Let's say you are out somewhere (restaurant, store, barber shop, wherever) and you see someone who looks vaguely familiar. He (or she) looks like someone you used to know, but you are not 100% sure. Do you talk to this person and run the risk of saying "Hi John Doe" to someone who isn't John Doe? Or do you see if he recognizes you first and hope that you don't look like a "snob" for seeing him and ignoring him? I never know what to do in this situation.
2007-01-14 05:27:38 · 21 answers · asked by bullet_to_the_brain 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
Ask them if they ARE the person you're thinking of...worst answer you could get is "no".
2007-01-14 05:31:45 · answer #1 · answered by bradxschuman 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well you have several options. You could say hi and either this person could think your 1) strange 2) flirting with them or 3) got the wrong person. The point is if you don't know them you will never see them again so what is the big deal? It might lead to a .5 second awkward moment but what if you do know them? This could lead to blissful conversation or the return of an old friend. My advice to you would be don't let opportunity fade away because of fear. You never know, that person across the room may be thinking the same thing....take some initiative!
2007-01-14 13:37:38 · answer #2 · answered by anonymous_alwyz 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have that happen a lot. I moved to a new state and I was seeing a ton of people that looked like people from back home. Just get a better look at them long enough to determine whether or not they are someone you know. It's not a big deal if you know them or not. Or who approaches the other person first. If they ever did call you a snob for not saying hi, tell them you weren't if it was them or not. not a big deal.
2007-01-14 13:33:13 · answer #3 · answered by Mel 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm southern, so this might sound a little redneck, but here's what I do- I just ask where I know the person from. Most people don't get offended and I don't ask if I know their correct name. They usually shake my hand and tell me their name, then we visit a while. I travel some, not a lot, with work, so its sometimes hard for me to remember where I've met someone, and they do look different when not in work clothes.
2007-01-14 13:40:01 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This has happened to me when I ran across a couple friends in a store that I hadn't seen in over 10 years. They had physically changed so much that I barely recognized them. They caught me staring at them and I could see the same "wondering" in their eyes, so I just looked at the woman and said "Jill????" and she said "Heather!!!!!!" We caught up on a lot of things after that.
Worst case, you ask if the person's name is (whatever) and if it isn't who you thought it was, just smile and say "I'm so sorry, I thought you were someone I haven't seen in ages!"
2007-01-14 13:36:30 · answer #5 · answered by Jylsamynne 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Just say hi. If you're wrong and it's a stranger, you'll likely never meet again, so there's only a brief moment of embarrasment. If you did know the person and didn't say hi, chances are next time you meet you'll get this whole 'didn't you see me that time, why didn't you say something, and I told so-and-so and they thought it was rude too, blahdiblahdiblah...'
2007-01-15 08:37:56 · answer #6 · answered by Sheriam 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have done this, just walk up to the person and say
" Excuse me I don't mean to bother you but you do look like someone I used to know. My name is ( State your name) and ask them if thier name is ( state thier name)." If they say no.. well shake thier hand and say thank you very much, have a nice day.
politeness goes along way and you'll feel more confidence in yourself too!
2007-01-14 13:33:53 · answer #7 · answered by ? 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I try to make eye contact and smile. Or make a point of saying ...Hello. This gives us both an opportunity to get a closer look...make a connection. Most times this works.
2007-01-18 11:26:51 · answer #8 · answered by Cloudy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe hes the brother of John doe! that wouldnt be exactly good,a simple queston "did we meet before?" is enough
2007-01-14 13:39:05 · answer #9 · answered by Wind Chime 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
instead of saying hi john doe you can try asking if he is john doe.
if you smile and wait to see if he acknowledges you first he could take it as flirting if he is not john doe.
2007-01-14 13:34:07 · answer #10 · answered by jezbnme 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
just take a chance. you never know. a women found her biological mother because she took a chance. she thought the woman looked like her and approached her. she was right. if you are wrong it is no skin off of anyone's back. better sure than sorry.
2007-01-14 13:31:59 · answer #11 · answered by Cloud Nine--Sez YAHH 2 tha hatas 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋