# How do you handle this awkward social situation? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 20, 2011, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-this-awkward-social-situation/572004 "2011-02-20T14:16:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-this-awkward-social-situation/572004/21 "2011-02-21T06:26:32Z")
I’m such the wrong person to ask about this as I will have conversations in checkout lines, bus stops, and doctor’s offices. I like talking and I figure if they don’t want to talk, they’ll make that clear somehow. I’ve met and become friends with a lot of really cool people because I said hi to them, the second time I saw them at the bus stop. Here is how I’d resolve the situation: "I missed your name the first time around, I’m So and so. Flippity-Doo? That’s a nice name. PS, I’m loving the shirt you’re wearing, where did you get it? I’m looking for a birthday gift for my grandma, uncle, nephew, brother, partner, boss, me and voila you’re off on a conversation. ---
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-this-awkward-social-situation/572004/22 "2011-02-21T15:19:37Z")
> [@RandMcnally](#): > > Have you heard the Good News? Oh, you haven’t heard? It was my understanding that everyone had heard. ---
**Author:** ![jasonh300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/46a35a/32.png) [@jasonh300](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasonh300)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-this-awkward-social-situation/572004/23 "2011-02-21T16:08:06Z")
> [@RandMcnally](#): > > Have you heard the Good News? Have you been saved? ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-this-awkward-social-situation/572004/24 "2011-02-21T16:38:04Z")
Fart long and loud and then say “man, I’ve been holding _that_ in for two hours…” ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-this-awkward-social-situation/572004/25 "2011-02-21T17:23:53Z")
“Woah. What happened there?” “Do I smell?” (followed by a grin). “So who exactly do you know here?” “Phew. Those lot were dicks” (add a giggle). I’m not exactly mr confidence, but this really is a thread about “how do you ask someone a question and/or make small talk”. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-this-awkward-social-situation/572004/26 "2011-02-21T18:48:18Z")
I went to 4 years of journalism school and got my BS in journalism, but went on to a career in something completely different. However, the skills in learned in journalism school make this situation completely un-awkward for me. I just start interviewing the other person and it works out just fine. ---
**Author:** ![Keweenaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Keweenaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keweenaw)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-this-awkward-social-situation/572004/27 "2011-02-21T18:58:41Z")
If it’s at all possible that one of you might not know the other persons name, tell them your name. They will reciprocate, possibly gratefully, since you may saved them the embarrassment of not remembering your name. Take the burden of conversation, ask questions that cannot have one word answers. “tell me about… how do you feel about…” etc [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-handle-this-awkward-social-situation/572004.md?page=1)