Do you dread bumping into strangers at the park?

oNecoOlazN

Well-known member
...Do you hate it when people say "hi" to you and your automatically forced to say "hi" back? :roll:

why cant they just shut up, mind their own business and walk ?
 
That's a pretty good way to close people off. I'd be much more terrified of running into someone who I have seen at the park before. I prefer going places where everyone is a total stranger. I'd actually feel special if someone said hi to me, which people never do.
 

GloomySunday

Well-known member
I go running in the park a lot and many people say hello to me as I run past. I actually quite like it. Having experienced how unfriendly life can be and having seen the worst sides of human nature, I find these simple courtesies refreshing. You just say "hello" back and go on your way. They're just being friendly in what is essentially a pleasant, friendly environment. What an awful, cold world it would be if everyone said nothing, kept their heads down and walked on!
 

JonnyD

Well-known member
i find it embarassing most of the times, since i have the tendency to start acting clumsy whenever i'm noticed, if someone say hi to me i'll answer in my shy way... strangelly enought the one time i tryed i failed because i cant say hi to someone who isn't looking at me ...

so if someone look to me i won't say anything because i feel embarassed, and if someone don't look at me i won't say hi because i will feel embarassed ...


there's a guy who defend the "social skydiving art", the blog is written by a guy but i guess something maybe usefull to women ;)
 

GloomySunday

Well-known member
I've just read that Social Skydiving article and it's quite good. He makes it sound a little "easier said than done" but there's some valid points there. I am now in a regular habit of chatting to people when I go out, even if it's just to the person at the checkout in the local store. It's good to face up to things that may scare you and keep on doing them. Soon, they won't be so frightening.
 
Psychedelicious said:
I prefer going places where everyone is a total stranger. I'd actually feel special if someone said hi to me, which people never do.

Live in a rural area and every total stranger will say hi. It's really annoying.

GloomySunday said:
You just say "hello" back and go on your way.

I'm sure it's great if you can do that. I always intend to say hello, but inevitably lock up, make some half-nod, and feel like a total inhuman jerk for the rest of the day because of it.
 

jordo2

Member
its ok if it stops at just "hi". but if they start with the small talk i have a fake laugh and try to act interested even though inside i'm thinking please get me out of here cuz i dont know what to say. and if they leave after only a short time...i feel bad because i thought i bored them. and its worse cuz my dog attracts attention but i have to walk him :?
 

misterF

Well-known member
jordo2 said:
its ok if it stops at just "hi". but if they start with the small talk i have a fake laugh and try to act interested even though inside i'm thinking please get me out of here cuz i dont know what to say. and if they leave after only a short time...i feel bad because i thought i bored them. and its worse cuz my dog attracts attention but i have to walk him :?

I'm the same, and I always dread the moment where I can see people realize I'm shy and get bored and the conversation dies.
 

dottie

Well-known member
i always get nervous when they start walking towards me to walk past me. it's like, "oh shit, oh shit. where to look? look at the ground. pretend to fumble with something in your pockets. anything to avoid communication. oh god, they're looking at me. look friendly. oh god oh god. ok whew thank god they can't see me anymore."
 

proudmummy

Well-known member
Think i'd be more nervous if it was someone I know said hi.

Atleast with strangers your never going to see 'em again so you don't worry about what is said.
 

Thomas

Member
I don't have any problem saying "hi" back if someone says it to me. But i'm usually scared of saying "hi" first incase they don't say anything back, then i feel really rejected and upset for ages
 

lookyloo

Member
I found this thread really helpful. My problem, is when I run into people I know and I have to do a "stop and chat". Woooo just freaks me out! I get all nervous at first then I get bombarded with negative automatic thoughts telling me "your gonna look like a fool", then I just have trouble concentrating on what they are talking about because I'm thinking about how I sound and look at the moment... Really crappy. I have to do something about it... I need to learn to relax more or something... Anyway, great thread!;)
 

suzanne

Member
same here......But its weird ya know......when Im on vacation where I know nobody, and they will never see me again........I'm usually the me I really am and those things dont come up at all.
 

gsmax5

Well-known member
i always get nervous when they start walking towards me to walk past me. it's like, "oh shit, oh shit. where to look? look at the ground. pretend to fumble with something in your pockets. anything to avoid communication. oh god, they're looking at me. look friendly. oh god oh god. ok whew thank god they can't see me anymore."

Yeah. I always think that if I keep staring ahead, that the person will think I'm staring at him. If it's a girl, I will think that she thinks that I am attracted to her or something (even though some of the time I am)
 

gsmax5

Well-known member
I don't have any problem saying "hi" back if someone says it to me. But i'm usually scared of saying "hi" first incase they don't say anything back, then i feel really rejected and upset for ages

OMFGZOMGMILF!

I thought I was the only one. I always either say 'hi' in a really quiet voice, a really loud and embarrasing voice, or my voice will crack or something, or I just grunt or something and the person gets offended that I didn't say "hi" back.

Sometimes I even drive outside of my area to eat at a (for example) McDonalds where I can be certain that no one there will know me. It wastes a lot of time and gas.
 
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