Question: Breaking the ice with new people

[KeithA45]

How do you break the ice with new people you've never met before?

I usually meet new people from friends of friends, friends of friends of friends and so forth. But now I'm away at college and none of my friends came with me. I've met one or two new people, but I'm terrible meeting people who I didn't meet through a mutual friend. How do you break the ice and become friends with people you've never met before?

I'll take advice for any scenario, and to meet guys or gals. General "find similar interests" or "use this line:" advices are both welcome. I originally mean for classrooms and lectures, but even expand it to high school, at the work-place or at bars for everyone else all I care, just please refrain from pick-up lines (as hilarious as they are).

Thanks ahead of time

 

[Shantari Extanu]

Small talk, it works wonders. It takes a couple of conversations to get them to be your friend but yeah lol.. (That wasnt meant to sound like stalker advice)

 

[SmilingKitsune]

Try to find something you share a common interest in, failing that, the weather, nothing will ever beat the weather when it comes to ice-breakers.

 

[DeathSnake]

Find common ground, i met one of my good friends because he was talking about call of duty online and so was i so i kind of edged myself in the conversation.

Its horrible if you deliberatly try and find common ground though. Dont go up to someone and ask then "Hey, do you like playing on the Xbox" and they say "no, im amish", your fucked

 

[BlindTom]

The book they're reading, the conversation they are having, I try to pop into whatever people are doing. In a way it should be creepy that i've been paying enough attention to know what they are talking about or reading etc. But usually they're just as willing to break the ice as you. Provided you don't say anything offensive or expect them to give anything resembling a reply straight away.

 

[rossatdi]

Jimmy Dix: Hey, man. You ever play ball? You've got a good build.
Joe Hallenbeck: What are you, a fag?
Jimmy Dix: No, I'm just trying to break the ice.
Joe Hallenbeck: I like ice. Leave it the fuck alone.

Best film ever.

 

[GRoXERs]

How do you break the ice with new people you've never met before?

I usually meet new people from friends of friends, friends of friends of friends and so forth. But now I'm away at college and none of my friends came with me. I've met one or two new people, but I'm terrible meeting people who I didn't meet through a mutual friend. How do you break the ice and become friends with people you've never met before?

I'll take advice for any scenario, and to meet guys or gals. General "find similar interests" or "use this line:" advices are both welcome. I originally mean for classrooms and lectures, but even expand it to high school, at the work-place or at bars for everyone else all I care, just please refrain from pick-up lines (as hilarious as they are).

Thanks ahead of time

Ok, so as a college student you have a massive advantage: You get to ask people what their major is. As far as icebreakers go, this is about as good as it gets. Chances are pretty good people you see in class will have a similar or the same major as you, and there's no way that the conversation will turn to something offensive.
Other than that,

The book they're reading, the conversation they are having, I try to pop into whatever people are doing. In a way it should be creepy that i've been paying enough attention to know what they are talking about or reading etc. But usually they're just as willing to break the ice as you. Provided you don't say anything offensive or expect them to give anything resembling a reply straight away.

This.^^

 

[Grimm91]

I use a lot of small talk, make a joke here and there. Works great for me.

 

[BlindTom]

Yay i got a this!

 

[JenXXXJen]

This probably only works if you're a girl, but something along the lines of, "Oh my god, I love your earings! Where'd you get them from?" Works for me everytime, steriotypes exist for a reason.

Failing that, some sarcastic joke won't go amiss, especially if it's a ***** about someone who's really mean, or something.

 

[Revernd Awesome]

"How much does a Polar Bear weigh?"

 

[errorfied]

"How much does a polar bear weigh?"
"Uhhh...I don't know...."
"Enough to break the ice!"

I've never actually tried it, but I'd probably laugh if somebody tried it out on me.

The most awkward social situation I have ever been in was relatively easily solved when I just looked around the room for the friendliest looking person and said that everybody else scared me and asked if to be their friend.

We've been friends for 4 years now.

 

[megapenguinx]

I usually just walk up to them, say something random and stick around to hear the results

 

[Lukeje]

"How much does a Polar Bear weigh?"

Enough to break the ice?

 

[kaziard]

"so.....how bigs you penis?" if its a dude or "i hear voices" is another good one.

 

[BlindTom]

Sometimes when I'm on the train to work I do strange things to illicit a reaction. The lengths to which people will go to avoid physical and eye contact are staggering. "So who wants to be my friend?" is rather good when everyones as nervous as each other.

I also like to do Mastermind with people, you know "Name, specialist subject" they'll inevitably make you answer first but that's all right as long as you have something to say.

Oh and people love to talk about themselves (Hence the internet) so if they stand out in any way compliment them and ask about it like Jen said.

 

[Inarticulate_Underachiever]

Be open and friendly and try to find a shared interest, using either of these methods has double the amount of friends I have since I started college.

Of course, that's easier said than done (for me anyway, I'm terrible at making small talk. Or any talk for that matter).