I’m a busy guy working on a small campus and my usual workday has me running occasionally into people that I know. I prefer to work outside and whenever I see someone walk by I usually shoot them a quick glance to see if I know them before returning my gaze to my work.
Lately I’ve noticed people’s body language and facial expressions change whenever i do this. I’m lead to believe I have made them feel dismissed by not further acknowledging their presence, but I try to avoid looking for too long to not make people feel like I’m staring at them
The city that I came from, it was the norm to simply not acknowledge people in the streets if you don’t know them. More of a “don’t aggravate potentially dangerous people” than a culture of antisocial behavior (though that was present there too). Now i’m in a new city and feel new expectations that im trying to understand.
Is there like a sweet spot? Are you supposed to make eye contact with people just passing by? Someone help me out
1 comment
Maybe try, after glancing at them (and realizing that you don’t know them), give them a *slight* smile. Small nod. That’s enough to acknowledge the fact that you see them and they see you and you see them seeing you. Lol.