A stranger is someone personally unknown yet visually available

Evidence

The stranger is close to us insofar as we feel between him and ourselves similarities of nationality or social position, of occupation or of general human nature. He is far from us insofar as these similarities extend beyond him and us, and connect us only because they connect a great many people. — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 397 (#expands, via linked claim)

Between these two factors of nearness and distance, however, a peculiar tension arises, since the consciousness of having only the absolutely general in common has exactly the effect of putting a special emphasis on that which is not common. For a stranger to the country, the city, the race, and so on, what is stressed is again nothing individual, but alien origin, a quality which he has, or could have, in common with many other strangers. For this reason strangers are not really perceived as individuals, but as strangers of a certain type. Their remoteness is no less general than their nearness. — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 401 (#expands, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: The stranger embodies a simultaneous union of closeness and remoteness — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 388; Living surrounded by strangers is a peculiar condition requiring explanation; Shared universal traits make the stranger simultaneously near and far — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 397 (+2 more)

Related

• Shared universal traits make the stranger simultaneously near and far (similarity 0.92)
• The stranger embodies a simultaneous union of closeness and remoteness (similarity 0.92)
• Strangers are perceived by type rather than as individuals (similarity 0.89)
• The most urban-inept strangers can be the most warmly treated (similarity 0.88)
• Seeing a handicap makes some strangers feel licensed to intrude (similarity 0.87)
• The stranger is not a transient wanderer but a settled potential wanderer (similarity 0.87)
• Strangeness is a specific proportion of nearness and distance (similarity 0.84)
• In the stranger, distance means the near one is far and vice versa. (similarity 0.84)
• Living surrounded by strangers is a peculiar condition requiring explanation (similarity 0.84)
• The stranger fuses detachment with attachment, coming today but staying tomorrow (similarity 0.82)
• Behavior can track type even when encounter partners are anonymous (similarity 0.81)
• Even literate ancient peoples suspected strangers might not be fully human (similarity 0.81)
• Humans have a biophysical cap of roughly four thousand known individuals (similarity 0.81)
• Libraries and museums block strangers’ attempts at conversation (similarity 0.80)
• Stranger relations rest on general commonality, not specific differences (similarity 0.80)

Broader Connections

• Shared universal traits make the stranger simultaneously near and far #expands (0.70) — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 397
• Strangers are perceived by type rather than as individuals #expands (0.60) — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 401
• Industrialization shifted urban stranger-identification from dress to location #expands (0.50)