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.

I am yes Shastabeast

Oh well if you fancy him then get yourself sorted out. ;-)

• Smile
• acknowledge him
• say morning as you pass
• drop something, like papers, as you are passing and see if he comes to help you, at which point you can look at him and say thanks

Or just go up and say hi. What's worst that can happen? You have to find a new route to take?!

If you both wait for the other to say "hi' it'll never be said.

I do secretly fancy him which makes the situation even more awkward

What a palaver! If you're a bit shy don't just say hello suddenly after all these years it's a bit out of the blue

Say "you alright?" It's more kind of open and you have a reason, if he reacts unexpectedly you can say "because your cough" and it'll break the ice.

In London I say hi to my neighbours but only if they said hi to me first. Ever.

Except there was one who I'd see leaning against his house smoking quite a lot but he never said hi to me, so I never said hi to him and the situation felt awkward because I guess we were both the same in that sense. It went on for a long time.

So one day I said hi and nothing terrible happened.

This morning I look up at said hello and he ignored me. Must have been paranoid about his cough as obviously he has no intention of conversing with me. People are so odd these days

How annoying that he didn’t reply to you!

how awkward.

It's possible that the cough is a nervous thing and he doesn't consciously know he's doing it?

Must have been blueheaven

I agree, it is awkward. But next time you see him, say hi regardless of whether he coughs. If he says hi, fine. If he doesn't, then you know what to do.

Ahh boo. Maybe he was too shocked to know if you were talking to him or not! I would just smile next time. Hopefully if he likes you too that will give him the confidence to talk. If not move on. You did great! Keep smiling x

I'd cough back in the most agonised lung wrenching way possible. I may even go the whole hog and bend over clasping my knees thing like my Dad used to after 60 years of smoking

BMW 😂😂

I did the coughing back thing which did stop it but not completely - I think it’s partly involuntary. He may be very shy. I know I clam up and struggle to respond if someone talks to me unexpectedly.

He sounds awkward. I’ve also came across people who have a cough as a nervous tick.