# When you hear a stranger consistently talk to themselves, what, if anything, do you think? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 10, 2015, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-hear-a-stranger-consistently-talk-to-themselves-what-if-anything-do-you-think/719681 "2015-05-10T04:01:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2015, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-hear-a-stranger-consistently-talk-to-themselves-what-if-anything-do-you-think/719681/1 "2015-05-10T04:01:52Z")
Inspired by current events. Do you make any assumptions about the person, or do anything differently than normal? If it depends on location, feel free to explicate. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2015, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-hear-a-stranger-consistently-talk-to-themselves-what-if-anything-do-you-think/719681/2 "2015-05-10T04:45:08Z")
It depends on the manner. Someone mumbling quietly to himself is very different from the agitated ranting of an annoying street lunatic. The former could just be a sign of intense absorption, but the latter is scary. I get the hell out of the vicinity when an ASL starts in, and the louder they are, the faster I scram. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2015, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-hear-a-stranger-consistently-talk-to-themselves-what-if-anything-do-you-think/719681/3 "2015-05-10T05:02:41Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > It depends on the manner. Someone mumbling quietly to himself is very different from the agitated ranting of an annoying street lunatic. The former could just be a sign of intense absorption, but the latter is scary. I get the hell out of the vicinity when an ASL starts in, and the louder they are, the faster I scram. ASL’s scare people but in truth they are pretty harmless, real criminals aren’t going to be having a screaming expletive filled argument with a wall over fish sticks. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2015, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-hear-a-stranger-consistently-talk-to-themselves-what-if-anything-do-you-think/719681/4 "2015-05-10T05:34:31Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > Inspired by current events. Are you talking about Robert Durst and some other event? ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2015, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-hear-a-stranger-consistently-talk-to-themselves-what-if-anything-do-you-think/719681/5 "2015-05-10T05:46:42Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > Inspired by current events. Do you make any assumptions about the person, or do anything differently than normal? If it depends on location, feel free to explicate. It depends on the situation. Since a lot of folks these days have small, hard to see bluetooth headsets, I often assume that they are on the phone. I’ve gotten strange looks myself, so generally these days when I take a call on my head set I put my hand to my ear and maybe even take my phone out so that folks don’t think I’m a nut. 😛 If someone is obviously not on the phone and just talking to themselves I pretty much leave them be. I’m a live and let live sort of guy, so as long as they aren’t bothering me or mine then they can have whatever conversations they like with themselves or with their invisible friend. Doesn’t bother me too much unless they try and include me in somehow. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2015, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-hear-a-stranger-consistently-talk-to-themselves-what-if-anything-do-you-think/719681/6 "2015-05-10T06:33:09Z")
> [@grude](#): > > ASL’s scare people but in truth they are pretty harmless, real criminals aren’t going to be having a screaming expletive filled argument with a wall over fish sticks. I don’t think they scare people. It’s just unnerving, in the same way autism can be unnerving, because they’re both disassociative. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2015, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-hear-a-stranger-consistently-talk-to-themselves-what-if-anything-do-you-think/719681/7 "2015-05-10T08:48:01Z")
It’s the people who have two-person conversations with themselves, out loud, that get creepy. ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2015, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-hear-a-stranger-consistently-talk-to-themselves-what-if-anything-do-you-think/719681/8 "2015-05-10T10:21:51Z")
Assuming no bluetooth, I reckon they’re considerably less predictable than the average bystander. I move the hell away ASAP. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2015, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-hear-a-stranger-consistently-talk-to-themselves-what-if-anything-do-you-think/719681/9 "2015-05-10T12:45:49Z")
I volunteer at a coffee bar where we have at least a dozen resident talkers. Most are harmelss on occassion one will go off and it will scare people but their anger is usually focused on their imaginary foe. We have one guy who will fight these demons physically, he gets them in head locks and punches them in the nose while he scolds them. When strangers see that the locals are not concerned they seem to take it in stride for the most part but often don’t return. ``` I spend a lot of time in my shop working alone and I guess I talk to myself quite a bit when I am figuring something kind of tough. I never have delusions of anyone talking back to me though. I think that is where the differenc lies. Somethings are easier to figure out if actually voiced instead of just storing and calculating in my head. ``` ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2015, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-hear-a-stranger-consistently-talk-to-themselves-what-if-anything-do-you-think/719681/10 "2015-05-10T12:50:09Z")
I assume a bluetooth phone connection. I never understood why the Ghost Whisperer didn’t just go buy a bluetooth headset; if anybody saw her talking to a ghost she could just point to the headset and get on with the conversation. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2015, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-hear-a-stranger-consistently-talk-to-themselves-what-if-anything-do-you-think/719681/11 "2015-05-10T13:25:58Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Are you talking about Robert Durst and some other event? I hope it’s OK for me to ask what is the current status of Durst? I didn’t want to start a new thread to ask about him. But since you brought up his name, I hope it will be OK for me to ask. ETA: Sorry. I googled Durst and it seems that his trial has been delayed because witnesses are failing to show. My guess would be that when you are wealthy, you can buy justice for yourself and escape any penalties that you deserve. Sorry, if it looks like I’m attempting to hijack this thread. If so, I hope no one else will post anything more about him. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2015, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-hear-a-stranger-consistently-talk-to-themselves-what-if-anything-do-you-think/719681/12 "2015-05-10T15:35:36Z")
What current events? Generally I assume they’re a nut and act accordingly (move away if they look violent or just ignore them if it’s only mumbling.) It’s pretty simple to tell if someone is just thinking to themselves, trying to solve a math problem, or whatever, and if they actually think they are talking to someone. ---
**Author:** ![Octarine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/22d042/32.png) [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2015, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-hear-a-stranger-consistently-talk-to-themselves-what-if-anything-do-you-think/719681/13 "2015-05-10T16:08:49Z")
I mouth thoughts to myself when I’m alone, and will often start randomly smiling or make facial expressions when, say, walking down the street. Once or twice, when I’m aware of it, I’ve actually grabbed my cellphone so I’m free to be as animated as I like. 😉 Mumbling, while a bit stranger, is pretty much OK with me. ---
**Author:** ![Kiyoshi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e19adc/32.png) [@Kiyoshi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiyoshi)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2015, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-hear-a-stranger-consistently-talk-to-themselves-what-if-anything-do-you-think/719681/14 "2015-05-10T18:41:54Z")
If I see someone apparently having a conversation with themselves (as opposed to thinking out loud, which we all do at times), I assume they’re insane. For some reason, I never remember about bluetooth until I actually see the headset, at which point I have a “D’oh!” moment. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2015, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-hear-a-stranger-consistently-talk-to-themselves-what-if-anything-do-you-think/719681/15 "2015-05-11T00:18:47Z")
If it’s self directed that’s what people do all the time, some internally, some muttering, some out loud. If it’s a reasoned dialog with an imaginary external partner that’s still what normal people do to work through arguments and feelings. If it’s a shouting match, in public with an external invisible dialog partner then you need to possibly be concerned. ---
**Author:** ![Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/les_espaces_du_sommeil/32/308_2.png) [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Les_Espaces_Du_Sommeil)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2015, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-hear-a-stranger-consistently-talk-to-themselves-what-if-anything-do-you-think/719681/16 "2015-05-11T13:37:53Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > I spend a lot of time in my shop working alone and I guess I talk to myself quite a bit when I am figuring something kind of tough. I never have delusions of anyone talking back to me though. I think that is where the differenc lies. Somethings are easier to figure out if actually voiced instead of just storing and calculating in my head. Like me, except that I sometimes talk to myself in the street. A side part of my job involves teaching and I like to be prepared when I step into the classroom. Since the only times when I can prepare my lessons is either while I’m busy with my other responsibilities (not ideal) or while going to work, I sometimes end up rehearsing between commutes. Of course I try to make sure that no one is around but it doesn’t always work. Last week, the daughter of my wife’s best friend saw me in the middle of one of such “sessions” and told my wife about. The kid was really puzzled (Uncle LEDS was talking to himself in the street!) so I’ll have to tone it down a little. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2015, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-hear-a-stranger-consistently-talk-to-themselves-what-if-anything-do-you-think/719681/17 "2015-05-11T15:42:34Z")
I cna’t seem to find what you mean by “ASL” here? Almost all search returns are for American Sign Language. I presume that the “S” is “Schizophrenia” but even adding that word to the search gets me links to ASL Signs for Schizophrenia. LOL! I’m guessing “Acute” “Schizophrenic” but then only “Episode” seems to make sense. What is it please? As for the OP, a lot depends upon the emotional content. I am a mutterer when I’m trying to keep track of too many things at once, so gentle self-chat doesn’t faze me. But if the person is agitated or angry, then I worry that they may need help. At the extreme, I might be afraid to approach them myself, and would look for assistance before doing anything. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2015, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-hear-a-stranger-consistently-talk-to-themselves-what-if-anything-do-you-think/719681/18 "2015-05-11T17:32:37Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > It depends on the manner. Someone mumbling quietly to himself is very different from the agitated ranting of an **annoying street lunatic**. The former could just be a sign of intense absorption, but the latter is scary. I get the hell out of the vicinity when an ASL starts in, and the louder they are, the faster I scram. ASL = Annoying Street Lunatic. (bolding is mine) ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2015, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-hear-a-stranger-consistently-talk-to-themselves-what-if-anything-do-you-think/719681/19 "2015-05-11T17:38:18Z")
> [@grude](#): > > ASL’s scare people but in truth they are pretty harmless, real criminals aren’t going to be having a screaming expletive filled argument with a wall over fish sticks. > [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > ASL = Annoying Street Lunatic. (bolding is mine) :smack: Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2015, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-hear-a-stranger-consistently-talk-to-themselves-what-if-anything-do-you-think/719681/20 "2015-05-11T18:59:05Z")
My first thought is usually “Get off the phone and drive!”. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-hear-a-stranger-consistently-talk-to-themselves-what-if-anything-do-you-think/719681.md?page=2)