This afternoon I'm meeting with someone I don't really know
and taking them out for a long walk. I'm a little nervous because it's the first 'official' live client for my charity project and as such it's a pretty big thing in my little world. I'm definitely more of a listener than a talker but I'm looking for some inspiration for things to talk about so I ask of you internet types, what questions do you ask new people to encourage conversation? Share your obviously fantastic social skills.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:06, 49 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

'tits or face?'

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:09, Reply)

Sex!
Always a winner.
( girlinthehole, Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:09, Reply)

Definitely steering clear of that subject.
I'm not allowed to doink clients.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:10, Reply)

No but I am.

( girlinthehole, Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:12, Reply)

She smells like cheap perfume, stale sweat and cigarettes.

( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:14, Reply)

Who does?
BGB, or your client?
(Bear Pookie The Frankly Challenged. Halloween is coming to town., Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:17, Reply)

Well when you get someone nice then let me know.
Not a weepy one though. I hate the weepy ones.
( girlinthehole, Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:18, Reply)

Generally they're likely to be quite depressed.
I'm not sure how I'll react if someone starts crying, but I've memorised the Lord's Prayer just in case.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:25, Reply)

Och! you'll be fine.
You're funny and that will help.
( girlinthehole, Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:27, Reply)

Aw, ta.

( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:31, Reply)

conversations usually go like this:
"so, do you smoke pot? you do? sweet. what music do you like?"
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:10, Reply)

'do mind if I just quickly pray?'
*unzips*

'OUR F-F-FATHER, WHO ART IN H-HEAVEN *blub, scream* HALLOWED B-BE TH-THY NAME...'

'Where are you going? Come back!'
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:11, Reply)

I was entirely expecting this.

( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:11, Reply)

do you normally manage to get through the whole thing?

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:12, Reply)

God no.
Never even made it to forgiving those who trespass against us.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:12, Reply)

I think I've gone off you now.

( girlinthehole, Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:13, Reply)

You see that's your problem, standerds.

( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:14, Reply)

standErds?

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:18, Reply)

I was going to say,
'You see that's your problem, SPELLING'
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:20, Reply)

that doesn't surprise me
"GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY....UUUUGGGH....*whimper*"
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:13, Reply)

'OUR F- oh sod it'
Sorry. This has never happened to me before. It's not you, it's me. No, really...
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:16, Reply)

"let us pra...ah damnit!"

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:17, Reply)

'Do you like chicken?'

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:12, Reply)

In the immortal Macc Lads words...
"Do you like chicken luv, then smell me knob it's fowl."
(Bear Pookie The Frankly Challenged. Halloween is coming to town., Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:19, Reply)

I set 'em up, you knock 'em in...

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:21, Reply)

Back of the net son,
back of the net.
(Bear Pookie The Frankly Challenged. Halloween is coming to town., Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:29, Reply)

She were a right rum Yorkshire lass
but she liked 'er 'Udders feeled.
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:40, Reply)

I diagnosed my autism online, how about you?

( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:13, Reply)

"So, your mum...
I've had her".
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:14, Reply)

Her mum's dead
so I reckon this one's going on the list.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:15, Reply)

Really?
My mum's dead too. You're not meeting my sister are you?
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:18, Reply)

www.b3ta.com/questions/offtopic/post704769
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:27, Reply)

No, then.

( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:38, Reply)

Spit or swallow?
What's your favourite sausage/cheese/tofu?
(Bear Pookie The Frankly Challenged. Halloween is coming to town., Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:16, Reply)

Get them talking about pasttimes, hobbies etc
Find something in which you also have an interest and engage. Look interested in everything they're passionate about, keep eye contact and don't allow your body language to get distracted.
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:18, Reply)

On a serious note.
As you are going for a walk I presume the journey to the start of it from your meeting place will be taken up with chit chat of the so you are soandso type. Following this I would use the things you see as an icebreaker and conversation starter. Not knowing the problems of your client I can't really think of any further guidance. Presumably your first outings will simply be getting to know you and skirting around any issues they will be comfortable discussing.

Good luck with your undertaking.
(porkylips looks better as the sun goes down., Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:20, Reply)

We'll be walking through town to get out into the open
so chit-chat will be the order of the day. I'm not looking to get her to open up in particular because this is the first of probably six walks we'll do over the next twelve weeks so there's plenty of time to get to the nitty gritty. I don't really want to be offering advice either - I'm not a trained counsellor - more guide people to find help if they need it.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:30, Reply)

Tell her to try the internet.
All her problems can be solved on here.
( girlinthehole, Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:32, Reply)

Whether you want her to or not
She just might. Your hardest job might be getting her to shut up!
(porkylips looks better as the sun goes down., Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:35, Reply)

Like I said, fortunately I'm a listener.

( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:41, Reply)

I'm very lucky because when I'm nervous I waffle.
I try to overcompensate for my shyness and end up coming across as a gobby twat.
( girlinthehole, Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:23, Reply)

as
(porkylips looks better as the sun goes down., Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:29, Reply)

I thought it might be you.

( girlinthehole, Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:30, Reply)

HTH.
I try not to disappoint.
(porkylips looks better as the sun goes down., Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:34, Reply)

That's not what your wife said.

( girlinthehole, Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:35, Reply)

I said try.
She appreciates the effort. It's not easy with a weeny weiner.
(porkylips looks better as the sun goes down., Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:36, Reply)

this happens to me too.

(Poppet some assembly required., Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:31, Reply)

as a gobby twat the room like 'Old Faithful'

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:32, Reply)

If only : (

( girlinthehole, Thu 22 Apr 2010, 10:33, Reply)