Questions tagged [strangers]
Questions about interacting with people you are not familiar with.
14
questions
54
votes
8
answers
20k
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How to politely receive someone when you don't know how to pronounce their name?
The situation is a one-on-one meeting with someone I have never met before.
I don't know much about that guest, just their profession or connection to our organization, not even if they are from a ...
56
votes
11
answers
13k
views
Can I correct other people's children in front of them?
I am a childless female 20-something who occasionally comes in to contact with other people's children. This happens anywhere really, at work, stores, museums, movie theatres, just around the ...
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23
votes
6
answers
19k
views
How can I tell someone I don't like the way they speak?
I can't stand "cutesy voice". That is, people who put on a high pitched squeal when they talk, who choose to say things like "wuv" over "love" or say things that are dark in a cute way. It's made ...
- 446
64
votes
9
answers
26k
views
How do I handle strangers who want to "borrow" a cigarette and give nothing in return?
I'm a Spanish 26 year old guy.
I have the appearance of what people would call "loser good guy", so when I'm hanging out (mainly at night clubs) it's really frequent people ask out for a cigarette (...
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26
votes
4
answers
6k
views
How many photos should I take If I'm given a camera to take a picture?
I live in a fairly touristic place and get asked to take pictures of strangers a lot. When I do this, I get a little bit self-conscious thinking if they are saying to themselves "this dude is taking ...
- 363
23
votes
8
answers
19k
views
How do I politely tell a stranger to stop making annoying noises I can't name?
Background
I've encountered this problem several times and under different circumstances. It really annoys me when people constantly make noises with their mouth. Now, I can't name them and they come ...
19
votes
9
answers
5k
views
Is there a general rule for when/how to compliment a stranger? [closed]
The title pretty much says it all, I know there are cases where giving compliments to strangers makes them uncomfortable (for example, catcalling), but as I understand it there is a separate set of ...
- 1,433
19
votes
7
answers
11k
views
How can I respond to well-meaning comments at the gym?
I go to the gym twice a week. I like the people there, I love what I do, my trainer is great.
The only issue I have, is that, well, I'm fat. I'm tall and fat, and people constantly assume that no ...
user75
11
votes
1
answer
941
views
How to help a stranger (woman) in an abusive relationship?
I'm in an online support group for people with anxiety, depression and these kinds of things and, in this group, people would often post things about the difficult situation they are in.
Recently, a ...
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11
votes
2
answers
3k
views
How can I ask someone in a quiet library to stop clearing their throat?
I have ADHD and as such have terrible difficulty maintaining my concentration, especially when working on homework. Because of this, I often like to work on the "quiet floor" of my university's ...
- 111
11
votes
5
answers
15k
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When should I make eye contact with someone I intend to walk past?
I am an adult male living in the US, in case it matters.
Anyway, there's something I do when walking past people on a (not too busy) sidewalk or in a hallway, where I will make eye contact with them,...
- 1,433
8
votes
3
answers
1k
views
How to avoid shaking hands?
I recently developed dyshidrosis, which makes my palms look disgusting. So I don't want to show my hands to anybody to see.
People often do not looking at the hands when shaking, and this eczema ...
- 213
6
votes
2
answers
789
views
Professor gets cursory requests for advice from total strangers -- how to make them be more considerate?
I am a professor in a popular STEM field with a reasonably prominent list of publications, enough that if you Google AREA or method XXX you may encounter my name. About once a week I receive emails ...
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4
votes
1
answer
959
views
How to approach a random person that appears to be interested in you?
A lot of the time (3-5 times a month) when I'm walking in the street or sitting on the public transit random strangers will make eye contact with me for more than 3 seconds and also smile at me in a ...
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