PoliTalker
Diversity Makes Greatness
Hello moon,
I think that's quite common. I noticed years ago there is a thing about smiling. When you acknowledge a stranger with eye contact, or even an acquaintance, say passing by. Nothing need be said when two people are in close proximity and look at one another. Maybe going opposite directions. And in such instances, they usually just look away again and go on about their business. But if one person smiles at the moment when eyes meet, the other is more likely to smile back.
But if that first person didn't smile, then the other would not smile either because they don't usually initiate it.
That means if you are the person who smiles first, without first seeing the other person smile, then you are more likely to get others to smile back at you. (A good reason to initiate it!)
But if you never initiate a smile, then you will see fewer smiles.
Of course, you are going out on a limb by smiling first. If the other person is not in a mood to smile, you will get no smile back. Then you might feel like a fool for smiling and getting nothing out of it. But what is really lost? So what if you feel goofy for a moment? Is that such a bad thing?
I don't think so. Especially if others are subsequently encountered who do return the smile. That makes it all better.
So I like to try to draw those smiles out. Even though I know that a lot of those smiles I would never get if I didn't prompt them.
I'm really just looking for the 'proportional response.'
I think that's quite common. I noticed years ago there is a thing about smiling. When you acknowledge a stranger with eye contact, or even an acquaintance, say passing by. Nothing need be said when two people are in close proximity and look at one another. Maybe going opposite directions. And in such instances, they usually just look away again and go on about their business. But if one person smiles at the moment when eyes meet, the other is more likely to smile back.
But if that first person didn't smile, then the other would not smile either because they don't usually initiate it.
That means if you are the person who smiles first, without first seeing the other person smile, then you are more likely to get others to smile back at you. (A good reason to initiate it!)
But if you never initiate a smile, then you will see fewer smiles.
Of course, you are going out on a limb by smiling first. If the other person is not in a mood to smile, you will get no smile back. Then you might feel like a fool for smiling and getting nothing out of it. But what is really lost? So what if you feel goofy for a moment? Is that such a bad thing?
I don't think so. Especially if others are subsequently encountered who do return the smile. That makes it all better.
So I like to try to draw those smiles out. Even though I know that a lot of those smiles I would never get if I didn't prompt them.
I'm really just looking for the 'proportional response.'
