If I want to be left alone on the bus, I smile at everyone. Throw in a light rocking motion and people will stand up rather than sit next to you.
Do you smile at strangers in the street?
- Thread starter LuckyClover95
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I'm British, acknowledging that there are other people around you is a sign of weakness and can result in you losing all your tea drinking privileges. That kind of behaviour will get you some pretty dirty looks around here.
On a serious note; that kind of behaviour also sounds pretty dangerous. I would rather put on the antisocial front and have people avoid talking to me so they will leave me alone. I generally just avoid eye contact, remain silent and keep to myself; headphones are also a great deterrent.
If I'm walking, I try to look like I'm in a hurry, it stops those damn people with clipboards from asking me if I'd like to sign up for paint balling or whatever.
On a serious note; that kind of behaviour also sounds pretty dangerous. I would rather put on the antisocial front and have people avoid talking to me so they will leave me alone. I generally just avoid eye contact, remain silent and keep to myself; headphones are also a great deterrent.
If I'm walking, I try to look like I'm in a hurry, it stops those damn people with clipboards from asking me if I'd like to sign up for paint balling or whatever.
Where I live, most people don't just smile at one another on the street, they actually say "Hello" or some variation of a greeting.
It's actually really cool, since it's a small city. The atmosphere is surprisingly friendly.
As someone who was raised in New York City, it was a bit of a culture shock.
It's actually really cool, since it's a small city. The atmosphere is surprisingly friendly.
As someone who was raised in New York City, it was a bit of a culture shock.
It depends on the circumstance for me. If it's a time when it'd be awkward not to make any interaction (like if one of us has to move out the way for the other one to get past) I do. But if we're just passing each other I usually have my earphones in and my head angled towards the floor so I rarely notice them anyway. If it's someone I know I give them the upwards nod.
I smile at people, and say hello. Common decency, when you are a country boy like me. Tho when i moved to the "big" city*, some people almost get scared. But the vast majority is smiling back, and even start talking with me. It's awesome. 
*Copenhagen ain't exactly big in American standards
*Copenhagen ain't exactly big in American standards
- Mar 31, 2010
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I don't usually smile at people I don't know unless they're a cute toddler / small child or they're doing something amusing, probably should smile more but I generally feel awkward around strangers.
I smile if I must but for the most part i'm afraid of making eye-contact especially with people I don't know so I try not to
I tend to smile at strangers in the street, or whatever path I may be taking to get to a location. I think that when you smile at someone, it tends to cheer up people. I think it is very difficult to be smiled at and not smile back. I am not saying everyone has to smile when smiled at, or necessarily has to feel happier, but usually for a second it brightens the day. Also, it is much better than scowling at people, and usually for me if I am having a bad day, walking down the street or hallway smiling and saying hi to people tends to help brighten me up. I always feel happier when I get a smile back.
Some people bring up the point that when you do smile at someone, it tends to give them the idea that you want to talk to them. I realize that does happen. It happens to me often enough to know that it does, but I think when you do get into those talks, it never has to be anything long and drawn out. For me, if I get into one of those talks, and I really do not want to talk that long, I usually just say a greeting like "Good Morning!" or "Mornin'" if I don't feel like saying two words. I might comment on the day, like it is nice out or something. I never think talking at all has to be long, and usually it is not. If you don't want to talk at all, I suppose you can look down, or not smile, but I think smiling and saying hi to people can help wake you up if you are feeling sleepy, or brighten your day if you are down in the dumps.
In the end though, I just find smiling at people down the street helps brighten up everyone?s mood, even if it is on a small scale. Smiling is a contagious thing, and when you keep smiling everyone starts to smile. For all you know, you might have cheered someone up, and made someone?s day. You might have even turned someone who was about to do something horrible away by making them feel better about themselves. You never know.
Some people bring up the point that when you do smile at someone, it tends to give them the idea that you want to talk to them. I realize that does happen. It happens to me often enough to know that it does, but I think when you do get into those talks, it never has to be anything long and drawn out. For me, if I get into one of those talks, and I really do not want to talk that long, I usually just say a greeting like "Good Morning!" or "Mornin'" if I don't feel like saying two words. I might comment on the day, like it is nice out or something. I never think talking at all has to be long, and usually it is not. If you don't want to talk at all, I suppose you can look down, or not smile, but I think smiling and saying hi to people can help wake you up if you are feeling sleepy, or brighten your day if you are down in the dumps.
In the end though, I just find smiling at people down the street helps brighten up everyone?s mood, even if it is on a small scale. Smiling is a contagious thing, and when you keep smiling everyone starts to smile. For all you know, you might have cheered someone up, and made someone?s day. You might have even turned someone who was about to do something horrible away by making them feel better about themselves. You never know.
As a matter of fact, I usually do, and people usually smile back. I live in a nice area full of nice people. Yes, we have a few douchebags, but what community doesn't?
Never, but if someone holds a door open or waits to let me pass on a narrow path for example then I will always smile and give a lil' nod to show I'm appreciative.
I don't think I've ever had someone smile at me unless they're trying to sell me something.
Slightly unrelated, but sometimes I think I must have "TWAT" tattoo'd on my forehead because more or less on a daily basis I get people asking me for money on the street I live on.
I don't think I've ever had someone smile at me unless they're trying to sell me something.
Slightly unrelated, but sometimes I think I must have "TWAT" tattoo'd on my forehead because more or less on a daily basis I get people asking me for money on the street I live on.
I smile. I dunno, I find it to be both a habit and a courtesy. Maybe if they are being exceedingly creepy, or they seem like the type of person whose attention I wouldn't want I will hold back, but otherwise it sometimes feels rude not to.
The main problem I come across is when I'm in the park exercising. I've been trying to do some running lately, and the old people who like to walk in the mornings tend to smile at me as I pass by. Which is a problem when I'm running, because I get to the point where I have very little oxygen to spare. Using up that much more to smile back or wheeze out a "Hi" in response to their greeting is often just too much to ask. So, please, if you greet a runner understand that if they don't respond, there's a good chance it's because they just literally cannot manage it.
The main problem I come across is when I'm in the park exercising. I've been trying to do some running lately, and the old people who like to walk in the mornings tend to smile at me as I pass by. Which is a problem when I'm running, because I get to the point where I have very little oxygen to spare. Using up that much more to smile back or wheeze out a "Hi" in response to their greeting is often just too much to ask. So, please, if you greet a runner understand that if they don't respond, there's a good chance it's because they just literally cannot manage it.
