I avoid knowing neighbors because it's just too close for comfort. But bob knows a lot of the shut-ins/assorted day people in the building. It's like an alternate world.

But I hate people and her, she'll give exit interviews to patrons leaving a restaurant she's going into.

I do this all the time...get and give the reviews. Smile too much at strangers. Almost never pass someone without a 'morning, or 'evening greeting. I'm not Sunny McSunnoying...I don't think...but I do tend to speak to people on the street.

Mr. Jane is probably most of the reason we know our neighbors. He likes meeting people and he can tell you about just about anyone on the block. There's also the St. Pat's Parade and de facto neighborhood party that'll bring everybody out for good or for ill.

Our old across the street neigbor is Irish and was part owner of a pub up the street. His girlfriend is a vet. We spent many a night out on our front porch, watching the dogs play, gossiping about our crazy neighbor and drinking pucheen (sp?).

If there is a crazy person within about square mile of me, they tend to find me and strike up a conversation. People have witnessed this many times. It's like a superpower, only, well, one that sucks.

Me? I don't want to talk to people. I hate it when I get stuck next to someone chatty on a plane, or a bus, or...well...most places.

It's kinda odd with me, because in other situations I'm very outgoing, but in my day to day, I just want the people to leave me the fuck alone.

pucheen (sp?).

poteen? (maybe? I think?)

ETA: poitin

If there is a crazy person within about square mile of me, they tend to find me and strike up a conversation. People have witnessed this many times. It's like a superpower, only, well, one that sucks.

yup. my BFF is the same way. She's worse, so when I'm with her, the crazies talk to her an leave me alone.

Me? I don't want to talk to people. I hate it when I get stuck next to someone chatty on a plane, or a bus, or...well...most places.

yup. I have been known to put my iPod buds in just to not talk to people. I had this one woman on a plane that was just babbling because she was nervous, so I felt bad, but STOP TALKING TO ME. Super plane pet peeve: someone saying "is that a good book?" I want to say "yes it is, you twit, so shut the fuck up so I can get back to reading it"

My sister is under orders when she's out with me and my friends to try and act normally, especially if we're going to a restaurant, because she has an especial song and dance routine she goes through there--sometimes it works really well, and sometimes I think I'm getting spit in my dinner. I don't want to gamble.

I like to think of myself as sociable, but only randomly garrulous. Which is why I think like bon does: too close to home. I don't get to be random with my neighbours, so I have to pick the lowest common denominator of consistency, and that's totally silence and warm smiles and nods.

If there is a crazy person within about square mile of me, they tend to find me and strike up a conversation. People have witnessed this many times. It's like a superpower, only, well, one that sucks.

I have this too. And it is so hard for me to get away, because I have politeness ingrained in me. Recently I had a man interrupt my book-reading on the bus to tell me about how the airplane contrails are really the government spraying us with anti-depressents to keep us docile.

Poitin.

And yeah, why would people start talking to me unless I give them some indication of wanting to talk? I wouldn't do that.

That sounds like it, Nora, but I'm sure it was pronounced "putcheen"-which is what the article says is the Anglicanized pronunciation.