Golden and I are both blessed and cursed with being relatively approachable. I don't know that we are approachable to all people, but we both have our share of strangers who just start conversations with us out of nowhere.
On Saturday we were walking through the parking lot at Wal-Mart and some lady walking in the opposite direction pointed out to us that the storms that were approaching were going to ruin her plans for that night, then she slowed down and detailed her plans.
I think part of the reason that we are approachable is that we both have an appearance of being normal mainstream people, but we both have something about us that is not normal. I have noticed this most when I have worked with people who did not grow up in American culture or who don't perfectly fit in with the group for one reason or another. Since I don't fully seem like I fit in, but I can kind of look like I do, I tend to be friends with these types. I kind of get the feeling that in some cases these people befriend me to help themselves fit in a little more, not realizing that I can't do them much good.
I guess being approachable because I don't fit in is better than being seen as too snobby or pretentious to be approached. I wouldn't mind being a round peg in a round hole occasionally as well, though.
skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Is it possible to describe a personal blog without it sounding self-absorbed?
The title Off the Bridge is to reflect that I created this blog in part due to peer pressure. When I created and named it I did not anticipate still using it years down the road.
I generally post my thoughts on topics that have been floating around in my head in the previous days. I hope you find something interesting. In any case, thanks for stopping by.
About Me
Other Blogs
Blog Archive
Labels
- animals (31)
- automotive (54)
- between the lines (54)
- birthdays and anniversaries (26)
- books (54)
- business (122)
- cd (37)
- christian subculture (36)
- church (91)
- clothing (35)
- comics (11)
- conversation (103)
- doctrine and philosophy (143)
- everyday activities (87)
- external links (265)
- family (79)
- food (72)
- friends (43)
- games (31)
- golden (94)
- government (65)
- gripes (114)
- holidays (67)
- home (87)
- homers (6)
- humor (97)
- intellect (83)
- internal links (128)
- linguistics (38)
- lists (140)
- lyrics (31)
- me (284)
- medical (84)
- miss carisma (23)
- money (87)
- movies (127)
- music (28)
- my parents (50)
- nj (94)
- original compositions (34)
- other blogs (19)
- parenting (71)
- past event (47)
- pictures (111)
- politics (70)
- polls (3)
- prediction (4)
- psychoanalysis (153)
- rest and relaxation (70)
- school (104)
- scripture references (68)
- shopping (31)
- social observation (310)
- sports (35)
- style (32)
- technology (62)
- the bathroom (29)
- the body dust (67)
- the sexes (61)
- this blog (82)
- tv (114)
- videos (28)
- weather (29)
- what do you think (114)
- work (159)
- world news (88)
16 comments:
Could be that we appear nice and I usually walk slow and don't look like I am in a hurry. People usually don't try to talk to someone if they look like they are in a hurry.
I think it is our ministry to befriend the "weird" people out there and make them feel good about themselves.
I think your both smoking crack.
So you're saying that these individuals who come up and talk to us are drug-induced hallucinations? Interesting theory.
Now for a serious comment, because it fun to say "I think your smoking crack."
Yes, you guys do look like nice people who won't hurt anyone. But I wouldn't say that it is all you.
There are some people out there who'll talk with anyone.
I've been approached too, many times, and I am not as nearly as nice looking as you guys. I even act like I am in a hurry, and I still get stopped.
And if you watch these people, they talk to the next group that they pass.
And quit trying to say that you don't fit in. We don't buy that act one bit. Your high school days are over. (insert smiley face here.)
I think there are certain types of people who invite conversation from strangers and certain types who don't. I'm certainly not saying that others don't have the same tendency, but I don't think the tendency is as common as is implied.
At least in my case, I still think it has a little to do with me at least not feeling like I completely fit in. I think I throw out some unconscious signals to that regard as well.
...and then there are people who will talk to anybody whether they look inviting or not.
I think everyone wonders about fitting in when they are around new people. But at some point in time you are "in." You are in at homer's, in at church, in at work (from what i've read), so what's left that you feel that you don't fit in?
I usually feel very much like I can interact in most situations but I don't fit them perfectly. That was part of what my Imposter post was about, but from a different angle.
This isn't a complaint. I feel unique like I am not a carbon copy of anyone else. I just usually feel that my fitting in is usually more appearance than anything else.
I for one, am greatful for the opportunity to benefit from your "weird people" ministry.
;-)
I had a friend in high school who used to always call me weird. My response was always the same. "Everybody's weird."
I once had a guy ask me to be part of his ministry team because he thought that I could reach out to those "weird" people. I wasn't sure what to make out of that.
Was that guy someone at Homer's? Did he notice that you were around me an awful lot? :)
We did meet at homer's for a while before I quit...and I don't remember what his exact words for the "weird" people were, but that is what he meant. He might have said fringe, but he meant it in a nice way as "I would never want to hang out with those people, but you seem to be happy doing that." Nah, just kidding- that's not what he meant.
But it does kinda question your reality of weird. What?-I seem to be approachable to the weird people. I thought those were the cool people. I thought the weird people are those who wear dockers to parties. It was a total paradigm shift.
I get along with just about anybody. I just noticed that people who are less mainstream tend to be more likely to want to strike up a friendship.
Also, just so everyone remembers, I didn't start using the word weird. Everyone's unique and I have a greater appreciation and understanding for people who are on the fringes than those who walk in lockstep with everyone else.
I don't want anyone thinking that if I am friends with them that means there is something wrong with them. I certainly don't pick friends out of obligation.
Dust, you are such the politician.
Weird is not a bad thing. I think most people would rather be weird than normal.
"I don't want anyone thinking that if I am friends with them that means there is something wrong with them."
ha,ha. Thanks for the clarification. I am sure that we were all worried.
There is a weird person factor out there and I think maybe those people are more needy and latch onto a stranger, or someone visiting their church for one day, because the people in their everyday lives are tired of listening or only listen half heartedly. I tend to feel sorry for these people when they corner me, but I also have an alarm bell that goes off in my head where I'm trying to find a graceful way out without hurting their feelings. Maybe those are the people that talk in parking lots, or maybe they are just people whose spouse is out of town. I had one of these incidents in Spanish this week.
Weird people tend to utilize the healthcare system more than they probably should...
Post a Comment