Is it so hard to be nice to strangers? Or are we just strange for doing it?

[Shug]

Does todays isolationist society mean we can never just be nice, polite and friendly? Is it weird to care about a stranger?

It seems ok when we never meet them cos most of us give to charity and famine relief and for survivors of natural disasters but it seems all that just disappears when we are actually face to face with someone. We are more likely to get to be shouted abuse at from a thug than we are to get a hello out of someone we dont know.

[Paul McDonald]

I'm not sure todays society is isolationist but you're right, people do seem to find it easier to be charitable anonymously than to do something face to face.

I was reading a book recently that promoted the emotional benefits of contributing to people in need. It suggested that a profoundly beneficial and character building experience could be found by visiting an old folks home and brightening someones day, or joining a prisoner visitation scheme and helping some of societies victims turned criminals become contributors. I was reading it thinking "that would nice" but it sounded too unconfortable. It's much easier to achieve a lesser sense of contribution by setting up a direct debit for the Red Cross or giving your old clothes to charity (also worthy causes).

I find though, that you get much more out of strangers when you give more yourself. There used to be a TV show on called "Would Like To Meet" that helped people succeed in the dating game. They always told people to smile more at strangers, even say hello. The people doing it felt really uncomfortable at first but found that when they gave a geniune smile to someone they almost always got one back.

I suspect most people feel like you and wish strangers could be nicer to each other. I bet most people would be happy to get a smile and a hello from you in the same way you'd like to get more from them. Try it today and see what happens, I bet you brighten up peoples day, even just for a moment. And perhaps more importantly, I bet you brighten up your own day in the process.