h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I have noticed an Australian convention (I imagine it is wider than that): namely, having a conversation with sranger while waiting for a bus/train/tram/ferry necessarily means that you cannot sit next to them on the bus/train/tram/ferry. This obviously excludes regular travel companions or people you are meant to be meeting.

It is rule I really like. It means you can have a friendly chat about the weather/lateness of the train/etc while waiting (when you don't want to read your book) but have no fear that you will be collared for conversation for the entire trip.

PT

I too enjoy talking to people waiting for public transport. Although a lot of people in the u.k seem to find this unsettling. Its very rare i sit next to any of these people. A simple 'nice to meet you' and i make my way down to the other end of the tram. What i have found difficult is that occasionally i will meet the same people again and i face the dilemma. do i ask about their in-growing toenail or not. how much of these friendly five minute conversations are we meant to remember and for how long? just exactly what is the excepted etiquette for this?

It is important not to inconvenience or embarrass your fellow traveller but you must keep in mind that they told you about their in-growing toenail in the first place. The accepted etiquette is that you should remember everything about them that you can but should recall during the conversation only as much as is necessary to continue polite discourse.

You may should permit your fellow waiter to offer information about themselves or recapitulate information from previous conversations. Similarly, you may do the same. Opportunities to engage with their self-referential comments may be taken, provided it is done sensitively, once they breach a subject area related to a fact that you recall.

Embarrassing details that may have been disclosed to you as an anonymous listener should be forgotten. You should never offer such titbits yourself.