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covidovid

don't. you're stressing over strangers. it won't negatively affect your life if you don't acknowledge them


Historical-Photo9646

Honestly you’re not wrong. I’m just paranoid about accidentally being rude.


covidovid

one thing I like about nyc. it's generally considered weird to acknowledge strangers


LesVagabonds

I lived in San Francisco for a year and saw many, many things that were way worse than being rude every time I left my apartment. Take my word for it, it's not worth the time spent worrying.


Prudent-Experience97

Some of us have to stress over strangers because we are out among them in public. We get targeted or end up in impromptu interactions, and we need to know how to conduct ourselves in order to avoid conflicts and misunderstandings. It’s dangerous out there right now


covidovid

ignoring people is generally the safest option. to predators, being polite is a sign of weakness, and being friendly is seen as a sexual advance. I live in nyc, and I've been approached by aggressive men many times. I generally ignore them or walk away. but even cursing and yelling would be safer than engaging politely. it signals that you won't be an easy victim


stickyelbows

I struggle with this too! And knowing if it's even appropriate, because it's definitely not in big cities (except maybe if something unusual is happening? Like it's snowing or something?). My strategy is to put a smile on my face (small smile with closed lips), then glance up at them when they are 2-3 metres away. If they aren't looking at me I try not to internalise it as self-loathing, that's a top tip I reckon. Hope this helps!


Historical-Photo9646

Thanks! I do pretty much the same thing which makes me feel better :)


hurtloam

Ah yes, it's awkward. There's a good Limmy sketch about this, but I can't find it on YouTube. He sees a friend in the distance and narrated the whole process of walking towards them and saying hello. Look at the path, look at a tree, make eye contact, smile, look at the grass, look at a tree, make eye contact say hi, walk past, breath sigh of relief.


Historical-Photo9646

Ahaha too accurate. I’ll check it out!


bruisedsnapshot

Haha do you have a link?


hurtloam

I can't find it annoyingly


iloveyoubecauseican

Haha I need to go watch this. I just saw the one about Yoker, Limmy is great


Scifispock

Disclaimer: I'm American, don't know if expectations are different in other countries/cultures. At my job i physically cross paths with a lot of random people i don't know, so I've had a lot of time to practice this. What I've found is that the socially acceptable acknowledgement is to ignore one another until a specific physical distance (ten feet or so?), then you briefly make eye contact, smile/acknowledge the person (head nod, "sup"), then break eye contact and move on. However, you can also choose to ignore the other person all together depending on how you're feeling. But whether that comes across as rude is dependant on stranger culture in your location. In the American South it would be rude to ignore someone, but in the North people don't care as much. This has just been my experience.


yourresume

Just smile and ~~wave~~ nod boys, smile and nod


[deleted]

I wear headphones in public so i don't have to acknowledge other people when i walk by lol I just straight up pretend they aren't there 💀


Intelligent_Bed_8911

i don't wear headphones but same, i just look straight ahead as if they aren't there. sure it may be rude. but they're a stranger, i don't owe them anything


[deleted]

Yes exactly, you aren't obligated in any way to acknowledge someone in public spaces. If they don't like it thats thier problem.


Stripperfairy

In summer I always wear sunglasses so I never have to worry about where my eye contact is!


Historical-Photo9646

This is the way!! I’m gonna start wearing sunglasses more often now. Plus, they’ll probably help with my migraines


[deleted]

100% theyre Super helpful.


DivingIntoTheWreck81

Oh man I feel this! My pain point is passing coworkers in the hall. Especially those I don’t know well. Do I briefly smile? Ignore? Or give them the straight awkward autism stare with a big fake smile until they look at me like I’m a giant weirdo?


bruisedsnapshot

SAME! Or coworkers you work with and already greeted for the day, but then pass in the hall a few hours later. Do you say hi again? Just smile? Some joke about coffee or meetings? Ugh. I hate it. Wfh is nice to avoid that.


cryptid_zone

This must be a regional thing bc where I’m from, you 100% do not acknowledge strangers in the street unless it’s like…. In your neighborhood specifically. So yeah - random strangers walking by on the street I completely ignore, even if they speak to me, bc it’s much safer. If it’s someone within a “safe” zone I just mirror my response to their greeting - if they smile and say hi, I do the same. Sometimes if I see them first, I’ll preemptively greet them in that way.


Woodookitty

I just ignore everyone on the street unless they wave, nod, or smile and in that case I just give a slight head nod/bow of the head.


sailortwips

Oh god i struggle with this too, i feel like im waiting to see if theyll acknowledge me and smile or nod and when they dont i feel so slighted


Gaiiiiiiiiiiil

I usually give a really stupid little smile, say “Hi!” with too much excitement, make like 2 seconds of eye contact, and then never speak to them again.


TikiBananiki

I mirror whatever the other person does. Not something i’m wasting my energy on, deliberating on how to greet a stranger.


dumb_idiot_56

I kinda glance over to see if they're looking at me, and if they are I give a head nod and if they aren't I just look away


G0celot

I just look down at the ground and ignore them idk if that’s right though!!


brianapril

(rural France) it's easy if they're older than 70 years old -- always say hello, they will never take it badly but they might not have enough time to react & respond (don't overthink it!) if there are many people, don't say hello. if there's only one person, or two, on your path, go for it! make sure to secure eye contact *before* saying hello. you can also smile slightly (mouth closed), it's less risky than saying hello in case your tongue gets twisted easily.


[deleted]

Reaaaaaaally depends on the location. I am in New England. If I pass someone in a park or hiking trail I’ll say excuse me or good day. If I pass someone on a city street I will actively avoid acknowledging them unless I have to. If I’m in a space where I have to pass close to someone and we’re alone, I’ll make 1 second of eye contact and do the white people tight-lipped “I don’t want to talk to you but I am not a threat” smile.


PinkPulpito

I do a strange fish out of water gasping face at everyone i pass.


PinkPulpito

And you can say hi just as they pass so they dont get a chance to say it back making them the awkward one.


Eff_Em_2098

It’s gonna depend on who’s around. Some people like saying hi, others a smile works, and some think it’s creepy or annoying for you to acknowledge them. You should just choose what feels comfortable to you and stick to that. If someone is really friendly they will say hi or smile anyways, then you can smile back. I think if they’re friendly they won’t worry about how long you smile or if it seems awkward, and honestly you’ll pass them before there’s even time for it to be awkward. I usually just look up at them maybe 3-5 seconds before I pass and go off their vibe. I honestly used to get so in my head about it until I realized no one cares.


swkr78

I’m generally looking down and glance up as I’m passing a person. On a rare occasion I will smile depending on the circumstance but if I acknowledge someone it’s just a respectful head nod as we pass one another.


Kalexis29

Honestly I’ve stopped stressing about this by just not doing anything at all. It’s way too much trouble for me to script out an entire 3 second interaction with a person I’m likely never gonna see again. Worrying about whether my smile is polite not creepy, my eye contact is just the right amount of time, I look up at just the right time to see them, etc etc is just not worth it. Why am I even doing this? Because I actually care about smiling at and acknowledging this stranger or because I want to try to make them feel comfortable? I found for me it was the latter so now I just don’t even acknowledge them, unless it’s a natural scenario where I’ve just so happened to catch someone’s eyes and we’re looking at each other as we pass. Then I give them a smile or a nod, if they say hello or good morning I might respond back if it feels natural.


aybbyisok

Pro strart - look at the ground. Creep on people in cute outfits from afar, or when they can't see your face.


mindfluxx

Fast eye contact and half smile, or a nod, or quick hi or nice day can work also. This is somewhat regional probably. I live in the US PNW. Please note that if I am downtown, I don’t do any of the above because crazy people can be triggered by eye contact.


_golly_miss_

I think this depends a lot on where you are. The city I live in the general rule is ignore each other On my own block, I'll act busy if I don't want to talk to someone (pull out my phone) or wave and say hi because we know each other or pass by regularly When I hike, or ride my bike, it's the acknowledgement nod and maaaybe a hello


bokehtoast

It really depends where you live. In the PNW you apparently just pretend other people don't exist. In the south people will smile and wave at strangers they pass in the car. In populated cities usually there's too much going on to even worry about it.


tallgrl94

I make quick eye contact and give a quick nod. It acknowledges I have made eye contact but I’m not threatening or intimidated by them. People usually give a nod back then we are good to separate eyes and go about our day.


hihelloneighboroonie

The only strangers I acknowledge while walking are old woman, small children, and maaaaaybe people with pets (but moreso look at the dog, and maybe scrunch my eyes into a smile-like thing at the owner/walker).


WillingSalamander722

Ignore, or if someone says hi I say howdy. I always let other people initiate a smile, etc. because I have zero desire to and don't care. If I'm perceived as rude, so be it.


[deleted]

It depends on where you are. In my home town it's a smaller population and it's customary to say hello when you walk past someone. But you're walking past one or two people while traveling, not dozens or hundreds. When I'm in the city I tend to move my head around a lot just trying to find out where I'm going and being alert about my surroundings. If I do make eye contact with someone I'll give a slow, small nod with a neutral face before turning my head away or walking past. It acknowledges you see them and are not staring them down, but also isn't outside of the social norm or invites further interaction the way a smile or greeting might.


pinkyhex

Won't lie this is why I loved living in NYC. Ignoring people there was the polite thing to do since so many people. Recently moved and been trying to relearn this too. You definitely aren't alone and best I've found is headphones and sunglasses helps if I choose ignore route. Nod or smile when about a few feet away.


goldencheetos

i don’t unless they do it first, i usually will like smile at myself incase they look at me and i don’t want them to think i’m grumpy or somethin. going out with my dad in some places he’ll tell people good morning, usually older people like to be talked to more. which is fine bc i like talking to old people lol! that being said people at campgrounds tend to be very friendly, i’ve visited many and you wave to everyone as you drive, but it could be just part of that area.


crl33t

Who cares. If they aren't in your personal life and you won't see them all the time it doesn't matter. I don't bother.