On Friday, January 6, 2017 at 10:12:27 PM UTC-5, Jill McQuown wrote:
> On 1/6/2017 9:21 PM, sf wrote:
> > On Sat, 07 Jan 2017 12:38:40 +1100, Bruce >
> > wrote:
> >
> >> Are you saying that the content of stranger chit chat is
> >> geographically determined?
> >
> > Often. Sometimes it's culturally based, but it's definitely more
> > common outside large urban areas. I was brought up in the country and
> > have no problem striking up a conversation with the person behind me
> > in line. I'm always surprised (but not offended) when someone strikes
> > up a conversation with me, because it's behavior that's out of the
> > social norm for this particular area.
> >
> >
> sf, I don't think you realize how snobbish that sounds. It's outside
> the "social norm for this particular area"? To do what? Strike up
> conversation with someone? What the heck is the social norm in your
> area? Everyone in line should remain silent?

That's pretty much the social norm here (Ann Arbor, MI).
I won't initiate a conversation with a stranger, and they
very rarely initiate one with me.

Cindy Hamilton