgette then. ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST! What's that? CRAZY LITTLE THING CALLED LOVAGE! etc ::)
Quote from: GrannieAnnie on May 24, 2011, 10:46:13
Do you suppose internet forum usage is loosening people up? Considering the number of total strangers we now "converse" with daily, most of whom are pleasant?
not me, I just stopped worrying about what other people think :)
but I do think this forum is a very pleasant place to 'talk' to people ;D
I am a very nosy person when it comes to gardens & I spied someone growing veg in their back garden. We got chatting & are now friends, swop plants etc. He is a thatcher amongst other things. He built a lovely old fashioned greenhouse from brick & window frames, it looks lovely.
I think the media had made people very paranoid of others! We have been made to believe that other people are all potential serial killers!! So we are naturally wary and do not approach others so easily.
I find it's cultural. Curiously enough, in France people do not go in for small talk, and hardly ever talk to strangers. But I find in the UK, especially older people, are much more inclined to chat on buses etc or in shops, to strangers, and are more helpful with directions etc. And even more so in Ireland. Italians too seem to talk to anyone!
It can depend on where you are. In Liverpool I found that people were very charming and chatty and friendly, but in other places, such as Cornwall, people were more reserved.
Busses are good for people talking- at least in Chesterfield.
And as my stop is not very far from town it doesn't matter if they turn out to be a grump! ;D
I used to be quite shy...until I lived in Scotland and my accent immediately got me involved in conversations on buses etc and then having a son with Asperger's Syndrome really got rid of any residual shyness. Now I'm the one who talks to anyone.
I find as a foreigner....though i have now been here most of my adult life....that Northerner's are much friendlier than southerner's (in general and only initially)...by the way the reverse is true in NZ...so it must have something to do with the climate.