99
votes
How to tell someone I'd like to become friends without causing them to think I'm romantically interested in them?
If you want to meet with someone but don't want them to think you are considering romance, invite them and their partner (if any) to get together with you and your partner / spouse. That makes it ...
- 7,310
77
votes
Accepted
How to befriend someone who doesn't like to talk?
I'm not much of a talker myself and my father isn't either. However, every Saturday my father will ask me to come grocery shopping with him and I will agree (even though I no longer live at my parent ...
- 17.4k
46
votes
Accepted
As an American abroad, how do I know when cheek-kissing is an appropriate way to say goodbye?
I have lived in France for roughly 25 years, and from experience, I can tell you that:
You never know for sure if you have to cheek-kiss.
Even the French don't know if, in case you cheek-kiss, you do ...
- 22.1k
36
votes
Moving away from Christian faith: how to retain relationships?
You are not the first person to have this issue and I suspect won't be the last.
I have friends who are atheist and friends who are more religious than I. I have friends who are politically very ...
- 32.4k
29
votes
How to tell someone I'd like to become friends without causing them to think I'm romantically interested in them?
Be explicit
I've had this problem a few times, and my choice was always to make it completely explicit. By this I mean stating "I have a partner and nothing romantic is on the table". Of course, don'...
- 722
28
votes
Accepted
How to get to know someone who doesn't use social media frequently?
You could just ask.
If he's interested in getting to know you better, and wants to invest the time, asking him for his phone number or for a way to contact him is a pretty reasonable thing to do.
...
- 54.9k
27
votes
How to show interest in getting to know others while still protecting yourself
Is there a way to show interest in getting to know others while still protecting yourself?
Yes. Ask more questions and listen carefully.
Most people like to talk about themselves to an extent (some ...
- 24.8k
21
votes
How to invite a coworker I'm romantically interested in to a dinner party without sounding like I have an agenda?
With all due respect, I think you're overthinking and overcomplicating this.
You say that you don't want to look like you have a hidden agenda when inviting him to dinner. That's right you don't, you ...
- 10.7k
21
votes
How to befriend someone who doesn't like to talk?
Let him listen
Some quiet people don't necessarily need silence. They like conversations; they just don't want to contribute. So rather than asking him questions, try just telling him things. It's ...
- 1,692
20
votes
Accepted
How to socialize at pubs/bars when you are alone?
I used to tend bar in NYC and I've seen this scenario many times. Here's what you should do:
The first few times you go, pick a slow night like an early weekday. Sit at the bar and, when they aren't ...
- 2,351
19
votes
How to befriend someone who doesn't like to talk?
My father does not talk (or when he talks socially he is quite awkward). He is a brilliant guy with a huge knowledge, it is just that he does not want and does not know how to chat.
He met a new ...
- 2,514
18
votes
Accepted
Moving away from Christian faith: how to retain relationships?
I'm in your position too. It's not an easy one, to be caught between two extremes who think you're fraternizing with the enemy, and to question which one you belong to — if any.
As a Christian whose ...
- 830
17
votes
What is an alternative to brutal honesty that doesn't involve lying?
I'm on the autism spectrum too and I really don't feel comfortable lying. So here is what I do when someone asks me for my opinion and I know that they won't like the answer:
Instead of answering "I ...
- 17.4k
17
votes
How can I offer to take care of the dog of a stranger when he/she is not home?
Yes, if it is your first interaction with the neighbor, it will be seen as weird. The neighbor will feel judged, like you're saying the dog is inadequately cared for now. They may worry that you have ...
- 44.5k
16
votes
As an intern, how do I make friends with full timers?
You are a intern, they are full-timers / You are much younger than they are.
I'll have a look from the other side of the lense as, for years, I've been on the other side: much older than the team (at ...
- 22.1k
16
votes
Accepted
How do I make friends with service staff at restaurants/bars?
Tell them about an event that you will already be attending and which you do not control, such as a local trivia night or a concert in the park, with no implied obligation.
Social stuff with service ...
- 3,148
15
votes
Accepted
What is an alternative to brutal honesty that doesn't involve lying?
Why would someone not like this? Surely the honest approach provides them with the most value...
Before answering, let me state that this is a very common phenomenon in human communication.
Based ...
- 3,742
14
votes
Accepted
How to develop friendship without money?
I get it. It's embarrassing to tell people you're broke, and you can't afford to do all the things they might like to do. I've been there.
This may sound like a cliche, but one that's nevertheless ...
- 6,837
14
votes
Accepted
How can I ask my opposite-sex acquaintance to go to a museum with me?
Be direct, but also casual, and make the invitation about the thing you want to do more than about doing that thing with her.
Platonic, casual, innocent invitations to friendly acquaintances do not ...
- 16.3k
12
votes
Accepted
How do I politely/non-awkwardly get to know/give my number to a woman on a bus, in a non-intrusive manner?
It might be too late for this method, but this is usually how I end up "knowing" people that I initially only recognize by sight.
When eye contact is made, smile and nod hello/goodbye. No words. ...
- 803
11
votes
As an American abroad, how do I know when cheek-kissing is an appropriate way to say goodbye?
From my own experience, this is not black or white. I will agree that if you aren't sure, let the other person make the first move. You can politely extend your hand to be on the safe side. You can't ...
- 7,506
11
votes
How to Build a Friendship with a Private Instructor
I don't want to put them on the spot by asking them to hang out
True in terms of "day-to-day hangout" (something you'd do with your close friends instead), but you could start up with a "particular ...
- 3,381
10
votes
As an intern, how do I make friends with full timers?
Stopping by to make smalltalk is hard to pull off effectively unless you are really good in making smalltalk and keeping a conversation going.
From my experience, breaks, during lunch or simple ...
- 6,962
10
votes
Accepted
How to show interest in getting to know others while still protecting yourself
There are tons of ways to show someone you are interested in getting to know them without explicitly revealing things about yourself
Initiate Contact:
If you are the one to approach someone else ...
- 7,133
10
votes
Accepted
How to tell a person who is interested in me that a relationship is not an option?
You do not specify where you are from, so parts of this answer might not be applicable, please let me know if it is so.
I will start with the part of the answer you are expecting, some alternative ...
- 1,071
10
votes
Moving away from Christian faith: how to retain relationships?
As I understand it, the first part of your question boils down to this: How can avoid conflict and ultimately a falling out with friends who have a fundamentally different view on a certain topic. ...
- 621
9
votes
How to know whether or not to say hi to someone?
If you have already previously spoken with someone, I have seen no harm in saying a "Hi". 'Hi' is only supposed to be a greeting, an ice-breaker. There's absolutely no harm in going up and saying "Hi. ...
- 752
9
votes
Accepted
How to start a conversation with an ex with whom the relationship ended in bad terms?
How do I start a conversation with an ex to restore past friendship?
Here's the thing about friendships, they require that both parties involved want to be a part of them.
Now imagine you've broken ...
- 15.2k
9
votes
What is an alternative to brutal honesty that doesn't involve lying?
It is almost always appropriate to be honest. It is almost never appropriate to be brutal about it.
There's 'brutal honesty', where you consider honesty the ultimate good, and don't care how much it ...
- 4,899
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible