Is casual small talk with strangers really uncommon in Europe?

[ChicoFromThe305]

So I'm watching all the reactions of the tourists from all around the world that traveled here for the world cup and it seems mostly among the Europeans that are just really shocked about how people start conversations and stuff in the US, is it not normal anywhere else?

[purplepoppy]

It varies from place to place. You wouldn't stop a random stranger walking down the street for a chat but we do talk to each other. People just instinctively know when its OK to chat or not. Usually if you look interesting or harmlessly different people approach you more

https://youtu.be/M0seF62AhuM?is=2nuY44Os2zoZBxVh

[DryGermanGuy]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnj3v3hKgTo

[Account]

Depends on where they are from, here it is quite rare for strangers to be starting a conversation with each other unless they are acquaintances in school or at work or at a learning course or anything hobby-related (or it could happen if they have friends in common), otherwise not that much unless they ask for directions or anything of such sorts.
In Edinburgh though when I took my friends dog for a walk to the park, people greeted me even though I was a stranger and I greeted them back.

[DryGermanGuy]

Correct. You don't talk to complete strangers and empty small-talk is not a thing.

[Xawyx-2]

No, it's actually quite common in the Balkans &South-East Europe.

[Badtobad]

Not true, it's very common

[CubaPirate]

Not really