apart from hanging out under their bedroom window and making bird noises, start a conversation silly. I pretty sure small talk about the weather isn't going to be unwelcome. people are noisy animals ... we like to yak loudly.

lol, I admit I'd be pretty surprised if a stranger ever asked me that but who knows, I might say yes, you never know ! But no, I rarely ever approach strangers, never really known how to do it, but you should just ask them, whatever happens I'm sure it'll start a conversation of some sort !

I would say "feel" them out but maybe the direct approach is the best? Like this " Nice day, eh. My name is Jorge by the way. What's yours?"
Now I feel like a mentally handicapped goon. Haha

I generally regard myself as a social fuckwit but if I were you I would compliment something about them and then introduce yourself. Actually it does usually work for me.

What an AWESOME question Reagan. Our society, as I think you know, is not set up for something as pure and innocent as that. I also have that happen occasionally. The time where it works out is if that person you want to be friends with is in a place where you can see them often. Or, if you happen to run into them from time to time in local hangouts. If so, the pure honesty works well I think, as in, "Hi, I've seen you around and always regret asking your name, I'm Adrian..."

That is how I started dating my girlfriend. I saw her around for 5 months, and finally said that exact thing to her. One time, 5 months earlier, I complimented her hair, totally innocently, and walked away. I'm kind of slow. LOL.

when i was 7 i saw a new girl on the school bus and HAD to be friends with her. after watching shyly for a while, i eventually figured out that she lived in the house behind mine. i had heard the bus driver speak to her by name, so one day after school i told my mom i was going to go to my new friend's house. i knocked on her door and asked her aunt for her, by name. when she came to the door in her slip (she was still changing), i said, "hi! wanna be my friend?" we were best friends for many years until we lost touch, but we just found each other again on facebook!

i guess it's different when you're an adult and expected to act grown-up... but i bet most people would be thrilled to have you talk to them...

that totally happens me all the time!

im a hairstylist and i get a TON of clients that i would love to hang out with! but... i dont want to scare them away from my business, and i dont want to seem unprofessional.

so i shut my face and hope they come back.

let me know what you end up doing next time, and if you approach them and it goes well, maybe i will start making some friends as well.

good luck!

i find strangers that are so cool all the time, i just wish i had the balls to talk to them.
you seem like you have to balls to talk to strangers. id say go for it, who wouldn't want to be your friend?

Being a guy is a hard thing to do, because definitively you'll freak the person out. I have made those kind of moves and it bothers me to think us guys can't be friendly without people thinking something else. Obviously that's If I'm approaching a woman. I guess for approaching a guy is fine. i rather stay to myself just not to make that impression or if i do, I make sure I have a girl by my side.

I usually just walk up and utter something totally stupid. It's a good conversation starter sometimes...

Adorable

I'v encountered many strangers I wanted to be friends with, but im not so great in a social setting and I pus out

Dont hold back

Follow your womanly instincts I supose.
(if they've been realiable in the past) and
if you get a good "vibe" from that stranger
strick up a conversation! Act like you've
known them for years, it'll make em
comfortable. If they're cool. If not then..
say something foul and run away
screaming like a maniac.

Looked like a real fun day!
Strangers remain strange to me.
I am painfully shy around them.
Hope you are doing well.