A visitor to America asked why Americans talk to strangers so easily and it’s an eye-opening insight into the very specific Stateside psyche

Time now to return to the cultural divide between Europe and the US, where it never feels wider – Trump excepted, obviously – than when it comes to American’s fondness for striking up a conversation with a stranger.

We say this after Redditor u/MayaTulip268 posted about their experience visiting America where something in particular (you guessed it) caught their eye.

‘I’m not from the US, but I’ve been there a few times and real conversations feel completely different from anything I practiced.

‘I was waiting in line for coffee and the guy in front of me just started chatting with the barista. Then the person behind me joined in and suddenly it turned into a conversation between strangers. No awkwardness. What caught me off guard was the speed, how natural it felt to just talk… like you don’t even know these people??’

‘Why do americans talk to strangers so easily??’

And the answers were a glimpse into a national psyche that the European mind – just for once – really cannot comprehend.

1.
“That is actually how I went to my first Tough Mudder. There was a long line to check out at Aldi’s and the girl in front of me had cute glasses. It turns out we both shopped at the same online optical store and next thing you know I’m at a tough mudder with her bridal party.”
DeniseReades

2.
“You can learn a complete strangers life story and get invited over for Christmas dinner with the family if you stand in line long enough.”
cans-of-swine

3.
“Yep, I met a gal in the perfume section of a store. Learned that she had recently relocated and was looking for a job as a defense attorney. We made a plan to meet for coffee, I got her resume, and I got her hooked up with a job with a defense practice I frequently consult for.”
No_Ladder_9818

4.
“My grandmother saw a man, who she had never seen before, with a white beard shopping at Macys. She went up to him and asked him if he would mind dressing up as Santa and handing out presents to the kids at the family Christmas party.

‘They chatted a bit and he agreed to do it. She of course offered to pay him but he refused money. He’s been dressing up as Santa for over 12 years now. Grandmas gone now but he still comes once a year and is now like part of the family. From a complete stranger to a memorable bond.”
count_busoni

5.
“New Yorkers have a reputation for being rude, but the first time I went there, a random stranger just struck up a conversation with me on the bus. And within 2 minutes, three other random strangers joined in.”
Reasonable_Pay4096

6.
“I was in NYC with a large group and we couldn’t get in to the restaurant we planned on so we’re all standing on the sidewalk with our phones out looking for other options. a couple walks by and asks what’s up and then starts making phone calls.

‘5 minutes later we have reservations for 14 people on a 3rd floor veranda of sorts at a nice Italian place a few blocks away in Manhattan that was PACKED. not sure who he was or who he knew, but he made it happen. And was incredibly nice about it.”
WWGHIAFTC

7.
“I dressed up as a confessional booth for Halloween one year, and it was basically a 50/50 mix of strangers telling me silly things and strangers telling me quite heavy things that they said they had never told anyone about before.

‘A couple people cried, and I gave out a lot of hugs (and absolutions, and penances, and rosaries I made [with skull beads because Halloween]). It wasn’t quite what I expected, but 10/10 highly recommend it as an interactive costume idea.”
Which_Loss6887

8.
“Yea one of my early memories as a kid was asking my mom why she talked to a random elderly woman at the store while clothes shopping. She just said cause it’s nice to talk to strangers when they want to talk. It’s just spreading friendliness. Now I find I’m the one talking to people especially the elderly when I used to be anti social 😂 We just adapt to it.”
thisolhag

9.
“I never understood why my dad did this! But now I’ve turned into my dad 😂

“I’ve had the loveliest conversations talking to people at the grocery store, whether it’s what they are cooking with a certain ingredient, or lauding the fact that the local sports team is doing well. It makes everyone’s day brighter when you have a positive interaction.”
ijozypheen

10.
“Midwestern checking in. We are polite and friendly. If you talk to us we will talk back and be nice about it. We learned this by watching our parents/family growing up and seeing how they interacted with others.”
lunalovegoodhero

11.
“The 5 was completely shutdown for hours one Thanksgiving. We were trapped. A lady in an RV gave lemonade to people walking up, trying to see what the holdup was. She didn’t need to do that, but it was a kindness she decided to extend. It made everybody feel a little better about missing dinner with the family.

‘I got to my uncle’s house in time for pie and somebody made me a sandwich. It was fine. And I think that positive feeling started with the lady with the lemonade.”
NeverRarelySometimes

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Source: r/AskReddit, via u/MayaTulip268