Can you really make new friends just by going to Starbucks?

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I'm wondering because a lot of sites make suggestions to meet new people just by hanging out alone in public places, e.g. coffee shops and restaurants. Yet, I've never, EVER, seen or heard of people finding long-term friendships by randomly chatting to someone at the next table. I never see people talking randomly to strangers in public places. Usually they're on their phones/computers or chatting only to their pre-existing friends.

Do people actually do this? Like literally just strike up a conversation with a random person or group in a public setting and end up getting their contact info and becoming long-term friends? Is that even socially acceptable or does it just come off as creepy?

In my experience I would say it doesn't happen often but can't be ruled out completely. Approaching a situation like that looking to create long term friendships would probably be expecting a lot. But I would say it can't hurt to be friendly to others...who knows what could happen. It's something I struggle with implementing into my real life as an aspie, but it is my attitude.

-Tony

I've never experienced this probably because one, I don't feel comfortable sitting in public places by myself so if I ever am in the situation where I am getting a drink at a cafe on my own I try and finish it as swiftly as possible, or make sure I get a takeaway, and two, I would never have the guts to strike up a conversation with a stranger. Although I have heard stories from friends who have chatted with people in lineups for fastfood outlets and such.

I think a public library is a good place for this to happen because you can quickly find a common interest to talk about depending on what they're doing and a person could easily "accidentally" see that the person was reading a certain book as they were walking by, or if you happened to be sitting at the same table. In that circumstance it wouldn't seem creepy as long as you talked to them confidently. Hmm, it's always been my dream to meet someone cool in a library and start up an unlikely friendship.

Depends where you are. In my city there is an exclusive mentality. I think the assumption would be a pick up attempt, but I'm far from socially competent so personal opinion only.

I never see people doing this...usually from what I've observed, people don't really start talking out of nowhere, but they start when there is a situation that clearly brings them together, like an event or a party.

I don't know about coffee shops but people do start conversations with strangers at the bus stop. I don't start conversations with strangers but strangers sometimes start conversations with me. I respond because I don't want to be rude and it's nice to have something interesting happen every now and then. I don't regularly have strangers talking to me so when they do I make sure to be friendly. I haven't had any friendships start that way though. One person asked me for my phone number but as soon as he did I started to wonder if I had just been flirting without knowing it so I didn't feel right giving out my number. I was about to but then I thought "wait a second, what's going on here" and I changed my mind.