Do you smile at strangers in the street?

[Moonlight Butterfly]

Well me and my sister have 'The Game'

It involves challenging each other to make complete tossers of ourselves in the interests of cheering someone else up.

Past challenges included:

I had to walk past a fish and chip shop window and do an exadgeratted 'point, click and wink' at the man behind the counter.

My sis had to answer the door and talk to the person completely in a French accent in an enthusiastic tone. It turned out to be a delivery boy with some flowers.

It tends to work quite well but we do live in one of the friendliest places in Britain (in a recent poll) lol.

We saw this really sad and depressed looking old lady on a bench so we went to starbucks and bought her the most fancy iced coffee we could get, never seen anyone smile so wide lol.

 

[Byere]

Ok, gonna be blunt. I work in retail, specifically my local grocery store. I have been for 6 years now, almost all of which has been till work.

Now I'm not the most upbeat person, I can actually be rather surly at times, but I always try to be nice. I'll tell you this though. When you're as well known as me, it really feels like you're some sort of local celebrity and I HATE the attention. A LOT of people think I'm just soooo nice because of how I'm made to act for them at work and they seem to think I have to be their friend, no matter my feelings on the matter.

In summery, no, I don't smile to most people on the street. I will avoid eye contact, mumble if they say hi and generally try to NOT be noticed by anyone.

 

[SonofaJohannes]

No, other people scare me.

 

[Dango]

Sometimes, though usually it's just a slight gentlemanly nod.

 

[Bribase]

I just bought a new hat and I've decided to try to bring tipping it as a greeting back into fashion.

Does that count?

 

[Aleate]

Usually if I look at them and they are looking at me, I usually smile and nod, then they do the same, then we get on with each our own small lives.

I swear its my job that's made me this friendly... and I hate it.

 

[Scizophrenic Llama]

I'd give them a nod if they acknowledge me in some manner. Generally would I only really exchange a smile or something is if it is a re-occurring thing to bump into them.

 

[TobiasFunke]

I always smile at strangers and say hello!

 

[NightlyNews]

I always smile at people or keep a smile as I generally spend the day, Its polite and it shows everyone else that you enjoy life ^.^

When im running I always say "Good day" to people but that almost always is returned by grunts or just plain ignored.

I don't think they are being impolite. I would almost say interrupting people on the street is impolite.

I've lived in Boston and New York. It's not that the people are inhospitable it's that they have shit to do. With basic body language you can generally tell if someone wants to exchange pleasantries. Otherwise you may just be annoying people :I

 

[_Russell_]

No, other people scare me.

^ This.

I'd say smiling at someone in the street is a fast way of getting yourself stabbed. You might label me cynical for believing that all strangers are bastards to be avoided, but I'd call myself a realist.

 

[MorsePacific]

I only do if I'm smiled at first. It's more out of politeness than an actual urge to be nice to random strangers.

 

[Ambi]

I generally smile and say hello to older people and those who look at me as I pass, but with people my age or people who look absorbed in something I stare at the ground.

If they look me in the face.

I do an awkward wave with my right hand too.

Without lifting it from my side...

I'm weird >.>

I used to do that too whenever I met people, except I'd lift it a bit. "This is [name]." "Hi =]" *waves* Then I realised that the purpose of waving is generally to get people's attention when words do not suffice, but I guess it helps if they don't hear you greet them.

 

[No_Remainders]

I always smile at people or keep a smile as I generally spend the day, Its polite and it shows everyone else that you enjoy life ^.^

When im running I always say "Good day" to people but that almost always is returned by grunts or just plain ignored.

Yeah, I usually just say "How's it goin?" as I run past people, which isn't generally greeted with much enthusiasm.

I mean, it's almost as if they think I'm just being self-righteous and that I think I'm better than they are...

Shrug.

I don't if I'm walking. I do sometimes if I'm running.

 

[Flamezdudes]

Nope, I hate looking at strangers in the face/eyes and try to avoid them by looking at the floor or away...

 

[Chase Yojimbo]

From what I have found out, it is the more complex people of our society that often regard other people as human beings. If I see another person look at me, I instantly regard their presence with a smile, and sometimes even a greeting depending on their own social programming (smiling, greeting, nodding, etc).

Who in the hells ever developed the term "Don't talk to strangers"? I truthfully do not believe in that term; even as a child I would just talk to random people when sitting down in a store. I would talk about myself, and make them talk about themselves, etc, whenever I was waiting for my parents. It is possible that at a young age I knew how to read expressions and intentions... but I highly doubt it.

 

[LordDarkPhantom]

I smile at the attractive people mostly.

I, Sir, bite my thumb at this behaviour.

OT: No, hardly anyone in my area has any manners and the neighbourhood is definitely not friendly. I wouldn't be surprised if I was searched by a wanna-be gangsta (yes, they don't earn the respect of being called a fully-fledged, proper "gangster") that was initiated by a simple smile.

 

[ReservoirAngel]

I smile, but it's only ever an involuntary sheepish smile whenever I happen to lock eyes with anyone I find even remotely attractive.

 

[dogenzakaminion]

Only if I meet their eyes. I usually don't make eye contact with people anyway, but if I do I always smile. I find that older people smile back more often, and young girls get a hate filled look, as if I'm hitting on them. I'm just trying to be nice. Smile at the world and the world smiles back, right?

 

[RoboPenguin]

I find smiling at people as I walk lightens a potentially sticky situation. I travel through some bad neighborhoods sometimes, and it throws people off their guard when you acknowledge that you see them and aren't afraid.

And sometimes they smile/nod their head back and it feels like you made a new friend!

 

[Mr.Squishy]

I try to, but eventually I forget any conscious effort to smile, and never know nor really think about whether I do or not. Sometimes I actually have to ask people "Do I smile?", which makes me a bit odd I s'pose.