If you had a problem would you talk to a stranger about it?

1. 60

   livhappyposted 12 years ago

   If you had a problem would you talk to a stranger about it?
   
   If you felt like no one listened to you and no one cared.  You were also feeling really bad about something would you feel comfortable talking to a stranger knowing that you would probably never see them again unless you wanted too?

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2. 71

   WhatToCookposted 12 years ago

   Probably not as I'm really shy in person.

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3. 97

   Theophanesposted 12 years ago

   Maybe... but only if there was no one else I could talk to (and that in itself seems a rather depressing thought!) I have had a lot of strangers tell me things that I am sure they don't tell their closest circle of friends before disappearing. I always will be here as a calm and nonjudgmental person. If people find me and like this vibe then I get to hear all about it and I am perfectly OK with that.

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4. 61

   duffsmomposted 12 years ago

   No, because I would feel awkward using someone like that. They have no interest in me or my problems so unburdening myself to them would be beneficial for me but rather boring for them.
   
   I would go and see a counselor or my pastor.

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5. 76

   stclairjackposted 12 years ago

   i guess that would depend greatly on the nature of the problem and the context you are in with said stranger,.....
   
   if i need advice on what color to pick in the sewing section because i cant make up my mind between two prints of calico,... sure,.. why not,.... the lady next to me is a brand new set of eyes that havent been over whelmed by the project for days on end.
   
   if i'm needing advice on how to handle my teenage daughters unwated pregancy,... you know,... not so much.
   
   but,.... theres something to be said for the anonimity of conversing with a stranger,.. i dont think you just walk up to the dude with the plumbers crack in isle 5 and ask what to do about the lack of sex and affection in your marriage,... no,.... thats just gona get you more problems than you had..... however,....
   
   i've seen many very personal questions posted in the forums,... i've planted a few there myself,.... and while the practice of posting personal delema questions in the forums usualy tells you more about those who post the answers than it achieves in real answers that are actualy thoughtful and helpful,...
   
   there is value in the classic conversation that one might have with the bar tender in the neighboring town,... the unbiassed ear and opinion of a total stranger can be very illuminating. you will tell them things you might not even reveal to your closest friend,.. they will listen and offer thoughts without any back ground knowledge of you,.. no pre-concieved notions,.. no prior memories.
   
   so yes,... some times i'd rather talk to the bar tender than my friend.

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6. 72

   LA Elsenposted 12 years ago

   Absolutely. I get some of my best advice from people I have met on the train, getting an oil change, in the lobby of the doctor's office, etc. I don't know if I am just more receptive to a stranger because I have intimacy issues with the people closest to me or if I am just being overly chatty. I think a little of both.

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7. 80

   dghbrhposted 12 years ago

   Never i would like to talk to stranger about something which I am feeling bad about. Rather I will  maintain my silence. Thank you.

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8. 64

   Lisa HWposted 12 years ago

   That's not something I could ever do.  If I were that alone-feeling and had some issue that I wanted/needed to talk to someone about I guess I might set up an appointment with a counselor if I could.  Otherwise, maybe I'd go looking online for some site that may offer support to others who may have a similar problem to mine.  I've had strangers tell me their problems in places like bus stations, and I've always kind of thought they didn't really know enough not to "be telling everyone and his brother about their personal business". 
   
   I know some people are just more reserved than others about that kind of thing.  (God knows I was raised to think that we should keep sharing "personal business" to within family or closest of friends, so I know my discomfort have having others share some pretty personal stuff with me (again, at places like bus stations) may be "just me".  BUT, right or wrong, it's just not in my to feel free enough to tell strangers my personal business.
   
   Personal sense-of-privacy aside, I'm not sure I think it's all that wrong to be cautious about sharing personal business, though, because sometimes there's the chance a con person (or worse) may use some things that have been shared for their own "iffy" (or worse)  purposes.   I don't know...    I know that's not the vast majority of people, but I do think people should be kind of careful about what they tell strangers.  People who are alone and/or come across as needing someone to talk to or to help them are often the very kind of people con people (or worse) single out as potential victims.
   
   (Of course, maybe it depends on what the problem is.  If it's something like, "My heel just broke.  Can you tell me where I can find the cheapest women's heels as near as possible?" - maybe that's a different kind of problem than, "...so do you think I should leave my marriage and move to Peru with the guy I'm having an affair with?"   

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