What are some good ways to intiate conversation?

[treblebass]

Well, the title's pretty self-explanitory...

 

[Luther073082]

You can talk about the weather, make a comment about something you notice. And thats only if you are in line at the supermarket.

Example: While in line at Meijers, a woman because I had few items allowed me to go in front of her in line because I was carrying a lot of stuff. (I should have gotten a cart).

So I saw her buying a lot of pop and chips and pizzas and stuff. So I said "When's the party?!" and her reply was "Tonight, South Bend Adams won." And she explained to me how her daughter was a cheerleader and their football team won and they where having a party at her house for her the other cheerleaders and a few of the football players. Just a nice conversation with someone while waiting in line, rather then standing there and doing nothing because of the line.

If you are spending more time then a few minutes with someone then you simpily start off by saying "Hi my name is Kirk" (Use your own name, I'm using mine) "What's yours?"

Then you ask them some questions in relationship to the place they are at. At a dance studio I ask them about their dancing experience. At church I ask them about their spiritual history and if they are new at the church I try to make them feel comfortable.

 

[deliciousBass]

I usually just bust out talking about the topic on hand. Like for example at Subway, this chick kept getting the lady standing next to me's order wrong and I was just laughing and sympathizing with the lady. Or compliment somebody on their clothes or hair or whatever. I mean, obviously it's awkward to start talking to somebody out of nowhere and that's why you need an ice breaker.

If they have cute kids, start talking about their cute childrens hehe and ask what age they are.

Anyway, it's easier if you're an extrovert and not afraid to be shunned.

 

[Luther073082]

I usually just bust out talking about the topic on hand. Like for example at Subway, this chick kept getting the lady standing next to me's order wrong and I was just laughing and sympathizing with the lady. Or compliment somebody on their clothes or hair or whatever. I mean, obviously it's awkward to start talking to somebody out of nowhere and that's why you need an ice breaker.

If they have cute kids, start talking about their cute childrens hehe and ask what age they are.

Anyway, it's easier if you're an extrovert and not afraid to be shunned.

Thats a good one especially if you like kids.

 

[treblebass]

Ok, then. How do you talk yourself out of an embarrassing situation?

 

[Luther073082]

Ok, then. How do you talk yourself out of an embarrassing situation?

Well you've got to be creative.

I'd have to know the situation in order to tell you how I would talk myself out of it.

 

[treblebass]

Well you've got to be creative.

I'd have to know the situation in order to tell you how I would talk myself out of it.

Something along the lines of leaving a food line, then dropping some of your food only to be greeted by line of onlookers waiting to check out while you make the long walk back to get some replacement food...

 

[Luther073082]

Something along the lines of leaving a food line, then dropping some of your food only to be greeted by line of onlookers waiting to check out while you make the long walk back to get some replacement food...

Laugh at yourself, make a self depreciating joke.

I would just say outloud something like "That was smart Kirk, very intelligent" or something like "Nice move Kirk, way to go."

Or if you are not confortable with that then just give a "I can't belive I just did that" look

Once when I was dancing (I do ballroom dance) I stepped on my own toe. No one would have known but me but I pretty well announced it by saying

"I just stepped on my own foot, how stupid is that?"

 

[treblebass]

Laugh at yourself, make a self depreciating joke.

I would just say outloud something like "That was smart Kirk, very intelligent" or something like "Nice move Kirk, way to go."

Or if you are not confortable with that then just give a "I can't belive I just did that" look

Once when I was dancing (I do ballroom dance) I stepped on my own toe. No one would have known but me but I pretty well announced it by saying

"I just stepped on my own foot, how stupid is that?"

Noted. I'll try to remember the next time I screw something up...

 

[Luther073082]

People tend to like people who can make fun of themselves a bit.

Although I have to say for me there is a fine line between making fun of myself. (Something I would have done there) and being actually mad at myself.

I once made a stupid mistake in Euchre that cost us the hand and I was really really really mad at myself.

 

[treblebass]

Mmm...I guess I have to at least try, then. What would you do if someone attempts to ridicule you?

 

[Luther073082]

Mmm...I guess I have to at least try, then. What would you do if someone attempts to ridicule you?

Depends on what it is. If its just someone teasing you then you play along.

However I sense you are in high school and this happened which means just about anything could have happened.

In that case you just ignore it. The more mature people around will think that person is a moron and you'll be fine.

You just need to start acting like you don't have to answer to anyone. Outside of my job and my church I don't really have to answer to anyone. Its my life and its none of their business.

The only exception I say to this is with your friends you need to listen if they start telling you something about how you should improve yourself. If you have people who have stuck by you for a while being critical of something you do then you need to pay attention to that.

But in terms of random people that you've just met. If they want to ridicule you then they can just bugger off with their opinions on me and my life. When it involves my life, you have to EARN my respect for your opinion. Needless to say unless someone's a friend, I really don't care about thier opinion on my life or something I did.

 

[Tamara224]

Mmm...I guess I have to at least try, then. What would you do if someone attempts to ridicule you?

Laugh with them. Ridicule only works if it hits the mark. If the mark just laughs too, the ridicule will fall flat and make the person ridiculing look, well, ridiculous.

 

[treblebass]

The difficult thing it is always made into a public spectacle, so I feel obliged to respond. And I guess it's REALLY bad because I'm a freshman college student who already has critics...with big mouths.

 

[soccerdad66]

I would try to say something funny but cute, but make sure it's not stupid.

I personally wouldn't say something to make fun of myself, unless it was it obvious.

You only get one chance to make a first impression, so go over a few situations in your mind and what you'd want to say

 

[treblebass]

I've tried that, but I don't "sell" it very well. If it something I'm very sensitive about, my intentioned good-natured chuckling seems like a maniacal cackle. Well, thanks for your help. I have a poetry reading in about 10 minutes.

 

[Luther073082]

The difficult thing it is always made into a public spectacle, so I feel obliged to respond. And I guess it's REALLY bad because I'm a freshman college student who already has critics...with big mouths.

If people kept ridiculing me like that eventually I would just say very loudly and very directly that they can take their opinion and shove it.

But be careful not to do this to someone who's trying to just do some harmless teasing.

And yes when I was a freshman I got my critics really fast.

 

[Luther073082]

I've tried that, but I don't "sell" it very well. If it something I'm very sensitive about, my intentioned good-natured chuckling seems like a maniacal cackle. Well, thanks for your help. I have a poetry reading in about 10 minutes.

Well you have to be careful if you are too sensative about something.

 

[SonicBOOM]

Well, the title's pretty self-explanitory...

phycologists say that talking about the weather is the greatest icebreaker because it's something everyone can relate to and it has the possability to transition to a topic about the person's day.

 

[Apollo Celestio]

Not so much when trying to find a date, but don't hit yourself when you do something stupid, people find that weird then remember it.. >_>