When you pass someone you don't know, are you more likely to look at them and smile, or try not to make eye contact and hurry by? Are you the kind of person who is going to be friendly and say hi to a passing stranger?

I think it's funny to watch the way people act around those they don't know. Some don't look at anyone and rush along. Others are looking around, making eye contact, smiling and generally being friendly.

I smile and say hi, but that is really about it...never really looked at it as trying to be friendly, just respectful.

I always smile!!

Say hi!!

If I'm walking about I dint talk but if we are stopped I always try and start a convo

I like to meet people!

When I was living in LA knowing more then half of the people were not frendly id ignor them. Living in UT now and it's noice to be able to smile at somone and say hi and not wonder if your going to get a dirty look.

Smiling is instinctive with me.
That is not all.
One time I was working in a large office building in downtown
San Francisco.
We had all heard about the new boss coming to town.
So I am walking down a hallway, and coming towards me is a tall,
good looking man, a stranger.
He winks at me.
My brain puts that together and automatically winks back at him.
Every day thereafter I would pass him.
Each time he would wink at me. Auto reflex wink back.
Then someone said, "Have you met the new boss?"
I said no, what does he look like.
They told me, sure and it was that stranger.
Then they said.."Be careful. He has a serious eye twitch,
try not to react to it.."
Well.
I was SO embarrassed for having winked at him when he had this..affliction.
So I tried, when passing him, not to wink.
Couldn't do it.
Soon as he "twitched" at me, I was a goner.
Could not, not wink!

It is amazing our reflex reactions.
So I always smile.
And try not to wink :-)

I wish more people were like this!

I know what you mean. The DC area is full of people who don't smile and who just look angry in general. It's a nice change when I'm somewhere else and people seem more friendly.

lol. Yeah, might be a good idea to stay away from winking .

I always say hi. If someone drives past our neighborhood, wave. It takes some by surprise but usually they smile and wave back. I'm a odd ball. Opening doors for people, talk to them on the grocery line, letting them go first. 90% respond, if they don't I leave em alone, knowing what a bad day is like or not wanting to be bothered.

I'm from the south, so yes we usually smile or nod or say hi. I hear it's a little different in New York

Where I'm at now, half the time before I get the chance to say hi. Whoever has passed by has said it before I could. It actually took a little time for me to get use to this. Hell, even on one of the main roads out here as your driving. People driving by will wave at ya.

It's a rural vs. city thing. When I moved to Chicago I would smile and nod to strangers who just looked at me aghast. It's a different world in the Big City.

Depends on the city, I think. When I was in SF, there were all kinds of friendly people around. I even found that in NYC people were friendly, despite what people have said.

I am friendly.I smile at most people when passing.But I don't smile at the person in passing again,if they don't respond the first time.

Here in the city u dnt really do tht sort of thing its nt abt being rude it jst dsnt happen much but when it does its nice ..yet there r other nice thngs tht happen on a regular basis like holding doors or elevators open saying thanks etc so people r respectful n polite

Howevr I did notice living in north cali in a small community for awhile really changed my perspective people would smile n say hi all the time ...me nt being use 2 it ws awkward at 1st but I tried 2 join in n found it sweet n rewarding

Honestly I think smiling or not smiling is ok jst depends on where u r ..

Ironically,I wrote a piece concerning this subject a couple of years back. Now as far as your question is concerned,yes I always exchange smiles,greetings,nods,etc.w/ others.I love interacting w/ people.In regards to the aggressive type that hunger to share their ill attitude w/ humanity I will quickly dismiss them.as I've found that to be the greatest disarming tool.Godspeed!Cy

I am not saying anything is wrong with those who don't smile at others. I was just wondering what people do.

LMAOOoooO

I give them the "chuck-eye." My dad always used to raise one eyebrow with one eye, and wink with the other. His name is Charles, and he was always doing that. My Aunt thinks its hysterical.

In the city you have to try a little harder to get people to notice you, even at the expense of them viewing you as crazy or bothersome, sometimes you gotta take risks.

i smile or give someone the head nod,9 out of 10 times they usually reply with the same