Do you smile/make eye contact while walking down the street?

[rhiannon]

I am from the East Coast, and it is very normal for strangers to talk to eachother on public transit, or anywhere for that matter. I always smile and acknowledge a stranger when I make eye contact. It is only polite.

I found East Coasties to be relatively friendly, actually. They joke and make wisecracks with each other and they did it with me while I was there. It was awesome. The stereotypically grouchy East Coasters are probably found in New York City in the middle of rush hour...lol!

[Pallantides]

No, where I live we just walk by and either look straight a head or at the ground, if we make eye contact it's usually just a quick glare.

In the rural area where my grandmother lives people often say hello when they pass each other though.
It's much less common in the big cities.

[Black Sun Dimension]

When im walking alone im usually with my iPod and with so much shit on my head that im very disconnected from the world, frankly put. I live in a busy, crowded city where everybody just minds their own business.

Same thing when im on the bus or in the subway. But just the other day I was returning home from my french class and there was this baby on the seat in front of mine (on the bus). Her mother had her on her shoulder, and she was staring at me the whole trip. I couldnt help but take off my iPod and goof around with her.

I tend to open conversations when im shopping thou, with cashiers, employees and other customers.

[rhiannon]

Our waitress today was from Oregon and said that exact same thing, almost word for word, when my friend mentioned she was thinking of moving out there. I guess it must be true lol.

I have lived in all three West Coast States (Calif, Oregon, Washington) and find that people are pretty normal in California and Oregon. It's here in Washington that I can't stand most of the natives. So glad I am NOT a WA native...lol.

[BiałaZemsta]

Must be the DC Metro then. I've read in local blogs people moving here from other cities commenting on that it's different for them that nobody talks to eachother on the Metro transit system here.

It may also be that you are first or 2nd generation immigrant from Poland, and more in tune with that culture than 'yankee' culture.

Our waitress today was from Oregon and said that exact same thing, almost word for word, when my friend mentioned she was thinking of moving out there. I guess it must be true lol.

CT, and NY.

[Rosenrot]

I do, I have habit to look at people, and almost always they see i'm looking i smile. It's get worse after I enter in apricity because now I have a pseudo-anthropologist curiosity.

I make eye contact because it makes me feel powerful, if I turn the look I feel weak and shy.

[Talvi]

It's normal here to smile and sometimes say hello to strangers you pass in the street. It's just polite, I think.

Not in Estonia. Its not polite, its odd. Maybe even rude.

If i see someone making eye contact Im most likely thinking "wtf are you staring at?!" especially if it is someone who isnt smiling or someone of the same sex.

Nobody says just hello to a stranger here when they are sober, unless they are a fucking weirdo.

[Flintlocke]

Here in Greece no one smiles and no one makes eye contact. Most wear sunglasses or have their mp3 player and block the world outside them. But in clubs and bars people tend to be more friendly and social. But what makes a difference every day in the streets is the way people walk.

[Tarja]

Not in Estonia. Its not polite, its odd. Maybe even rude.

If i see someone making eye contact Im most likely thinking "wtf are you staring at?!" especially if it is someone who isnt smiling or someone of the same sex.

Nobody says just hello to a stranger here when they are sober, unless they are a fucking weirdo.

Expect to feel very uncomfortable if you ever visit the UK, then.

[Caeruleus]

I dont smile but I make eye contact (I sometimes even stare at people) , I'm not very talkative or friendly, I've been told that I make people feel uncomfortable when around them.