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

Isn’t this something that has happened to all of us, at some point?

You sit there, minding your own business, maybe reading a book – in a bus, underground, train or tram. Suddenly you get that feeling of someone watching you, and you look up – only to meet the wide-eyed stare of an infant sitting on the lap of its parent.

The look of utter astonishment and wonder on the infant’s face amuses you – what else can you do but laugh or smile?

And that seems to trigger an instant reaction – a toothless with a certain twinkle in the eyes of the infant. This will, of course, widen your own grin, and you sit there exchanging grins and smiles and twinkles.

At this point, it is hard to break the contact – you want more. So you start making funny faces, whereupon the infant will start giggling – and this will catch the attention of its parent/s.

So you hasten to straighten your face, turning back into a regular Svensson (very average Swede), one among many.

I know of a few (*very* few) adults who still have that gift of flashing a smile at you, eyes twinkling – an irresistable smile that you just have to respond to.

But those people are so few – something seems to happen on the way into adult life that makes you loose that spontenous way of seeking contact. Upbringing, school, society?

Anyway, it’s a pity – everyday life would be soo much nicer if complete strangers were to give you a passing by!

*will keep flirting with the ’little people'*

And there's me thinking it was, wind!

It's when you stick your tongue out, and another adult catches you and gives you a look, that's so embarrassing!

Yeah, like I said - that's when you straighten your face and try to look
normal'...

-ing at strangers seems to me more uncommon in cities, less so in (some) rural areas, small towns.. and maybe people are more fearful in this time...

Im an inveterate -er -- I don't really care if people think I'm or
... a or a costs nothing -- and it takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile

I've found the opposite, towns and villages are friendlier than cities in the UK. People generally are friendlier the further north you go. I think we southerners tend to be more suspicious of people's motives, sadly.

Hummm i wonder what her motives are there then!

"Svensson means very average Swede"

Flirting with infants...I must admit I was very suspicious when this title appeared in my message centre, I'm so pleased it's innocent life-observation.

I lost and miss dreadfully the wide-eyed innocence of my own grown-up children but am rewarded by the friendship of adults I can trust.

I agree with Caerwin.. but then i would say that, being a Scot

I'm going to leap to the defence of Southerners and say I know some very friendly villages and towns in the South.

south of what?

South of England.

That's what I meant, towns and villages ~are~ more friendly. In cities you have to be streetwise, no one makes eye contact. If someone at you, they are bound to be after something.

But when we were in York and Chester last September, H and I were looking at maps, trying to work out where we were and where we were trying to get to and people came up and asked us if we were lost. That has never happened to me in any southern city such as London, Bristol, Southampton. Although someone in Truro did offer to show us the way.

ahhh! thats ok then! I think that people are pritty frendly generally, but never in the home counties, or the cotswolds, or the forest of dean, or lydney you can hear those banjo's playing up around there!

Well, *I'm* in the Home Counties, and I'm pretty friendly. And I'll hit anyone who says different!

I live in Guildford, how Home Counties is that? And we have low crime rates.

I'm friendly too, but it doesn't mean I go round smiling at people, let alone babies. They only start throwing things at you, giggling and gurgling and then their mothers look at you as if it is ~your~ fault that their little carpet is making so much noise, sheesh!

well someone menctioned Bristol and thats where I live and it's a street crime punished by DEATH if you even go out in a happy mood!

I do weird things in London, which are generally frowned on...like, if I see a woman (or even a man) struggling with a pushchair on the stairs on the Tube, I'll offer them a hand. As I say, such behaviour is not considered normal.

I once attempted to give up my seat on the Tube when two elderly ladies entered. The ensuing "You take it" "no, you take it" argument was so infuriating I sat back down.

Must be a good place for people to meet, this - I'm doing the same...

I even at strangers!