What would you do if you meet someone you knew before, perhaps from the university you were together. This guy/gal is not really your close friend. Perhaps just ordinary friends, slightly closer than the relationship among acquaintance.
It has also been five years.
Would you walk up to him/her and greet him/her? Or would you just smile at him/her or would you just pretend you don't know him/her? What would you do?
2006-10-08 03:04:07 · 20 answers · asked by Forward 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
i ignore even people i was close to, but thats me, if that person wasnt really close to u it dosent really make a difference........its up to you if you wanna befriend them.............depends if u think it could be worth the effort
2006-10-08 03:11:26 · answer #1 · answered by mexika_thug 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Five years is a long time, but that doesn't mean you can't stop and say hello. If you feel stuck for their name, be honest, "Oh I remember you from university, I'm so sorry but I've completely lost your name....." after 5 years, I don't think many people would really be offended by that. I would smile, ask them how they are doing, what they are doing now, etc. Maybe ask them if they want to grab a quick coffee, or exchange emails to get together at a later date if we're now living in the same area.
2006-10-08 11:05:49 · answer #2 · answered by Holly 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It depends if they seem to be in a hurry, if you are in a hurry and whether or not you still remember their name. If it looks like you both have the time to stand around and catch up go ahead, if you can't remember the key details about them you might want to save yourself a little embarrassment, smile and wave, and move on, if you're in a big hurry and can't remember their name then go with the pretending you can't see them and book it. But if possible it's always good to meet old friends because a lot of people in new environments will enjoy contacts with old Friends, it might even blossom into a close friendship. (unless you secretly hated them, then make with the running away thing.)
2006-10-08 10:56:22 · answer #3 · answered by Jamie Lee 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If i think someone looks familiar, I usually smile and then keep walking then try to think of who the person is. If i remeber them, I go back and greet them, remind them who i am and then it usually goes up hill from there. Like, talk about what has been going on in your life and all that good stuff
=] hope that helped a bit? lol
2006-10-08 10:08:24 · answer #4 · answered by buzzbeegurl123 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would definitely say hello. You clearly know the person and they would know you. Even if you don't like them much, it would should that you're the bigger person by being friendly. At a very minimum, smile at them or somehow acknowledge that you know them and are glad to see them.
Even if they don't return the greeting, you'll know you did the right thing.
2006-10-08 14:41:49 · answer #5 · answered by Stef 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think I would approached them to say hello but it would depend on the circumstances. Were you strolling or in a hurry, were they near you or across the square for instance. If you were in a stairwell or elevator it would be rude not to say hi and start a polite conversation. Unless I really liked the person it would be unlikely that I'd chase after them if they hadn't seen me.
2006-10-08 10:10:35 · answer #6 · answered by i have no idea 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would go up and say hello and ask a few basic questions How are you, what have you been up to etc... Then I'd say well I've got to get going to but it was nice seeing you. You can avoid a longer conversation that way.
2006-10-11 13:53:54 · answer #7 · answered by Peri 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
depends how you feel about that person. Were you excited to see them and would like to try to keep in touch. Was a bit put off cause you really cant stand them or you just dont want to have anything to do with your college crew....depends.
2006-10-08 10:07:58 · answer #8 · answered by Pebbles 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've had people do both. I sometimes start to go up to someone and then see them smile and turn away or they come to me too. Since I don't know, I always try to go up or start to, till they turn away. Otherwise go up.
2006-10-08 10:06:10 · answer #9 · answered by *babydoll* 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you should greet him or her just dimple hello or hi how are you now and of course you should smile at her in geeting her. if yoiu fell like chatting with her politely, chat with her and have a short talk if you have time. its nice talking with former acquitances
2006-10-08 10:11:53 · answer #10 · answered by Jesus M 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think I would greet him/her. It would be interesting to see whether he/she remembered me. Besides, if I don't greet him/her I would think like "gosh I should have said something!" but then it would be too late.
2006-10-08 10:12:49 · answer #11 · answered by songbird 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋