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.

yes, if I’m not in the mood for talk/ in a hurry or don’t want to talk to them.
I thought it’s normal.

I often shop further afield as I know that in my own town I’ll inevitably bump into people. Sometimes I don’t mind, but often I just want to pick up milk without a banal chat. I have a lot of acquaintances from when the kids were younger and now the common experience has gone (school gates) there’s not a lot to catch up on. It’s easier when you’ve moved into nod/smile of acknowledgment category rather than the ‘used to talk but nothing really to say now’ awkward conversation.

Absolutely recognise the previous posters hatred of the aisle dance when trying to avoid bumping into someone when you’ve already spoken.

I also think it’s normal and everyone must do it on occasion.

Ah I'm both of these people. Sometimes I pretend I haven't seen someone, and 90% of the time this is a me issue. For example, I'm feeling anxious, look a mess, in a hurry, feeling inadequate. Very rarely it's actually because I don't like the person. But when I see someone do this to me I assume the person dislikes me, or that I've offended them in some way etc.

Not so much in the street. A quick hello is nice. But if I spot someone I know getting on my train to work in the morning then I often try to dodge them even if I quite like normally. Because they you are stuck with them for the whole train journey and I'm not keen on talking in the morning. I want to read or snooze! But I suspect lots of other people are doing the same tbh.

Depends how I felt about myself that day. If I feel horrible about myself I often don't . I imagine others don't want to interact with me or they might be thinking negative thoughts about me or thinking I'm odd.

I do get told there's something a bit off about me. Friends and family sometimes say things like they don't think I am real or they think I'm trouble/not a good character. I think my face just doesn't fit or something.

This sounds very like me!

Depends who it is

Depends on what mood I'm in

Nope! I just say hello and carry on. Avoiding eye contact and pretending you didn’t see them is way more effort!

Sometimes but mainly I just flash a smile and small wave or hurry past

This is me (rooted in some kind of social anxiety/introvertism I think) and it had been bothering me lately so I resolved not to be so pathetic the next time it happened.

Saw another Mum I know but hadn’t seen for a year or so in a shop, internally got a hold of myself, approached with a smile and said ‘Hi Hannah, how are you?’

Reader, it was not Hannah. It was a poor woman who had never met me before in my life and both of us wanted the ground to swallow us whole. I was not made to be sociable and this was the proof.

I shall return to staring beyond the person I know with a concentrated frown, my insides clenching until I pass them, whilst doing my supermarket shop in reverse order to avoid bumping into them again in another aisle.

Maybe it's time to break the cycle. Just keep walking-say a cheerful "Hi! Can't stop-I'm in a rush-have a lovely day!"

Yes. Even to people I like and enjoy talking to.

is it the absolute worst tho?

what if you got so worried about being trapped in a meeting loop in Tesco with someone you were half-friendly with from when your kids were small that you decided the best thing to do was embrace the awkwardness and sing ‘Every Breath You Take, every move you make…’ the final time you bumped into them and they didn’t laugh or indeed show any sign whatsoever that they were aware you were not stalking them, it was a joke you’d made about what is widely recognised as an awkward situation and just said ‘well, got to go.’

I mostly pretend I don’t see people. Best all round.

Same here. I don't stop and chat to everyone, but smiling and saying hello as you are walking by quickly isn't difficult. It is friendly yet obvious you are in a hurry and don't have time to chat.

Yup. For some reason the worst scenario is at the supermarket! I always try to do a u-turn down the aisle 😆

Yes but it depends if I’m in the frame of mind to talk to people.

I also dodge phone calls like nothing else. I really can’t be arsed with certain people and I have to be in the right mindset to listen to their drony me me me bullshit

I do this everywhere 😂

I relate to this too. It’s excruciating when they stop to talk to you and your brain has to rewire itself to remember who they are and where you know them from 🙈

Yes I do this a lot. Sometimes I'll see someone heading my way and I'll dive into the nearest store to avoid mindless chit chat. Especially ppl from my former nct group . Or I stare into space and walk past with no eye contact.

@Boodahh " Or I stare into space and walk past with no eye contact"

Do you ever think the impact that has on the other person?

Not friends but acquaintances etc yes. Nothing personal. I'll say hello if we cross paths. Agree supermarkets are the worst. I like saying the quick hello and moving on if it isn't a chatting situation, not doing it ten times, grimacing more wryly each time.

Wow! Everyone knows when they are being avoided/performatively unobserved.

I mostly assume people don’t want to chat so say hi, and “I won’t delay you”.

But it’s really unpleasant behaviour, and I really think less of people who do it.

Not Really!
I obviously wouldn't do this to good friends of mine or someone I knew well . Its more ppl who I may know but are not genuinely the types to put themselves for me. So if we did stop and talk it would be a very fake encounter.

Maybe