When you make eye contact with strangers walking by do you smile?

[kyrax12]

Smile?
I noticed when I am walking around my school campus and accidentally make eye contact with a stranger either walking by or what not that they tend to smile. I don't know if really only Americans do it or if our if this mannerism is ingrained to our culture but I like it.

I heard that in Asian countries, smiling at a stranger is considered strange. Anyone know why this is?

Do you smile when you make eye contacts with strangers?

 

[SlitheryDee]

Yes. I used to quickly avert my gaze or pretend that I was actually looking at something past them, but that just seems dishonest to me now and I don't like the thought of being in a society where that is the norm. There is nothing wrong with recognizing that you are two real people who have no problems with each other.

"I see you, we're cool for now". That's all it is.

 

[surfsatwerk]

Only in a creepy, I wanna smell ur hair, kind of way.

 

[kyrax12]

only in a creepy, i wanna smell ur hair, kind of way.

u wot m8?

 

[Dumac]

Usually, yeah

 

[CraigRT]

I usually do yeah, if passing by on a sidewalk or something. Moreso if it's not busy and they are the only other person. On a busy sidewalk downtown, no, definitely not for everyone.

 

[Garet Jax]

Most time - yes. If I'm preoccupied - then no.

 

[surfsatwerk]

u wot m8?

Strangely enough I do not find the smell of women's shampoo at all arousing. It's something about the hair itself that emits an odor I find quite entrancing.

 

[darkewaffle]

Nah, don't care. I usually look straight ahead.

 

[zanejohnson]

of course... it's just polite, and there's a psycho-analysis being done in that small window of time...

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Nope, since I am better looking than the ones smiling at me.

 

[Narse]

Yup I try and be polite like that.

 

[SheHateMe]

I always smile and say "hi!" or "Hello!". Not that big of a deal...kind of like the same as randomly saying "Sorry" when you are in somebody's way at the Grocery store.

 

[BurnItDwn]

quick head nod and grin. Maybe "hello" or "hey" or "hiya".

Never been to asia, but, If I was there I would be liable to "walk like godzilla" and roar, because I think it would be funny.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Yep, I smile and/or a nod hello and/or say "Hi". It's just polite.

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

Can't believe this thread has gone this long without the obligatory "Of course I smile at b00bs" reply.

 

[Saint Nick]

Yep -- and it's even better when it's a pretty lady and she reciprocates :thumbsup:

 

[Yongsta]

Pretty lady - yes
Everyone else - no

 

[TallBill]

I usually smile, sometimes I'll even say hello.

 

[Kadarin]

Pretty lady - yes
Everyone else - no

This, pretty much.

 

[Thyra]

It depends on where I am. If I am in my neighborhood or on a walk in the park, YES, I will smile. I will also say HELLO, which also seems to be something people don't do much of anymore.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

When I worked at Disney, they had a training class known as "smile school." There are seasonal employees there from all over the world. In Scandinavian countries, a single girl smiling at a stranger is the equivalent of "hey, I want you to give me a call!" So, they have to be re educated for a different culture and taught that it's alright to smile at people you don't know in the U.S.

 

[rudeguy]

I smile and say hello if we make eye contact.

I'm not the least bit shy and sometimes it changes the person's entire day!

 

[Destiny]

Pretty lady - yes
Everyone else - no

This...

if it is a guy and he gives me eye contact I would just say hi and how's your day. Otherwise he'd think I'm going to beat him up because people tell me I have the "mad look" going on all the time.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

I don't make eye contact. I just stare ahead as straight as possible trying to look into nothingness.