I was just sitting at the mall taking a break from mall walking. A man walked over to me when I wasn’t even looking up. He said "I haven’t seen you here before. " I said I wasn’t really here to talk to people and got up and walked away. He said he would leave, he may even have said sorry. I said I was ready to leave anyway. In retrospect I think he may have just been slightly mentally challenged so I wish I had been a little softer, he did not turn out to be aggressive. Looking for suggestions on something still clear and firm but more polite? This scared me for some reason, I think how fast he walked up and sat down near me.
Editing to add a key detail, he sat down close to me which is probably what made me more nervous than I would have otherwise been. I appreciate all the thoughtful feedback I’ve gotten and interesting discussion.
I talk to folks around me all the time. Standing in line for checkout at a store or something? I’ma talk to you.
I don’t walk up on folks out of nowhere, but if we are in near proximity for more than a minute, I’ma talk to you.
Being in line together is different. I’m curious though, if someone is giving you one word answers and seems like you don’t wish to continue the conversation do you back off ?
I talk to people in public a lot but if they seem closed off I’ll end it
Yeah, no point in talking to someone who isn’t talking back. Most folks I meet out seem to be dying for someone to talk to though.