Do You Talk to Strangers?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
Feb 1, 2015
1,198
15
0
#41
Strange this thread is on this topic. I have sworn off talking to strangers, then I will do it again.

Once I was trying to be nice to talk to these two men at 'Mickey D's' and I was mocked. I have been mocked more than a couple of times.

I am pretty bold and that too much, there was construction being done on the courthouse downtown, and there was two workmen sitting in a street cafe using foul words when two ladies was walking by, I yelled out, Hey, there's two ladies walking here.

I keep talking to strangers and I keep swearing not to do it when it doesn't turn out good.
 

tourist

Senior Member
Mar 13, 2014
42,543
17,018
113
69
Tennessee
#42
Strange this thread is on this topic. I have sworn off talking to strangers, then I will do it again.

Once I was trying to be nice to talk to these two men at 'Mickey D's' and I was mocked. I have been mocked more than a couple of times.

I am pretty bold and that too much, there was construction being done on the courthouse downtown, and there was two workmen sitting in a street cafe using foul words when two ladies was walking by, I yelled out, Hey, there's two ladies walking here.

I keep talking to strangers and I keep swearing not to do it when it doesn't turn out good.
Those two ladies probably have heard those types of words many times and have become desensitize to that type of language. Your intentions were good.
 
Dec 9, 2011
14,102
1,796
113
#43
Specifically, do you make suggestions to strangers if they're doing something wrong?

I was in the gym today and a guy was doing an exercise that is extremely bad for the shoulders. I thought about saying something but decided against it. I've gently told people in the past about harmful exercises or techniques but never received a positive response so this helped me with my decision. On a side note, I don't talk to anyone or even make eye contact when in the gym anyway, so its really just par for the course.

Thoughts?
strangers sense when someone cares and someone that cares might smile and ask them how their day was and etc...before they give advice.
People respond positively to love.
 
Feb 1, 2015
1,198
15
0
#45
Those two ladies probably have heard those types of words many times and have become desensitize to that type of language. Your intentions were good.
Thanks. I am sure that they heard me, but they didn't turn around (don't matter). :)
 
R

Richie_2uk

Guest
#46
Specifically, do you make suggestions to strangers if they're doing something wrong?

I was in the gym today and a guy was doing an exercise that is extremely bad for the shoulders. I thought about saying something but decided against it. I've gently told people in the past about harmful exercises or techniques but never received a positive response so this helped me with my decision. On a side note, I don't talk to anyone or even make eye contact when in the gym anyway, so its really just par for the course.

Thoughts?
Perhaps he was instructed to do the excercise that way? Some excercise is not for everyone, but certain types are. Im not saying the guy was correct in what ever excercise he was doing at the time. however, he may have been given that technique to his personal prefference. But if the guy has not ben instructed to do such techniques, then perhaps you may have gone to the gym intructors, and air you concerns, so that the intructors will keep eye on the guy.
 
R

Richie_2uk

Guest
#47
We were all strangers once.
you are only a stranger untill you fully know a person. even thou I know many on CC, They are still strangers because I don't FULLY know.
 
T

twamps21

Guest
#48
When I go to the gym I try to keep to myself. Not that I'm a rude person or not friendly but I just like to get my workout in and get out. There are some people out there that like to go to the gym and go for the sole purpose of meeting new people. If this guy is one of those people he might actually enjoy getting the advice. Personally if someone came up to me and said I was doing something harmful I'd probably be embarrassed at first then grateful afterwards.
 
W

wwjd_kilden

Guest
#49
my mother taught not me not talk to strangers :p

You could always ask him if he wants a free tip
 

JesusLives

Senior Member
Oct 11, 2013
14,554
2,176
113
#50
What is a stranger?

The blond thinks that a stranger is a friend she hasn't met yet...

Now the real shame of it all is this wicked world we live in....if some guy is standing in a dark alley I'm thinking no not gonna go there.... But if they are just regular people on the street in a store in the park at the laundry mat...sure I will say hi and or strike up a conversation...

It used to drive my teenage daughter, (who is 35 now), nuts when I would start talking to the salespeople in stores just random conversation...we would leave and she would say they don't care about your life mom.....I'd reply they were board and had nothing else to do I brightened their day for a minute and we had a little chat.

So I am not afraid to talk to strangers....after all they are people too.

Do I encourage children to do this not so much, but I don't see harm on a playground if one child talks to another as they may make a new friend....some lurking adult....another story.....

We can't be afraid of people all the time how else will the gospel spread if we don't talk a few of those strangers?
 
M

Miri

Guest
#51
Strange this thread is on this topic. I have sworn off talking to strangers, then I will do it again.

Once I was trying to be nice to talk to these two men at 'Mickey D's' and I was mocked. I have been mocked more than a couple of times.

I am pretty bold and that too much, there was construction being done on the courthouse downtown, and there was two workmen sitting in a street cafe using foul words when two ladies was walking by, I yelled out, Hey, there's two ladies walking here.

I keep talking to strangers and I keep swearing not to do it when it doesn't turn out good.

I was at a bus stop last year when a young mum with a baby in a pram and a toddler
walking next to her, came marching up to the bus stop. She was really shouting at
the toddler and calling her the F word and the B word and blaming the toddler for
being late. Then just as I thought she had said her piece, she started on the toddler
again, really screaming at her - way over the top she had really lost. This was
far more than just a mother telling off a child.

I just felt that I had to intervene, so I politely said "please don't shout and swear
at her like that she is only a little girl". For my trouble I got a mouthful of abuse
back telling me to mind my own f business. But at least the shouting was directed
at me rather than the poor kid, who was just standing there not knowing what to do.

The next day I was at the same bus stop again at the same time and along comes
this mother with the baby and the toddler again. She came up to me and apologised
for her behaviour the previous day and explained she was just having a really bad day.
I saw her maybe a handful of times after that and there was no bad feeling and the
children seemed okay.

It was a risky thing for me to do, but I just could not stand there and let this poor little girl
be treated like this. The mother was way beyond angry she was a screaming ball of fury.
 
Dec 1, 2014
9,701
252
0
#52
What's a pull lat down? :)

Is that like when you are changing the duvet cover, pull the cover down and shake it out.

Or maybe it's that move in the supermarket when you stretch up to the high shelf
(I'm only 5' 1"), then bend to place the groceries in the bottom of the deep shopping
trolley.
A lat pull down is like a pull up or chin up, but instead of pulling yourself up to the bar, you're sitting down and pulling the bar with weight on it down to you. The proper way to do this is to pull the bar down in front of you, however some folks pull the bar down behind their neck and this is extremely bad for your shoulders, particularly your rotator cuff.
 
Dec 1, 2014
9,701
252
0
#53
For me, it depends on the stranger. I read body language and see if they look approachable.
Excellent advice. And you're right, I've spoken to strangers in a friendly manner and all too often they respond in a less than amicable manner. And saying God bless you to a stranger? Forget it, they look at you like you have three heads. But it's those diamonds in the rough, the strangers that welcome a brief moment of good will, that makes it all worth while. :)
 
Dec 1, 2014
9,701
252
0
#54
Perhaps he was instructed to do the excercise that way? Some excercise is not for everyone, but certain types are. Im not saying the guy was correct in what ever excercise he was doing at the time. however, he may have been given that technique to his personal prefference. But if the guy has not ben instructed to do such techniques, then perhaps you may have gone to the gym intructors, and air you concerns, so that the intructors will keep eye on the guy.
Good call on going to the instructors. Heck, if their advice is not received then all bets are off.
 
Dec 1, 2014
9,701
252
0
#55
When I go to the gym I try to keep to myself. Not that I'm a rude person or not friendly but I just like to get my workout in and get out. There are some people out there that like to go to the gym and go for the sole purpose of meeting new people. If this guy is one of those people he might actually enjoy getting the advice. Personally if someone came up to me and said I was doing something harmful I'd probably be embarrassed at first then grateful afterwards.
The blue highlighted words? That's me to a fault. I don't talk to anyone except to ask if they're using a piece of equipment. I don't talk to women because I don't want them thinking I'm hitting on them. And I don't talk to men for the EXACT SAME REASON!
 
Dec 9, 2011
14,102
1,796
113
#56
Sometimes we might be in the flesh and thinking about what we need to get done but what if we see someone and the HOLY SPIRIT impresses on our hearts/spirit to say something to them....will we be obedient by faith because that person might look unapproachable?
 
M

Miri

Guest
#57
The blue highlighted words? That's me to a fault. I don't talk to anyone except to ask if they're using a piece of equipment. I don't talk to women because I don't want them thinking I'm hitting on them. And I don't talk to men for the EXACT SAME REASON!

LOL this made me laugh. :)

Just as well you don't live in Yorkshire. It's common to call everyone love regardless of
whether you are a man or a woman. For example Hi Love, can you pass me that love etc.

Even a lot of men call each other love, I was in the post office the other day and a male
customer said "can I have a book of stamps love" to the man serving behind the counter.

I also use to go to gyms in my younger days and have heard the men in gyms saying
love at the end of sentences to each other. It's just a phrase. I can imagine it might
cause a few raised eyebrows though if you did not know the local lingo!
 
Dec 1, 2014
9,701
252
0
#58
Unapproachable as in big, tatted and a Harley chopper outside? That's not unapproachable. Eyes lowered, heavy breathing with a fixed gaze on the weights? Respect the body language and leave him/her alone.
 
Dec 1, 2014
9,701
252
0
#59
LOL this made me laugh. :)

Just as well you don't live in Yorkshire. It's common to call everyone love regardless of
whether you are a man or a woman. For example Hi Love, can you pass me that love etc.

Even a lot of men call each other love, I was in the post office the other day and a male
customer said "can I have a book of stamps love" to the man serving behind the counter.

I also use to go to gyms in my younger days and have heard the men in gyms saying
love at the end of sentences to each other. It's just a phrase. I can imagine it might
cause a few raised eyebrows though if you did not know the local lingo!
You know what's funny? In the movie, Body of Lies, the Director of Jordan's Secret Service calls everyone, "My Dear". I always thought that was cool. My dear. :)
 
Dec 9, 2011
14,102
1,796
113
#60
Unapproachable as in big, tatted and a Harley chopper outside? That's not unapproachable. Eyes lowered, heavy breathing with a fixed gaze on the weights? Respect the body language and leave him/her alone.
Yes we look at the outer appearances but GOD looks at the heart.

Respect the body language and leave him/her alone.
thats what i am talking about in post 56 when i say would i be obedient by faith and not look at them look at them trusing the flesh.

I hope you don't think i'm pointing at you utah ,i was just posting a thought i had about something i saw.:)