Do you ever just pretend not to see people in the street?

[Beabadoobiedoo]

I do this all the time. Quite often, I see people I recognise and just pretend I haven't seen them. When they're gone, I wonder why I even did that. It's such a gut response! I always think I won't do that again but surely enough I do. Even when it's someone I like. Sometimes I manage a hello but find it a bit painful, like, will I need to stop? How close do they need to get before I say anything? Do I just stare at them as they're walking towards me? Anyone else like this? I swear I'm not horrible.

I do this all the time.

Yes I do - sometimes it might be someone I don’t want to talk to, but mainly it’s because I worry they don’t want to talk to me and will be annoyed if they have to stop for me!

If I am not keen on them of course. I had an amazing dodge in the local post office a couple of months ago avoiding someone. My hood was up as it was in the depths of cold winter. I was suddenly very interested in the birthday cards and was praying they wouldn’t turn round, I was right behind them. Seemed like the longest queue ever.

Yes I do but it's usually nothing personal, I'm just not in the frame of mind for small talk.
If I'm firing on all cylinders I'll greet and chat to anyone.

Yes, I do tend to be socially anxious and worry that people are judging me. I've always been a bit shy IRL. Behind a keyboard on a chat forum I'm fine. Completely different when I'm out and about.

Often I also don't know what to say when they ask how I am. I don't always know how I am. I know that sounds a bit ridiculous.

I should add that I sometimes cross the street to the other side to avoid talking to people I see. I think this is totally common, ftr.

I do this a lot. Not because I'm anxious but because I don't have enough time or I'm just not in the mood at that point. I think everyone does this.

If it’s someone I don’t like I would!
There’s a guy dh and I both know who’s a pain in the arse, must live somewhere nearby and I sometimes see him when I’m out for a walk. Big headphones are the answer!
If it’s someone I like i’ll take them off (99% of the time) immediately as a clear indicator that I’m up for saying hello, if I leave them on then it’s a smile and I keep on walking.
But not someone I know and like, I’ve generally got 5 minutes to stop and ask how they are.

I’m the same, pretending not to see them or turning into a shop or going the opposite direction. No idea why.

And the absolute horror of being on a bus and you see someone you know get on. Ducking down or pretending to look at something on your shoe so you can pretend you didn’t see them and pray they don’t see you.

Yes, I walked into the chemist on Monday and my FIL was at the counter. I turned round and walked out quick! Just did my other shopping first. I just didn’t want to talk to him.

All the time.

Yes! Including, at one point my current boyfriend (who became my DH)! Luckily I didn't need to explain as he didn't see me...

I put it down to social anxiety and autism (late diagnosis for the latter).

I truly feel like I've found my people 🥰

Yep, all the time. Most of my neighbours must think I'm extraordinarily unobservant.

Unless they are a proper friend, I always assume people won’t remember or recognise me, so avoid saying hi to avoid the embarrassment of them being confused who I am!

Yes, all the time. Especially if I am looking a mess.

Yes if I'm too tired for small talk

Not really (I don't know many people locally.) But I can easily walk past someone I do know, because I'm absorbed in my own thoughts. Or it's out of context - someone said hi to me in the office. Did say a quiet hi back but it wasn't till about 5 mutes later I realised it was someone I had recently met in a different place.

I’ve done it since I was about 17. CBA stopping to talk crap to people - how’s your mum? Where are you living now?
F**k off! I’m doing my shopping. I’m not on a social circuit.

Quite often! I'm autistic and small talk is something I really struggle with, so sometimes it seems easier to just pretend I haven't seen them. If we have seen each other then thankfully a wave and a hi usually seem to be enough. It's definitely easier to do that if it's someone I know well, though.

Yes, I live on a new build estate and loads of our kids go to the same school. I cannot be bothered every school run to make chit chat

Same here - nothing worse tjan getting captured when you are in a rush

To take it a bit further, the absolute worst is to bump into someone in the street (especially if you don't know them that well) and have a slightly awkward chat. Say "bye, see you one day!" after you've exhausted all chat. And then you just keep spotting them and nearly bump into them endlessly for the rest of your trip out!

I've slowed down to a crawl at the supermarket to let them go on to finish their shopping and you still end up at the till with them! You have to either studiously avoid catching their eye, or do sort of comedy, jazz hands "ooh it's me again," and hope you're on the same page with that.

Makes me go boiling hot and sweaty with cringing

Yes.
I was never interested in other people, just "masked" as a young woman to survive.
Now I don't need to.