h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I often have real difficulty with this. I'm not always the best when it comes to social skills and conventions...

But synchronising that 'Hi' or smile or wave with someone passing you on the street. Do you do it the very instant you recognise them? Do you wait till they're a little closer?

When the greetings don't sychronise, the other person thinks they've been snubbed or ignored, even though i may be grinning like an idiot once they've looked away...

Hmm, just wondered..

It is a tricky one. I suppose it makes sense to wait and see what they do first.

One can feel a bit of a doughnut waving at someone at the other end of street. Especially when it turns out to be someone else...

The trouble with waiting is that you end up staring at them or looking up every second, just waiting for the moment they acknowledge you

It is awkward. Seeing each other from far way and not knowing at what point to say hi and smile.

Yeah, i know exactly what you're saying. I often find myself giving the person a cheery 'hello' only to realise they'd already passed me and i am, in fact, greeting that weird guy who sits on the corner. Really, quite embarrassing.

Didn't DNA himself have a word for this in the Meaning of Liff.

everyone has this problem, they should ban corridors and anywhere else this could potentially happen

I tend to just make eye contact, smile in acknowledgement and chat when they get closer. I can't really say I think much about it.

Ah, so it's not just me- there are at least 3 others in the world

But Unc- *when* do you make eye contact? and how do you sychronise with the other? Is there some kind of pre-determined distance, depending upon how well you know the person?

I must admit- sometimes I don't have a problem- it's the most natural thing, but other times

I usually tend to be walking along in a world of my own , so by the time I've noticed there's someone in front of me they're close enough for me to know who they are. To give a distance, I'd say usually about 10-15m.

a further twist in this social labyrinth is knowing when you know someone well enough to stop and chat and when they're more a smile-and-wave friend. I recently misjudged this (also happened to be a very hot guy which made it a million times worse), eek!

In my experience, I've always found that making the effort is appreciated. There are people who I know vaguely and wonder if they really want to stop and say hello, but they pretty much always do.

Oh, my insecurities are rife..

Crumbs, did you check out the Glasto boards? (blatant mention in the hope that some other people go the Glasters thread, which I don't know how to find the link number for).

I tend to chat to them whatever, or at least say hello if one of us is in a hurry .

Yeah that's all well and good but then there's the slowing down to say hi, and then stopping is quite a big step and if they don't stop aswell as they're not expecting it...ooh the embarasment.

na im sorry I have been REALLY lame and havn't had time to, but now you have reminded me perhaps I'll have a little look tomorrow. How come there's so few people going to Glasto here ay? Well thats more fun for us ay!

also very happy to see you've picked up the term 'Glasto'. I think it's quite endearing personally. I hope it continues to spread!

Been using Glasto for donkeys (along with Glasters).

I've sent a message with a couple of links to your, ahem, 'Personal Space'.

Okay people, you can get back to your thread now.

Oh my bob- This is such a multi-faceted problem.. yes indeed, how well do you have to know someone before you stop and chat.. or simply smile..or wave... or ignore them...or...

Once you've spotted someone, I think you have to keep an eye on them until you make eye contact, (but avoiding obstacles in your path - they'll certainly look if you walk into a lamp post ) then you can smile/wave if not in reasonable earshot (or wish to be discreet) or mouth a greeting.
Where I live, being a smallish village, nearly everyone at least nods pleasantly in passing, even to strangers.

Speed of travel can indicate willingness to stop & chat - difficult to determine though if the other person ambles everywhere.

You can't be sure of course if they've spotted you & are deliberately not looking to avoid contact - I've done it myself sometimes .

It's the keeping eye contact until discovering that you are staring at a complete stranger part that worries me!

I think i'll just wave first from now on- the risk of looking like a looney waving to someone who isn't looking is perhaps better than the alternative "he ignored me" scenario..

Corriemuchloch: Someone who can make a complete mess out of a simple job like walking down a corridor.

From The Meaning Of Liff. There's a load of interconnected entries on this, that explain all the pitfalls associated with this topic.

Personally, I give an "eyebrow wave" as soon as I spot someone, and wait for it to be acknowledged. Then, when you're closer, you can say "hi" or whatever ("how're you doing?" "how's that bad back of yours?" "isn't it time we slept together?").

RF

Well, someone waved to me from a red car a while back and even though I don't know anyone who drives a red car I waved anyway! I find it really embarassing when you wave to someone from the bus or somewhere cos you think they've seen you too but they haven't really so obviously they don't wave back then you get strange looks from other passengers!