Do you smile at strangers or just acknowledge them with a nod?

Question

I smile and say hi sometimes but sometimes get no hi back and I feel kinda lame you know? So now I just smile

Answer 1

i smile usually...usually get the same in return
were really friendly down here in good ol' texas. i guess its a southern hospitality thing

Answer 2

Lame shmame. Smile, say hi, do a little dance. Okay, little dance might be just for a select few. Who cares if you get a smile back or not. Some will return your smile, say hi, and maybe even do a dance back.

I used to walk around with my head down, avoiding people because if i passed them 3 times in an hour and said hi every time - well how weird is that? They'll think i'm nuts.

Then a co-worker and I passed each other about 5 times in 30 minutes - and each time, he said hi. After the third time it got kinda funny and we had fun with it. Including a little dance. It had been a rough day and that routine was a pick me up.

After that, I search people out to say hi. Well, maybe not search them out, but i don't avoid them anymore. I always hit them with the hi early, and if i don't get a response, i'll add 'whats up?'. I usually get an acknowledgment then. If not, they're the ones feeling odd for not responding.

And it's not just a power game i'm playing. If just one person a day gets a warm fuzzy by having a stranger say hi, hey, I did good.

Answer 3

If the person will make eye contact I'll say hello or hi. Or sometimes just nod and smile. Depends on the other person's reaction.

Answer 4

I smile and say hi sometimes too and get no "hi" or acknowledgement back as well. For some reason it ticks me off a little but I still do it, I'm not going to let ignorance change my mot is operandi!

Answer 5

It shows your personality by saying hi and just a general gesture of acknowledgment of respect to others. I do the same thing. Just remember that kindness will overcome any obstacle. Just keep being yourself and we shall all prosper in life. Always keep a smile and say hello even if they don't respond in return. That's OK if they do or not. God made me this way and this way is the way that I will stay.

Answer 6

I smile and sometimes i say hi, it all depends on how friendly the person looks, sometimes they dont smile back, but thats ok, You would be surprised how it makes a persons day just to see a friendly face.

Answer 7

Around here in my town, everyone waves at everyone while driving down the road. They just kinda nod their head with a wave of 2 fingers. I never could figure out why, but I guess its just a courtesy. Still kinda weird to me but I just smile and nod and drive away!

Answer 8

I too try to smile at everyone but, a lot of people now do not acknowledge me with a returned smile. I think that people have become withdrawn.

Answer 9

i kind of do a little smirk, and then look down at the ground. i think its because my confidence is so low. but i cant help it. but dont feel lame about it, you were just being nice and respectful and if they dont say anything back then they are just being difficult, or they had a bad day (which i would definitely perk up a little if some random person i saw walking by told me hi and smiled...), or they didnt hear you. but props for being kind! ;)

Answer 10

I smile and sometimes say hi. Yeah I hate when I say hi and they look at me like I'm crazy.

Answer 11

i always just give a smile. If the person says "hi" I respond.
I hate when I smile at someone and they ignore it or had their eyes on the ground. I think it's kind of rude!