I can't hold eye contact w/ people unless I'm talking 2 them

[WatchYourStep]

It makes me uncomfortable, but I feel like it shouldn't.

(i.e.: people you pass on the sidewalk, people sitting across the room, people driving in the car next to you, etc...)

Thoughts?

P.S. Yes, I know, probs a dumb thread, but I've never actually asked anyone this.

[kaiori breathe]

lol, im the opposite, if somebody on the street avoids eye contact it annoys me lol, i make eye contact with everyone.

[WatchYourStep]

Then what do you do? Do you smile at them or say hi or something? Surely you can't say 'hi' to everyone you pass, right?

[kaiori breathe]

Then what do you do? Do you smile at them or say hi or something? Surely you can't say 'hi' to everyone you pass, right?

I smile at women, men get a nod. Say hello to some people.

[Phigure]

Then what do you do? Do you smile at them or say hi or something? Surely you can't say 'hi' to everyone you pass, right?

I smile at women, men get a nod. Say hello to some people.

Pretty much this. If you're walking down the street and a single person comes towards you, it'd be awkward as hell to not even acknowledge their presence. Kaiori put it pretty well, guys get a nod or a "hey", women get a smile and/or "hello"/"hi". But if you're walking on a crowded city street, obviously you're not going to say hello to every person that walks by.

[hackman]

you'd be surprised at how unfriendly people are in england
soon as you go anywhere else in europe, people are really friendly

and i find going on the tube a nightmare, cos i just don't know where to look lol

[DRTY]

you'd be surprised at how unfriendly people are in england
soon as you go anywhere else in europe, people are really friendly

This is very true, but I'd extend that to the world not just Europe. People are so glum/ignorant/rude here.

Canada has been the 'publicly friendliest' place I've been to so far, I actually almost laughed at a shopkeeper because I thought they were being sarcastic. It's pretty sad really. If you smile at someone you don't know here you get a dirty look.

[hackman]

yeah man
walk around in the evening in france you'll be greeted constantly by BON SOIR
round here, nuttin but paranoid glares

[magma]

Depends where you are... if you walk around where my parents live (Somerset) then people always speak to you in the street... but that's on some village business.

I smile at people... if I wore a hat, I'd tip it. I've often thought about starting to wear hats just so I could tip them and occasionally remove them for ladies and passing funerals.

Actually, I talk to people on the Tube. I should probably be locked up.

[mercules]

if i walked to the shops and nodded at someone i'd get "who da fuck you noddin at blud. wha you got for meh"

[Pistonsbeneath]

i avoid looking at people as where im from it constitutes a threat

[dubmatters]

Actually, I talk to people on the Tube. I should probably be locked up.

If you've ever got the drunk train from Waterloo at about midnight everyone's much more talkative.

I saw this guy (Tony Hawks from the TV)...




completely parro singing I will survive by Gloria Gaynor

[kay]

Actually, I talk to people on the Tube. I should probably be locked up.

Ah you're one of those weirdoes eh?

I can probably count the number of times I've talked to strangers on the Tube. Mostly it's been clubbers or festival goers.

I can hold eye contact with people, but I prefer not to in case it turns into a staredown. Which I would probably win because I can literally park my eyes on something and go for a wander in my head. Also, I reserve eye contact for glaring angrily at annoying people. Having said that, my thoughts do have a tendency to wander, and next thing I know, my eyes would have auto-parked on someone else's eyes without me realising until I've stared at them for a while. Then it's a bit embarassing.

[saphyre]

New years eve on the tube was a mindfuck all these strangers talking to eachother like it was nothing, nah fuck that would you say hi or nod to a paedophile if he was walking past you o n the street?

[magma]

New years eve on the tube was a mindfuck all these strangers talking to eachother like it was nothing, nah fuck that would you say hi or nod to a paedophile if he was walking past you o n the street?

How would you know if it was a paedophile? Do they were special t shirts?

Generally I walk around assuming everyone's as nice as me unless I have a reason not to... obviously there are times and places for the screwface... I'm not walking out of Corsica Studios at 5am and starting conversations...

[gnome]

you'd be surprised at how unfriendly people are in england
soon as you go anywhere else in europe, people are really friendly

and i find going on the tube a nightmare, cos i just don't know where to look lol

I find the north is very friendly. So is Northern Ireland. I'm sure kaori will agree

[yooamatwa]

Where i live people are well self centered it seems. 20 mins down the the road and on to a country walk the people you pass are always well friendly.

[dustywingfield]

Why would you hold eye contact with a stranger in the street? Unless you're having a full conversation?

[pets bud]

Do one of these on them when you walk by.

Keep your chin up when you walk. Show confidence. People will usually either smile or not aknowledge you.

[helix]

In the south, it's pretty common for you to just wave at people you see, or acknowledge them somehow. Sometimes people will ask me if I knew whoever I waved at, and I don't even clock that it could be weird to be friendly.