Help me say, nicely, "Please don't touch my child". [more inside]
posted by lottie on Oct 1, 2009 - 54 answers

I want to be more extroverted and confident and practice starting conversations with strangers... what are some good conversation openers? Tips? [more inside]
posted by Chrysalis on Jun 24, 2009 - 17 answers

How do I care for kids when I'm a stranger to them? [more inside]
posted by bitteroldman on Dec 17, 2008 - 16 answers

How do I stop judging people and relate to them as equals? [more inside]
posted by abdulf on Sep 27, 2008 - 30 answers

On city sidewalks, when strangers pass each other, why do they sniffle? Walking toward each other, we size each other up at a distance of 25 ft, then avert eyes, then 10 ft, then avert eyes and as we pass *sniffle* or quick intake of air through the nose that makes a sound. What does this mean? It seems wholly subconscious. Are we tracking a scent? Are they sticking their nose in the air in an aristocratic air of disapproval? I've noticed this phenomenon, so I consciously avert my sniffling because I don't even know why it happens, or what it means. But now I hear it from passers-by all the time. It's definitely not allergies; it seems very focused.
posted by Jason and Laszlo on Sep 20, 2008 - 31 answers

What is an appropriate way to discipline strangers' kids? [more inside]
posted by crazy finger on Mar 29, 2008 - 34 answers

Approaching a stranger for whom you feel pity – good idea or lousy? [more inside]
posted by CunningLinguist on Jul 22, 2007 - 23 answers

Strangers have mocked me twice in the last week in the same way. I'm wondering how pervasive this phenomenon is. [more inside]
posted by Kwine on Jun 20, 2007 - 41 answers

How can I get friends and strangers to have a meaningful, intelligent conversation about something deeper than music or cars? Specifically what are some good thought provoking questions or topics to bring up that the average person could discuss? [more inside]
posted by JokingClown on Jun 10, 2006 - 20 answers

How do I show my appreciation for housemates who've cooked me several nice meals in a row, when I can't cook and I'm too poor to take them to dinner? [more inside]
posted by scarylarry on Jun 9, 2006 - 18 answers

What's the adult version of "Let's be friends"? [more inside]
posted by questionmark on Feb 9, 2006 - 33 answers

Have you ever rented a room off of craigslist? [more inside]
posted by cmonkey on Nov 7, 2005 - 23 answers

A coworker is trying to think of a quote on the degrees of strangeness from a SF book. Its to do with some Scandinavian (maybe) concept of 4 kinds of strangers - totally unknown, of your species, of your tribe, of your family, or something along those lines. [MI] [more inside]
posted by gilgamesh on Feb 18, 2004 - 6 answers

I see lots of photographers with candid photos of strangers from the park, on the street, etc., but I'm wary of getting sued just for taking some amateur photos. What laws, guidlines, rules of thumb, etc., should I use when taking photos of people in public?
posted by oissubke on Jan 22, 2004 - 16 answers