Chatty Strangers

Rule #1 : Don't talk to strangers.

Right, right?

Isn't that what we've all been talk from a young age in order to protect ourselves from the potential evils of the world, even if it means closing off or blocking potential good vibes?

Regardless, talking to strangers on the train is something I can't seem to avoid no matter how hard I try.

For some reason it is always me, not the person closer to them, or across from them, that these "strangers" seem to enjoy striking up a conversation with. 

While on the train I am accustomed to routinely putting my earphones in and shutting out the loud/obnoxious sounds and passengers that typically accompany the ride. 

Even so, you get one of those people from time to time, who, though they can see you have your headphones on and are not in a prime chatting position, they will talk in your general direction until it becomes rude to ignore them .

Today was one such a time; 

Minding my own business per usual in a centre seat off to the side, when suddenly a man who seconds prior publicly announced "I'm drinking!" cracked another cold one and slouched down beside me in an uncomfortably close kind of way. The typical dialogue ensued: 

Random: "Hey, what's your name"

   Me: *pauses, thinks up fake name* : "Karen"

Random: "Karen, I like that! Hey, I'm Will" 

Me: "Nice to meet you"

Will: "Nice to meet YOU. Hey, I think you're really beautiful"

---- all the real charmers ride the train, true story----

Me: *uncomfortable laughter* "Thanks"

Will: "Hey, you got a boyfriend?"

Me: "Yep"

Will: "Are you gonna let me push him out?"

Me: "Uhhhh no."

Will: "Just say 'you can't snag me'"

Me: "Why?"

Will: "Because then I'll back off!"

Me: "Fine, you can't snag me"

Will: " Ohhhhh you said it! What a cool girl" 

Le sigh. I then went back to my ipod/phone/fb/twitter/anything else scanning and he chatted up the girl across the way, so at least I wasn't alone in experiencing these occurrences this time. 

But, it made me wonder; this character and most characters I have met on the train, though forward, generally mean no harm. They may be too flirty/ weird/ drunk, but they aren't causing any real disturbance, are generally just overly friendly and probably just want to talk to someone. 

So long as you know your boundaries, perhaps being open to strangers and their subsequent, undoubtedly equally strange conversations isn't the worst thing in the world.