4 ms·

I spent a day trying to smile at strangers. The result was that half of them gave me a "do I know you?" look, and the other half looked at me like I was crazy

I spent a day trying to smile at strangers. The result was that half of them gave me a "do I know you?" look, and the other half looked at me like I was crazy and backed away. Not encouraging...

zh3 5y ago
I remember a teacher who cycled to work every day, along a coastal route. Because he saw the same people so often, he set himself a goal to smile at all he recognised so they'd smile back. Last time we spoke, he was still battling one obstinate hold-out (while reminds me of an old joke - 'smiles' is actually the longest word in the english langugage because there's a mile between the s's).
- sophacles 5y ago
  If "smiles" is the longest, how do you explain "similes"?
  - harpersealtako 5y ago
    "I" am inbetween the s's, so from my perspective, the distance is at most half a mile to an S.
  - Invictus0 5y ago
    They must not have heard of beleaguered either.
  - zh3 5y ago
    Touche. But more seriously, an imile is orthognal to the traditional one and as a result there is zero space between the s's.
    - sophacles 5y ago
      There's a great circle joke in here somewhere. I'm just not sure how to rotate the conversation into it.
bittercynic 5y ago
I think this very much depends on the circumstances. Few working-age men walk in my neighborhood, and some people seem a little uneasy seeing me walking. They don't know what to make of me. On the other hand, if I walk a dog it is clear what I'm doing, and people are quick to share a smile. It seems like many people are uncomfortable unless your activity fits into a pattern they're familiar and comfortable with.
stronglikedan 5y ago
I think that largely depends on where you are, and what the cultural norms are. I go out of my way to smile at everyone I see, and most people smile back, even if it takes them a double-take before they do. I'll never not smile at someone, because it's a known stress reliever to do so, especially when my smile elicits another's smile.

I spent a day trying to smile at strangers. The result was that half of them gave me a "do I know you?" look, and the other half looked at me like I was crazy and backed away. Not encouraging...

zh3 5y ago

I remember a teacher who cycled to work every day, along a coastal route. Because he saw the same people so often, he set himself a goal to smile at all he recognised so they'd smile back. Last time we spoke, he was still battling one obstinate hold-out (while reminds me of an old joke - 'smiles' is actually the longest word in the english langugage because there's a mile between the s's).

sophacles 5y ago
If "smiles" is the longest, how do you explain "similes"?
- harpersealtako 5y ago
  "I" am inbetween the s's, so from my perspective, the distance is at most half a mile to an S.
- Invictus0 5y ago
  They must not have heard of beleaguered either.
- zh3 5y ago
  Touche. But more seriously, an imile is orthognal to the traditional one and as a result there is zero space between the s's.
  - sophacles 5y ago
    There's a great circle joke in here somewhere. I'm just not sure how to rotate the conversation into it.

bittercynic 5y ago

I think this very much depends on the circumstances. Few working-age men walk in my neighborhood, and some people seem a little uneasy seeing me walking. They don't know what to make of me. On the other hand, if I walk a dog it is clear what I'm doing, and people are quick to share a smile. It seems like many people are uncomfortable unless your activity fits into a pattern they're familiar and comfortable with.

stronglikedan 5y ago

I think that largely depends on where you are, and what the cultural norms are. I go out of my way to smile at everyone I see, and most people smile back, even if it takes them a double-take before they do. I'll never not smile at someone, because it's a known stress reliever to do so, especially when my smile elicits another's smile.