Books Messageboard: i asked because i wondered how many people would welcome it or view it as an intrusion by Foxhead

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i asked because i wondered how many people would welcome it or view it as an intrusion Foxhead Send a noteboard - 13/09/2011 02:25:32 PM

or is it just weird?

To the question in the title: Yes. To the one just above: No.

now if it was the other way around i'd probably embrace it, i come on a book forum i enjoy discussing the finer details of fantasy epic, but would he be of a similar disposition? it wasn't worth the risk of him forcing a smile, humouring me with small talk and then dismissing me with a slight air of embarrassment and then enduring a week of passing each other around the pool and doing that raised eyebrow nod of acknowledgment to each other

No way to know beforehand.

so what's your opinion? ever made an obvious attempt at conversation with a person you see reading something you've read? and this isn't like when you're both in a book shop or a similar established ground for literary discourse. this is where you've crossed the expanse of a park or made for someone where they've noticed your approach and regarded you with wary anxiety as you've out of nowhere made an uninvited beeline for their reading solitude. were you stone walled or did you make a new friend? or do you have a more subtle tactic of perhaps edging closer, leaning over and being like...don't you just hate <insert character name> too?

I stated it above. Yes. I've never made a friend because I've never done it in the "beeline" style you describe. That can be creepy. Instead, try subtlety. I don't go out of my way to make conversation, instead only saying something if I'm already near.

similarly have you ever been received such attentions, how was the experience?

Yes. It's either been a short conversation or one of several minutes, but never a bad experience.

And to answer the overall theme of the post: Speaking to a stranger because you know you both have a common interest or experience is about as normal a reason to speak to a stranger as there is, and I frankly don't understand why you needed to ask at all.

it's questioning whether it's a normal reason to, certainly more reasonable than approaching a stranger and asking what colour their underpants are and how they like it in bed, but still talking to strangers is often outside the social norm unless you're both thrown into an enclosed space for a long period of time

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does seeing someone reading a book you like justify striking up a conversation Foxhead - 10/09/2011 08:21:28 PM 1294 Views

I keep wanting to, but I never do Camilla - 10/09/2011 11:07:07 PM 1052 Views

take the plunge! Foxhead - 11/09/2011 10:07:45 AM 1234 Views

Only if you fancy them and are using it as an excuse to chat them up. *NM* Tim - 10/09/2011 11:44:07 PM 420 Views

with ulterior motives? Foxhead - 11/09/2011 10:10:46 AM 892 Views

I wouldn't interuppt someone while they are reading. LadyLorraine - 11/09/2011 03:16:50 AM 1157 Views

that's worse surely! Foxhead - 11/09/2011 10:13:15 AM 1069 Views

not to me. LadyLorraine - 11/09/2011 05:59:19 PM 949 Views

it is pretty easy tell if they would rather just be reading random thoughts - 12/09/2011 03:13:30 PM 996 Views

I guess my thing is I just hate to be interrupted and don't want to do it to someone else LadyLorraine - 12/09/2011 04:28:30 PM 1048 Views

you get that immersed even in public area? random thoughts - 12/09/2011 06:52:54 PM 898 Views

Usually. If it's not a situation where I CAN, I just won't read. LadyLorraine - 12/09/2011 07:23:48 PM 1094 Views

Did you not like the other trilogy? Gher - 11/09/2011 03:36:18 AM 1171 Views

erm, not as much Foxhead - 11/09/2011 10:19:03 AM 985 Views

I used to be timid. Now I don't care and will happily interrupt. Ghavrel - 11/09/2011 07:42:35 AM 1057 Views

Yeah, exactly Praziquantel - 11/09/2011 07:53:48 AM 1064 Views

it's the "i will probably never see again" i can't get my head around Foxhead - 11/09/2011 10:21:45 AM 966 Views

I guess that depends on how you go about it random thoughts - 12/09/2011 03:16:38 PM 874 Views

That's a nice way of saying "I'm antisociably shy."

Ghavrel - 13/09/2011 09:43:17 AM 1015 Views

no i meant the opposite Foxhead - 13/09/2011 02:20:48 PM 927 Views

Answers to questions asked. Palatine - 11/09/2011 03:34:32 PM 990 Views

i asked because i wondered how many people would welcome it or view it as an intrusion Foxhead - 13/09/2011 02:25:32 PM 984 Views

I love talking to perfect strangers imlad - 15/09/2011 05:34:27 PM 1330 Views

I have just gone up to someone and said "good choice in book" Fox and Ravens - 11/09/2011 04:49:21 PM 976 Views

did he reply or did you back away...staring and pointing at the book?

Foxhead - 13/09/2011 02:27:45 PM 1048 Views

I can't resist that. I will always say something. Many people have done the same with me Tashmere - 11/09/2011 06:10:36 PM 1086 Views

are a small town girl? Foxhead - 13/09/2011 02:30:46 PM 1083 Views

How do you even figure out what they're reading? Vivien - 12/09/2011 05:44:30 AM 1037 Views

NYC is wierd *NM* random thoughts - 12/09/2011 03:17:35 PM 398 Views

i look at the cover, i very rarely see someone reading a book bent back on itself *NM* Foxhead - 13/09/2011 02:31:52 PM 555 Views

I can usually tell what people are reading with a glance. rebelaessedai - 15/09/2011 01:49:06 AM 1249 Views

Thats why I am glad I don't live in NYC imlad - 15/09/2011 05:41:47 PM 1156 Views

NYC really is a concrete 'jungle' Praziquantel - 15/09/2011 09:41:59 PM 1058 Views

Thats just irritating when it happens to me...I never would do that to another human. *NM* Ryan - 12/09/2011 08:54:06 AM 468 Views

Hmm, what about a Cocker Spaniel? *NM* Kotagg - 13/09/2011 02:39:08 AM 460 Views

Re: No. RomaVenkat - 12/09/2011 02:51:40 PM 1032 Views

I stirke up conversation with strangers all the time random thoughts - 12/09/2011 03:12:09 PM 983 Views

exactly! imlad - 15/09/2011 05:46:57 PM 1113 Views

It depends on the situation DomA - 12/09/2011 07:26:02 PM 973 Views

i love the farseer books too! and yeah a little weird, but not that weird *NM* temeraire - 13/09/2011 10:37:53 PM 371 Views

I think so, but it isn't always appreciated. Vodalus - 15/09/2011 03:20:07 AM 1096 Views

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<quote id="225169">
<quote id="224863"><quote id="224752">or is it just weird?</quote>

To the question in the title: Yes. To the one just above: No.

<quote id="224752">now if it was the other way around i'd probably embrace it, i come on a book forum i enjoy discussing the finer details of fantasy epic, but would he be of a similar disposition? it wasn't worth the risk of him forcing a smile, humouring me with small talk and then dismissing me with a slight air of embarrassment and then enduring a week of passing each other around the pool and doing that raised eyebrow nod of acknowledgment to each other </quote>

No way to know beforehand.

<quote id="224752">so what's your opinion? ever made an obvious attempt at conversation with a person you see reading something you've read? and this isn't like when you're both in a book shop or a similar established ground for literary discourse. this is where you've crossed the expanse of a park or made for someone where they've noticed your approach and regarded you with wary anxiety as you've out of nowhere made an uninvited beeline for their reading solitude. were you stone walled or did you make a new friend? or do you have a more subtle tactic of perhaps edging closer, leaning over and being like...don't you just hate <insert character name> too?</quote>

I stated it above. Yes. I've never made a friend because I've never done it in the "beeline" style you describe. <i>That</i> can be creepy. Instead, try subtlety. I don't go out of my way to make conversation, instead only saying something if I'm already near.

<quote id="224752">similarly have you ever been received such attentions, how was the experience?</quote>

Yes. It's either been a short conversation or one of several minutes, but never a bad experience.

And to answer the overall theme of the post: Speaking to a stranger because you know you both have a common interest or experience is about as normal a reason to speak to a stranger as there is, and I frankly don't understand why you needed to ask at all.</quote>

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