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Esel_Gesi
VIP Member
Posts: 3802
Location: Chicago
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 Posted: Tue, 15th Feb 2005 17:21 Post subject: Eye Contact |
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I always thought it was normal and polite for people to greet each other when they passed in the hall, whether or not they know the other person. One of the things that I've noticed in growing up is that is not the case. I can understand if you are walking down a high pedestrian-traffic sidewalk or something that you are not expected to greet every person. On the other hand if you are walking in a narrow hallway and happen to pass your neighbor then i feel that a "how's it going?" or "what's up?" is in order.
That being said I have noticed 4 different scenarios for what happens when I pass by people in hallways. They are as follows.
1.) The two of us make eye contact and say hello and carry on our way. 8% of the time this is the case.
2.) The person wants nothing to do with seeing me and either stares at the ground or looks straight ahead. 65% of the time this is the case.
3.) When I make eye contact with the person it never breaks but I cannot get out the word 'hello' because the dumbfounded look on the other person's face is too frightening. 15% of the time this is the case.
4.) I make eye contact with the other person and say "hello" or "how's it going?" They are startled by your greeting and can either only get a grunt out or cant come up with any words at all. 12% of the time this is the case.
Maybe it is just me but I would figure in a college town that people would be more open and less rude to others. Then again my school is in the middle of a bunch of farms so these 'folks' are probably not used to seeing people without driving for a couple of miles.
Is this the case in other countries? How about in different parts of the U.S.? Discuss... 
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| Posted: Tue, 15th Feb 2005 17:29 Post subject: |
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i am so 2.) The person wants nothing to do with seeing me and either stares at the ground or looks straight ahead. 65% of the time this is the case
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MAD_MAX333
Moderator
Posts: 7020
Location: Toronto, Canada...eh
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| Posted: Tue, 15th Feb 2005 17:34 Post subject: |
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hey we live in canada so a smile is always in order
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Esel_Gesi
VIP Member
Posts: 3802
Location: Chicago
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| Posted: Tue, 15th Feb 2005 17:38 Post subject: |
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i figured it was like that in canada. 
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razor1394
VIP Member
Posts: 3571
Location: Sweden
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| Posted: Tue, 15th Feb 2005 17:54 Post subject: |
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Worst thing is the subway for me. Your kinda forced to look at someone and often the person looks back like "wtf are you looking at me?". I hate that. The only solution is to talk with a friend or read a newspaper.
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| Posted: Tue, 15th Feb 2005 18:32 Post subject: |
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Sometime ago I was on the London Underground.
I looked for a seat, sat down, and glanced around.
A woman was sitting in the seat opposite me and for a while our eyes met.
She picked up her newspaper and held it giving me 'the finger' throughout the rest of my journey.
i am so 2.) The person wants nothing to do with seeing me and either stares at the ground or looks straight ahead. 65% of the time this is the case.
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Esel_Gesi
VIP Member
Posts: 3802
Location: Chicago
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| Posted: Tue, 15th Feb 2005 19:30 Post subject: |
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| Basil-Brush wrote: | Sometime ago I was on the London Underground.
I looked for a seat, sat down, and glanced around.
A woman was sitting in the seat opposite me and for a while our eyes met.
She picked up her newspaper and held it giving me 'the finger' throughout the rest of my journey.
i am so 2.) The person wants nothing to do with seeing me and either stares at the ground or looks straight ahead. 65% of the time this is the case. |
that's harsh  |
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| Posted: Tue, 15th Feb 2005 19:33 Post subject: |
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If you want to talk to everybody and be greeted by everyone you should move to the south Esel_Gesi. Whenever i was there and stayed with friends i got greeted by everyone, and about 90% of the people never saw me before, but most wanted to start a little small talk (you know southern hospitality ). Even then i drove by in my car, people waved at me, it was really strange, especially as a german, because we don't like and do that at all.
So i am a person of the 2nd category, well almost everyone in germany is, and if you live in a big city you just have too many people around and i am glad if i don't have to greet everyone. I greet all people who live in my condo complex and some neighbours from my street, but not all.
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| Posted: Tue, 15th Feb 2005 19:48 Post subject: |
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i always look and if i know him/her i say hi. if someone i dont know says hello then i will either nod with my head or say hi back.
i always look at the people i pass except when i'm in a bad mood.
i hate it when an old lady keeps staring at me, not that it happens alot but then i just keep staring back and what do you know they give up. its a test of caracter
number 3 is stupid, its your own fault. people see when you are scared. your eyes are more open, your breathing increases. i wouldnt say hi to you either when you are looking scared at me.
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TheDamned
Posts: 508
Location: Montréal,QC, Canada
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| Posted: Wed, 16th Feb 2005 03:26 Post subject: |
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make eye contact for a second and say hi, continue walking.
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nouseforaname
Über-VIP Member
Posts: 21306
Location: Toronto, Canada
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-=Cartoon=-
VIP Member
Posts: 8823
Location: South Pacific Ocean
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| Posted: Wed, 16th Feb 2005 06:42 Post subject: |
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in hallways ? huh
I normally say hi/get said hi to by random people on the street here.. unless your in the middle of the city with heaps of ppl around
But if your walking on the beach.. or on a rather quiet street/place.. 99% of the time the 2 people will say hi etc...
Althou... when i go overseas i do notice it does not happen to much... guess its just where u live
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| Posted: Wed, 16th Feb 2005 15:55 Post subject: |
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| -=Cartoon=- wrote: |
But if your walking on the beach.. or on a rather quiet street/place.. 99% of the time the 2 people will say hi etc...
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Yeah Ive noticed that, the fewer people around the more chance they have of saying hi.
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Mutantius
VIP Member
Posts: 18594
Location: In Elektro looking for beans
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