Have you ever accidentally snubbed someone?

[Lethal]

I did this to someone last week and it's been concerning me a bit, in fact I keep kicking myself for not trying to acknowledge this person once I realised who it was. SIGH. Sometimes if I'm out shopping or driving the car, I tend to get lost in my thoughts, and I don't always notice what goes on around me. I've often had people say "I drove past you the other day and waved at you, but you didn't wave back." HELLO - I didn't even SEE you!

Anyway I was in a shopping centre last week and walked straight past someone, but after I'd gone past I just felt that they were looking at me. I kept walking but when I'd gone a certain distance away, I turned around and realised it was a friend I met at a mother's group - we now meet up socially quite often and have had lunch together a few times. By the time I turned around she was going in the other direction, and silly me just stood there feeling stupid/guilty for not acknowledging her, when I KNOW she saw me - and at one point I think I was even looking straight at her but didn't see her, IYKWIM.

I should've tried to contact her afterwards but when I think about it, it must've looked (to her) as though I'd completely snubbed her. I've just sent her an email about another subject to try & make out as though nothing has happened, but I'm feeling a bit anxious about it to be quite honest.

Has this kind of thing happened to anyone else?

[handlemecarefully]

Yes I do it by accident all the time - just as you describe (lost in thoughts). IME most people do assume that you were day dreaming / pre-occupied rather than actively snubbing them

[Lizzylou]

I do it all the time...I'd bring it up and try and try to have a laugh about it....it may happen again and then she'd be really offended!!

[suzywong]

no
I always manage to do it on purpose

[ninah]

I have quite frequently failed to recognise pple I have been introduced to. Just say - by the way, I was miles away the other day .. sorry!

[RTKangaMummy]

I would make a joke of it next time you meet up saying you walk around with blinkers on.

When I am shopping etc I am always walking past friends aquaintances etc. BUT most people who know me know I do that.

BUT I do love to sit and watch people from the car while waiting for DH in a car park or cafe etc.

[Tortington]

yep - people think i do it on purpose but its becuase i go ino my own world. as a kid i got called snobby for it - when i lived on a council estate i got called snobby for it too, people thought i ignored them beucse i didn't find them worthy enough to be in my presence - i thnk that saysmore about them than me - i just get lost in my own thoughts

[bamik]

Since being PG' I find that I tend to do this a lot! I seem to spend a lot of time daydreaming about baba and have actually walked straight passed people without realising or not realising until it's too late

Don't worry about it lethal - we all do it. It's not as if you did it on purpose.

xx

[beachyhead]

I just can't remember names, so I end up either mumbling or worse still, calling them the wrong name.........I'd like everyone to wear badges....all the time......

[Catsmother]

I've done this quite a few times too - like custardo, I've also been called "stuck-up" for it in my time as well.

In reality, I am very short sighted and this wasn't properly sorted out till I was in my teens. Even now, I find that my eyes get very tired particularly if I've been wearing lenses all day and I know that my eyesight isn't as good as other people's through observations that DP & son make (without glasses!) As a result of all this, I have also done the opposite and charged up to complete strangers who from a distance looked a bit like someone I knew .... as this is embarrassing all round, I now tend to hold back if I'm not sure and unfortunately, that does mean people get unintentionally snubbed. People who know me well understand but it's more awkward with casual acquaintances or colleagues.

[tarantula]

I spend half my life away with the fairies and people have been known to yell at me in the street and me not hear them . Actually walked past dp one day and went to get on a bus to go home. He had to grab my arm to get my attention.

[Libb]

I often do it by mistake - and have on purpose, on occasions when I just don't have the energy to make small talk usually when rushing to get back home from shopping and stuff. That said, if they come up to me then I am more than happy to stop. I am not a nice person am I?

[Pruni]

Message withdrawn

[Pruni]

Message withdrawn

[saffy202]

I always do - partly because if I don't have my lenses in I can't see them and also if the particular person isn't where I normally associate them with then it takes a while for my poor old brain to twig how I know them Does that make sense???!!

On the other hand I met dh because through the blur of my eyes I thought i knew him and went marching up to him (was a bit tipsy) just as I got to him I realised I didn't