My opinion by Victoria Skakunova

Sophia Gurina

2023-06-07 14:10:34 UTC

I’d say that it is interesting and unusual project. If you ask me if I would like to take part in such a project, I would take a chance and try. Personally, I think that this is a good way to develop communication skills, the opportunity to become liberated and learn how to communicate with a variety of people. Personally speaking, in ordinary life, it is sometimes difficult to force yourself to talk to a stranger just like that, but as part of a project, it would be easier for me. In my opinion, you need to be able to communicate not only with friendly people, but also with those who can be rude, because not everyone knows how to get out of such a situation and answer correctly, and I would also like to learn how make a closed person talk, this is a useful skill for our future profession, for example, for an interview. In my view, for those people who are not inclined to loneliness, it is very difficult without communication, so such a project can help find real friends. I feel that in big cities there are a lot of closed people, everyone is busy with their lives and their problems. My feeling is that, that phones also influenced this, because because of them we began to communicate more online and lost communication skills in real life. As far as I'm concerned, for some, it is strange to start a conversation with a stranger, but sometimes it may be necessary or appropriate in certain circumstances, so you need to be able to do it.

Margarita Lapenkova

2023-06-07 19:24:15 UTC

1. If you ask me about people in my city (they tend to communicate with complete strangers or not), I will answer "no". There are a lot of serious, not funny people in Russia. And in my opinion, it's strange when you're on the subway or just walking down the street, and suddenly someone wants to talk to you. There are a lot of people in Moscow who are busy thinking about work, family, et cetera. No one needs unnecessary conversations with strangers.

2. Personally, I think that Moscow is definitely an unfriendly city. It's too big, noisy and fast to be "sociable" and "open". It seems to me, the "second capital" of Russia is more friendly. In my view, people are happier and more easygoing in St. Petersburg. Also maybe people are more sociable and communicable where there is a sea. However according to research, the Altai and Trans-Baikal Territories are the friendliest regions of Russia. I don't know exactly.

3. After all, in my opinion, the most "closed" city is Moscow. People are afraid that others who starts a conversation with them may be cheaters or criminals. The person who speaks to you seems strange and a little bit crazy. Personally speaking, the friendliest place is Turkey. There people are ready to help, chat and amuse you.

4. For me, this is definitely a good choice: I will stay in my bubble, and you will be in yours. I am such a person... not very talkative (with not close people), shy, loving my "space". But other people can make different choices. In that case, I feel that it's a good idea to have a "Talk to me" badge (like in London).

Цуй Цзянин Cui Jianing

2023-06-07 20:50:27 UTC

I have to say that this is a very original and interesting project and it seems to me that different cultures in different places can breed different personalities. My home region of Northeast China is often said to be the most welcoming region in the country. Most Northeasterners are straightforward, generous, and like to initiate conversation with others, and always strike up a quick rapport with those around them. In my opinion, the Northeastern accent plays a very big role, as they sound very funny and can quickly bring people closer to each other, and many famous Chinese comedians are from the Northeast, which also creates a certain impression on the audience. My friends from the Northeast around me are also very sociable and always have something to say that others want to hear. My aunt lives in a small town in the northeast, and she even knows almost everyone in that town.

But if you asked me if I would initiate a conversation with a stranger, my answer would be no. Personally, If I just met this stranger once, I think it is unnecessary and even a little bit strange. I don’t know this person at all. First, I am afraid that I will be in danger, and second, I am afraid that I will offend him.Personally speaking，my character is shy and cautious, and I will care about every word I say，communicating with a stranger make me feel tired and awkward. However, if a stranger takes the initiative to talk to me, I will try my best to make the atmosphere of the conversation good under the condition of ensuring safety, so that she feels happy and stress-free to communicate with me.

I have travelled to many cities at home and abroad，in my view, Taiwan is the most unfriendly city, at least for us mainlanders. I have met many shop assistants who became very impatient when they heard my mainland accent, and even the vendor selling me fruit had to roll her eyes at me. This was very rude and made me feel very uncomfortable. But I feel that you can't generalise, there are rude people everywhere, and I also met some people in Taiwan who were willing to talk to me .

Jason Li

2023-06-08 04:18:45 UTC

In my opinion, my city is a very friendly city. My hometown is Shenzhen, located in the south of China adjacent to Hong Kong, is a city of immigrants. Because it is a city of immigrants, there are people from all over the world who have come together to build this vibrant young city with only 30 years of history by their own efforts. So everyone is willing to talk about something when they meet for the first time. All of them are full of that kind of enthusiasm, they are full of enthusiasm and hope for life. Everyone is friendly and likes to help each other.

If you ask me, I would say that Taiwan is a very friendly place. I have traveled to Taiwan and the people are very attractive to me. All the people are so hospitable, whether it's the hotel owner or the lady in the restaurant or the person on the street we ask when we're lost. They were all very helpful, even when they knew you were from the mainland, and they didn't change their minds. We all know that Taiwan and the mainland have an extraordinary relationship, but this does not affect the closeness of the Taiwanese and mainlanders.

I’d say that “ you keep to your private bubble, and I’ll keep to mine” it's not a good way to get in touch with people in urban life. Our lives under steel and concrete are already too compartmentalized in themselves. And humans are not solitary animals, you need groups, you need team activities. If you think this way, then you completely separate yourself from the people around you, which is equivalent to building an invisible wall inside yourself. This is certainly not good for your physical and mental health. In any case, you need to interact with others, you need social activities.

Denis Onischenko

2023-06-08 07:09:11 UTC

1) I'd say that people in my city find it odd, talking to a complete strangers. It's just not in common in Krasnodar.

2) In my opinion, every city is the same. If you ask me, I've never heard any rumors about one city being friendly or unfriendly, so I can't be sure.

3) I feel that every city I've been to is almost the same by level of friendliness. I didn't speak to strangers, so I can't say which city was friendlier.

4) Personally, I think that it is a good approach. As far as I'm concerned, every person needs their own personal bubble and it's not always comfortable when your personal space gets invaded.

P. S. I guess I didn't understand the task, looking at what everyone else has written...

Ksenya Sviridenko

2023-06-08 07:14:11 UTC

I’d say that the tendency to communicate with complete strangers is relative in any region. Especially this question is very relevant in the era of digital technologies. According to statistics in my region, young people have problems with face-to-face communication, that is why in my view communication on the street or shop is wild for them. Due to the factor of distrust of people, at least the lack of opportunity to analyze their posts, photos on social media, many people prefer to communicate with strangers and live online.

If you ask me about friendly and unfriendly cities, I will answer briefly. Personally, I think that the friendly of the city depends on the residents. There is such expression: "It is not a place that paints a person, but a person is a place."

As far as I'm concerned, I have been in Ulan-Ude and sometimes the behavior of the indigenous people is egocentric in relation to Russian visitors to Siberia. They believe that visitors harm nature, export minerals, destroy culture. Personally speaking, they are very possessive.

I feel that people stop developing like in private bubble due to digitalization but the urban environment is a space for communication, cooperation that's how people can develop the skills of psiology, thinking. They become personalities acquire their own individuality.

Gleb Eventov

2023-06-08 07:55:50 UTC

I’d say that there are a small amount of people, who like having conversations with complete strangers, people in Moscow most of time are very cagey and serious, so talking to a stranger is a very rare thing
Russia is a very big country with lots of places, where climate is very severe, so in my opinion the most unfriendly cities in Russia are northern ones like Murmansk or Norilsk. A reputation for being a really friendly region goes to Tatarstan, many people in Russia suppose that there lives one of the friendliest people in whole country and personally speaking I was in Kazan, so I can fully agree with this statement.
In my view, I don’t think that there are whole unfriendly cities, I can’t even name one, that really struck into my mind. Every county or cities have unfriendly people, but it doesn’t mean that the city is fully crowded with such.
I’d say that it is not a very good approach to life, because then people in city will be very separated and always unfriendly to each other. We should help people within capacity and of course if a person is close to you, you should do everything to help him in his situation.

Valerya Beloshitskaya

2023-06-08 09:57:05 UTC

1. I feel that chatting to the straingers is considered odd in my town, if you don’t buy something or ask some advice or help. In this case a person you are talking to will safe the distance.
2. As far as I’m concerned Chelyabinsk is considered to be not so friendly as, for example, some southern cities, because it has reputation for being criminal, but personally I think that it sounds like stereotype. If you ask me about my experience, Moscow seems to me more unfriendly than my native town - Kolomna.
3. In my view Kazan is really friendly city, perhaps it is because when I was there, the sun was shining, it was warm and I was dived into new culture, new atmosphere and was really inspired. In my view, I just transferred my feelings to citizens.
4. In my opinion it must be a balance between your own private and social life. We should give a space to each other to be in our comfort, but be enough empathising to help each other. I`d say that it is really hard an may be even impossible to stay strongly in your own “bubble”.

Darya Savina

2023-06-08 11:07:45 UTC

1. I think I’ll say no. People in Moscow aren’t really open to talk to strangers. It’s not like that would be considered odd (I don’t think people here really care about what others do), but I don’t see it happening often.

2. I just checked some websites and there are some cities that considered to be the friendliest: it’s Grozniy, Yakutsk, Kazan and Ufa. I’ve never been there, so I can’t really tell. If I had to say something, I think small towns are friendlier than large cities, and I can agree: my grandma lives in a town named Elets and basically knows half of the people there! And even if she sees them for the first time, it’s fine to talk to them as if they’re her friends.

3. Elets, as I mentioned before. Also I think Caucasian Mineral Waters are pretty friendly, probably because it’s small and mostly popular amongst tourists.

4. Well, depends on a person, I guess. Sure, it’s better to ignore others, especially if you’re not really a talkative person. But if you’re seeing someone you really want to talk to – why not?

Куприянова Агнесса

2023-06-08 20:59:30 UTC

In my opinion, people from Saransk are very friendly and well-disposed, so it's not surprising to talk to a stranger, talk about the city, traditions. Of course, we can give a lot of advices for guests of our city where it is better to spend time. Personally speaking, it would be considered odd not to talk to a stranger and show our ignorance and lack of culture, because I’m sure that we need to help people. For us to explain the usual things won’t take much time, but for them it will be an important indicator of the city. Many people come for the first time and want to enjoy the city to the fullest!
In my view, every region in my country is friendly. I saw completely different data in different articles and links about the statistics of the friendliest cities in Russia. This fact suggests that all people perceive the concept of "friendliness" in their own way. I have been to many cities in Russia and I can say with confidence that people everywhere are very well disposed towards tourists. My personal top is headed, of course, by Moscow. When I moved, I could ask any person for directions and they always helped me. Now I also know the city well and can tell tourists some interesting details or give advices.
Recently I was in Belarus and I’d say that people from this country are very closed and not very friendly. They seem to be fed up with tourists. 9 out of 10 people will not want to tell you where the location is. I thought these were jokes about the fact that people might not be very pleased with tourists, but I felt it myself.
Personally speaking, I think this is not really good approach to city life for several reasons. It separates people from each other. We live in a rapidly changing world, in the age of technology, and if everyone thinks only about themselves we will not be able to be real people. Everyone should learn to be kinder, find an approach to different people and show hospitality. The boomerang law works well in life!

Ivan P

2023-06-09 01:14:33 UTC

I live in a capital, so I’d say that to chat with complete strangers is a common practice. It’s absolutely normal.
I haven’t visited a lot of cities in my country. Personally speaking, I met most friendly people in Kazan, Tatarstan. People there are ready to help you in any way. More of that, I have a couple friends from that city.
Personally, I think that the most friendly city I have been to is Los Angeles. None of another cities and counties was so kind for me as LA. I remember that I went to a shop with my friend and we spend about half an hour in a good conversation with a two sellers, that we met first time. I can’t imagine same situation in my home city.
My feeling is that it depends on each person. If you ask me, I communicate with strangers only as much as necessary and not more of that. I would speak more only if person has same hobbies as me.