cyberspace junkyard

Encounters
Why is it I can never recognise a pick-up line until it's too far into the conversation? You know, it's one thing when you're at Friday night drinks, or at a bar or club (hmmm... once in a blue moon!) and when you're with a group, and you're on your guard. I am now convinced that there is a breed of males out there that must think they'll have better luck running into people at bookstores, shopping centres and food courts. Mentally adding HMV to my list of places to keep my wits about me, along with photo stops, train stations, Sydney Uni library, the MLC food court and Grace Bros. You'd think I'd clue in a little more quickly by now!

I was browsing at HMV with Kaz when she got a phone call and we happened to pause a while in front of the TV screens they have showing movies throughout the day. While I patiently waited for her to finish, a guy on my right mumbled something - I replied "pardon?" and our ensuing conversation went something like this. Sound familiar, girls?

Him: Do you know what movie this is?
Me: Uh no, sorry. Maybe you can ask at the counter.
Him: Don't worry, it's not important.
Me: *inaudible grunt and brief smile. thinking about why on earth he'd ask if it wasn't important. Dang, now I want to know what it is*
Him: I think it's the Scorpion King.
Me: *relieved*Yeah, that sounds familiar
Him: Where are you from?
Me: *distracted*I'm half Indonesian, half Chinese.
Him: *Babbling something about being a recruitment consultant for Singapore and Hong Kong. Then something about just coming back from a trip*
Me: Uh huh, that's nice (or something to that effect)
Him: Do you work in the city?
Me: Yeah *starting to wish Kaz would save me from the boring conversation*
Him: What do you do?
Me: I'm a Business Analyst (thought this was safe)
Him: Wow! I specialise in Analyst Recruitment!
Me: Uh huh.
Him: Do you have a business card?
Me: *Ferreting through my bag. Pretending to look in my wallet. He spots one. Thankfully it is a generic Westpac team card*
Here you go. *highly suspicious, sending mental thoughts out to Kaz; save me! save me!*

Encounters like this just make me feel slightly embarrassed for some reason. I think someone wrote a book on how to start conversations with strangers in public places cos the strategies I've come across haven't really been that original. Maybe I'm being too harsh and it actually is really hard to meet new people.

Nah!

PS - got my Scarlet Pimpernel Encore CD, finally! hoorah!