What about under socialism? There was a time when you wouldn’t really bump into ‘strangers’ because you’d roughly know everyone in your area. From the market, the village, etc. Do you happen to live somewhere that most of the people you see are people you’ll never see again?
Edit: it starts with a nod or a smile, maybe a shared grimmace because you’ve been caught in the rain or an aggressive driver stopped one of you crossing the road, then a hello, then a how’s your day, etc, but I can’t walk the dog without stopping to have a quick conversation or two with people who were once completely strangers and now are still strangers but friendly ones. This kind of thing just seems so natural. I don’t think either of us are ‘interrupting’ each other’s days.
I do think it’s because, under capitalism, every moment of free time is rare and precious. It feels like I’m stealing what little slice of freedom they have if I talk at them, or I’m disrupting whatever schedule they have created to squeeze time for themselves.
And really, I’m just projecting my own feelings, and I know that’s irrational but it doesn’t stop me from doing it lol
That’s like asking someone who is blind why they don’t have a favorite color imo
I literally can’t understand the idea that some people don’t feel that way, even if intellectually I know it’s irrational.
You don’t understand the idea that someone might enjoy talking to you?
I can’t imagine someone wanting a stranger to interrupt their day and talk at them.
Sometimes the unexpected is welcome. :)
In covid quarantine times it was nice to be greeted by strangers going outside. An acknowledgement we were all going through weird times. For example.
We’re kind of still going through weird times. Maybe acknowledging it collectively could help things changing faster. :D
Again, can’t imagine it.
You might as well say that sometimes you like to drink boiling tar. It’s alien to me.
What about under socialism? There was a time when you wouldn’t really bump into ‘strangers’ because you’d roughly know everyone in your area. From the market, the village, etc. Do you happen to live somewhere that most of the people you see are people you’ll never see again?
Edit: it starts with a nod or a smile, maybe a shared grimmace because you’ve been caught in the rain or an aggressive driver stopped one of you crossing the road, then a hello, then a how’s your day, etc, but I can’t walk the dog without stopping to have a quick conversation or two with people who were once completely strangers and now are still strangers but friendly ones. This kind of thing just seems so natural. I don’t think either of us are ‘interrupting’ each other’s days.
I do think it’s because, under capitalism, every moment of free time is rare and precious. It feels like I’m stealing what little slice of freedom they have if I talk at them, or I’m disrupting whatever schedule they have created to squeeze time for themselves.
And really, I’m just projecting my own feelings, and I know that’s irrational but it doesn’t stop me from doing it lol
I understand. I don’t initiate random talks to strangers, outside. :)
But I’ve had it happen to me. And it’s generally not completely horrible.