people are funny things

[Rodo]

They don't chat like that here.

[Aggers]

The secret is to get a dog.

You will then find that dog-walkers are, generally speaking, the most sociable of people.

[Rodo]

Dogs are nice for other people, but I don't want one. I can see what you are saying though.

[TheOstrich]

I think it's fair to say that in this Midlands area, most people will respond if you initiate a conversation, but certainly wouldn't be exchanging life histories like up North ...

Aggers is quite right about dogs being a good ice-breaker, but I have to say that I've had more stand-up rows with owners of (unruly / out of control) dogs than with normal pedestrians - including threatening to report and sue one owner of a small dog that actually bowled me over while trying to get at our dog. You would not believe the absolute flurry of feathers that created ....

[Rodo]

I live in South Ribble and people just don't chat here. Whether the area isn't representative of the general area I don't know.
As for Preston, well people don't chat there because 95% of them are now Muslims.

[debih]

Everyone chats to everyone else here.

I almost made a new best friend in Aldi this afternoon!

[Kaz]

I was having a nice chat with the lady on the bus this afternoon, and remembered this thread

[Rodo]

Well there you go then.