Hey dudes,
When you were still a little boy, your mom probably told you – several times – never to talk with strangers. This warning made a lot of sense, back when you were too small and weak to physically defend yourself against the occasional predatory adult. Unfortunately, when we get into adulthood ourselves, this piece of mommy stays with a lot of us. That’s a problem, because you can’t improve, or even sustain, a social life without talking to strangers fairly regularly.
All this analysis might make sense, but it’s still no excuse to let yourself crawl into a shell. If you’re still afraid to talk with strangers, it’s time to change that habit. Start by going where lots of people are: a mall, a farmers’ market, even a train station. Look for someone who gives you the impression that he’s a good guy, or that she’s a good woman. Don’t look for attractiveness, just for a good mood and an open expression. Your target doesn’t even have to be alone, as long as their companions look like good people, too.
Step two is very simple: approach your target and say, “You look friendly enough to talk to.” (Or if they’re with others, “You all look friendly enough to talk to.”) What’s the worst that could happen? Simple: they’ll tell you to eff off, and you’ll just move on. If you’re even a little bit luckier, though, you’ll end up making at least one, if not several, new friends. Those 7 little words are one of the quickest ways to build your posse. No joke.
If you’re still on the fence, look at the situation from a cost-benefit perspective. Getting rebuffed by a stranger costs you nothing. Getting a new bro or female friend can only make your social life better.
Later,
-The Blog Dude
