To think this man should just say hi

[MysticFlyTrap]

I have a neighbour and we don't talk to one another as we live in a neighbourhood that keeps themselves to themselves. But lately he keeps coughing on purpose if I'm close proximity to him. His children attend the same school and I see him on every school run but we pass each other without saying hi.
But every time I have passed him in the last couple of weeks he keeps deliberately making a loud fake coughing sound when he passes me. I don't give eye contact as it makes me feel anxious but just wondering why people, particularly men fake cough. Is it to get attention, should I cough back or say hi. Aibu to be annoyed at this and should I just start a conversation with him or do you think he is coughing at me just to bully me in some way or a way of getting attention.

It's odd isn't it kittymama but just don't get why the cough. The attention thing can't be right because it would be simpler to say hi but I guess maybe he is to shy or generally feels awkard, I will never know unless I start chatting to him I guess...

Maybe race not good with eye contact as it happens so will try next time to meet his eyes

fake cough back, wink and tap your nose

It's weird that you don't talk. I say hi to all my neighbours, and did when I lived in the south of England too, although everyone on our street was a foreigner apart from one lady.
I have to wonder if he didn't smile or say hi to you one morning without you noticing so now he doesn't want to be the first to say hello again, but also thinks it's weird that you don't say hello?
Or maybe he has a speech impediment?
Otherwise, yes it's weird that he coughs instead of saying hello. But it's also weird that you notice this and actively ignore him..

Maybe he is coughing with the aim of getting eye contact so that he can the say hello? Next time just cough back. It can be like your secret handshake.

PMSL! I imagine the OP creating an array of increasingly fake and complicated coughs with a huge variety of meanings! :D

Maybe he wants you to say hello first to avoid anything looking inappropriate on his part

What on earth!!! Anyone that can't even muster a 'hello' to you doesn't deserve this much consideration!
Everyone says hello to everyone where I live. This coughing behaviour is just bizarre. What does he want from you?!!! Freaky.

I have no idea, the coughing back idea sounds funny may have to try that first with a cheeky wink

I have a neighbour who feels the need to run to her kitchen window and start fake coughing and banging any dish she can find if I'm out hanging my washing. I thought it was a coincidence at first but now it's literally every time. Some people are just bizarre! If you want our attention - just speak?

I would love to see his reaction if you started coughing back. Maybe he has a fancy for you?

It is odd that he is doing the cough thing, but it seems pretty clear what his reasoning is. You acknowledge that you aren't good with eye contact so I imagine that when you first started passing each other he was trying to make eye contact with you and thought that you were deliberately ignoring him by looking away. Over time he has become a bit irritated by it and is coughing as if to say 'I'm here even though you try to blank me'.

You haven't done anything wrong, but I think that is what it is about.

Derwent19 My thinking was the same. Maybe by making eye contact and saying hello it would stop the awkwardness. If he keeps coughing though then he is just weird.

He probably feels awkward so does a fake cough to break the awkward silence when passing. I do the same, but I yawn! It is really weird I admit now I think about it, think it is an awkward social thing, where you don't know whether to say hi or not so I do a yawn with my hand over my mouth. God, I am weird!

Sounds like a nervous tick. Just blank him.

He's coughing to attract your attention so that you will acknowledge his presence as you see each other every day.
He wants you to speak first as he doesn't want to come across as pushy.
I'd just say "Hi, bad cough you've got there" and see what happens.
It wouldn't have got to this weird state with me though as I'm from the North West and we still smile and nod at anyone passing by on their own but not if it's a busy street or town centre as that would be weird.

Yes will do the hi what a cough you have there sir ha ha and see how I get on. I do secretly fancy him which makes the situation even more awkward

Oh for goodness sake just say hello, morning anything . Life is too short, if you fancy him say hello. Maybe he is shy, maybe he's nervous about approaching you in the street. Or perhaps he just has a cough?! You will never know unless you say hello!

Just say hi or hello. Why make it so difficult?

Yes will do the hi what a cough you have there sir ha ha and see how I get on. I do secretly fancy him which makes the situation even more awkward

that makes more sense now tbf, hes probably picked up on it hence the cough to get your attention.

Cough back, it might be code!
Or suggest he see a gp as a cough that lasts longer than a few weeks can be a bad sign 😂

Get him a card from the local gp - or even a TB clinic, perhaps?

Maybe it's a nervous cough

Next time your paths cross and he starts coughing - open up your coat like a wartime spiv just displaying rows of Fisherman’s friends, strepsils with bottles of Veno’s and a particularly vicious bronchial cough mixture ( just checking if he has masochistic tendencies )

People look at me because they think I'm doing this. I'm actually clearing my throat. It's a recurrent problem.

Me too perfectly. It's a nervous thing on top of hay fever and asthma. I often don't realise I am doing it until someone asks me if I need some water.

I had an old lady do this to me every time we passed on the school run, presumably with her grandkids. I’m convinced it was a passive aggressive judgement thing as I didn’t know her, different school and coming from the opposite direction. Plus it’s london and she must pass loads of people daily so can’t expect me to say hello and not everyone else. It was over two years and I got so fed up once I’d twigged and watched enough to realised it wasn’t a coincidence. I am on the younger side for the area and am often mistaken for younger still, I’ve since gone back to work full time (we’re naice middle class professionals despite appearances). It came across as if she really wanted to say something but couldn’t. I suspect this man is similar, but in a nice way, and wants to say hello but is too nervous - are you single?