Do you smile at people?

Question

when you are out and about and maybe walk past someone,do you smile? I do, and i always have done.
I sometimes find it hard to understand how someone can coldly stare at you or turn away when you smile at them, i guess people may be more scared of others these days?
Does it annoy you if someone you dont know smiles at you?

Answer 1

I do! I always smile at people and they usually smile back! But then i live in the countryside you see so it's usually a case of not being in a crowd and people still look at you as you look at them, you smile, they smile and usually say Hello. Having said that i don't smile that much in Dublin (Big city). I smiled at a young man once and he started to follw me. And no it wasn't my looks or charisma but simply someone desperate to get money off anyone so he saw my smile as encouragement?! So i tend to be cautious in the city now.

Answer 2

Yes I do smile at people when I'm out and about, some people don't seem to mind, there are a lot of lonely people out there who appreciate a smile, it leads to an hello and a bit of a conversation too, were as others look at you like you have two heads, I've had people ask me why I'm smiling at them as for some reason they seem to think I know something about them they would rather not have known, bit sad when you can't just smile at a stranger these days without them becoming paranoid.

Answer 3

It all depends on the kind of day I am having and/or how much I am in a rush around town. I don't normally smile at people because they either ignore you or give a dirty look back. Sometimes I smile but only in those situations like you waiting to overtake them on the street or that sort of thing.

It doesn't annoy me as such if someone smiles at me, it normally knocks me back a bit as most people don't smile so I wonder why have they singled me out?!!

Answer 4

When I was growing up, I would smile at people - people ususally do smile back at children. But the older I got, the more people responded as you describe - so I stopped smiling so much.

Now, I see the way people respond to my children - the simple joy of a smile and I'm on a personal quest to bring back the smile. I think if more people would stop being self indulgent by focusing on their problems all the time and share smiles the world might just be a happier place.

It does not bother me when people smile at me - I think it's great.

Answer 5

It never annoys me to receive a smile. Especially from a stranger.
Sometimes it really makes my day to get a smile from someone I don't know.

I love to smile. Like another person replied to this question...
For every 10 smiles I give, I get at least 8 back (a pretty good average if I say so myself).

So SMILE! it makes people wonder what you are up to (:

Answer 6

I have smiled at everyone all my 61 years and will continue to until I die.

Yes, it hurts at times when others look back coldly and some are openly rude and think you must be mental... but I promise you, you soon grow out of that and realise that it is they who have the problems... not you!

Smile and pass it on... make somebody's day and they will pass that smile along as well... do it in your voice when answering the 'phone... do it in your body language and in your voice as well, it will make a difference in another life and they will make the same in someone else's when you cheer them up!

Don't give in to frowns and grimaces because they pass on as well... lets keep a smiling world;-)

:-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)

Answer 7

Yes I smile and I think it's important to smile at people, it's contagious and when someone smiles back it makes you smile even more, it spreads; happiness, love, positivity, peace and warmth. I don't like it when people walk around with frowns or give people dirty looks, and when I see someone crying, I want to go up and comfort them. We should have a national Smile day! It would make everyone feel warm inside!

Answer 8

Yes, I do smile at the good folk. It's like a prayer as far as I'm concerned. Reactions vary, as they should. I don't expect anyone to smile back, if they do it's a bonus. It's more about me than them at any rate, I feel good; if it spreads great. If they don't feel it too, then that's fine. But maybe, just maybe that seed will take root and who knows, tomorrow they'll be smiling at people too!

Answer 9

I have to smile alot in my job in customer services, but yes if someone smiles at me I don't know I have to check the fly on my jeans cos I wonder why they are smiling at me or maybe I am just a bit paranoid.

Answer 10

I smile at people

I used to work retail and it was a bit of a game to say hi to people when they came in the store - most would just stare at you with a shocked expression on their face and not even respond. Oh well, I guess most people just aren't very friendly