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Comment by legerdemain | Hacker News Reader

Do you come here often? I haven't seen you here before! I LIKE YOUR SHOES!

Okay story time.

A friend in college is sitting at a bus stop. Somebody sits next to him, says "hey I like your shoes", strikes up a conversation. Ends up inviting him to a business/networking seminar.

My friend goes, comes back with a book and is saying all kinds of stuff about passive income and how you gotta take control of your finances.

I google the book name, the second result is a reddit thread about how somebody at a bus stop had their shoes complimented and then got recruited for the same thing. Turns out it was Amway.

So, yeah. 'I like your shoes' works well enough as a conversation starter that it's literally in the pyramid scheme manual.

I used to think this kind of conversation mostly worked with girls—since they often appreciate when someone notices and admires the little things about them.

That's boring. How can someone start a conversation like that? It leads to nowhere and the person is now way more disinterested in talking to you. Best way is to talk about books, games, TV shows, etc. It's something you can easily expand upon once you find a common ground

> Best way is to talk about books, games, TV shows, etc. It's something you can easily expand upon once you find a common ground

I can't think of a duller conversation. I'd prefer the one you're complaining about. At least there are feelings invested, if a tad bit one-note. The last thing I want to learn about a person is a laundry list of media they watched and liked. I only enjoy talking culture with someone who is in the industry or otherwise has a deeper relationship with it than just watching / reading one thing after another.

Just go join a discord if you want that.

> Just go join a discord if you want that.

No thanks. I have and never will use a literal spyware for messaging. I happily use matrix tho

Thanks for the clarification. Both of your preferred messaging client and your interminable pedantry.

Matrix is not a client, it's a protocol. Synapse is the widely used matrix server and element, which I also use, is the widely used client

Didn't ask, don't care.

You cared enough to say that. I just can't help it when incompetent people post on subjects that they have no clue about. Ignorance is in abundance on HN, I am not surprised

> I just can't help it

Yeah continue on this journey of self-reflection.

When was the last time a movie made you cry?

That scene in Spiderman where they brought the other two back and they were talking about loss. Bawled like a baby.

Not that I watch a lot of movies, but when I do, they do make me emotional from time to time. I'm a sucker for a well-told, interesting good wins over evil tale, especially with a female protagonist. Not like Hollywood can do those anymore. Indies are usually the way. They gotta make Superman into basically a villain. Thankfully they haven't fucked with Spiderman yet. But I bet some dipshit will in the near future.

Anime is better, but you asked for movies.

> That's boring.

How can you continue a conversation like that? It's insulting and the person is now way more disinterested in talking to you. Best way is to be curious about the other person, whatever they're into. Gradually you can find some shared interests and common ground for being friends.

Should people wear buttons that indicate interests? Even "read a book in a coffeehouse" doesn't work if the other patrons have to scoot below the table to read the cover.

My name is Dug. I have just met you, and I love you.

SQUIRREL!

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