People who dont smile at you when you smile

[PeterandSandy]

Most people smile if you smile at them when out.

The other day i did and the person looked away without smiling.

Wonder what that was about?

That's why masks are so useful.

Why do they have to smile at you?

Some people might be having a bad day/time and not feel like it or be in a world of there own to even realise that a stranger is smiling at them.

They dont owe strangers anything, even a smile

why wouldnt you smile are they not used to people smiling at them.

There could be any number of reasons why they weren't in a particularly smiley mood. For example, just received bad news and out for a walk to try and clear their head and only just managing to hold things together.

😂

You should have gone up to them and told them to smile!

@PeterandSandy

why wouldnt you smile are they not used to people smiling at them.

Because they dont have to. Get over yourself, its patronising

So you just smile at people to get a smile back?? Otherwise I can’t see why you could give this any kind of head space.

Did you say "cheer up, it might never happen"?

No i never said a word to them just walked on.

Did you know the person you smiled at @PeterandSandy ?

Perhaps they have clinical depression or their gerbil died that morning or something.

@SpringSummerAutumnSpring

So you just smile at people to get a smile back?? Otherwise I can’t see why you could give this any kind of head space.

no, just found it unusual.

@PeterandSandy

why wouldnt you smile are they not used to people smiling at them.

Because my husband died three weeks ago and I am barely functioning much less able to notice if people are smiling at me or not. Is that OK with you or should I just smile and forget it?

I’m not especially a grumpy person but I have an aversion to being told to “cheer up
Luv “ or “smile - it could be worse” by random people in the street. Women are socially conditioned to smile and be nice. If you smiled at me and I didn’t respond it would be that I was thinking about something or other not that I was wilfully snubbing you.

If somebody I didn't know randomly smiled at me in the street I would definitely think that was very ...... unusual (polite version of what I'd actually think). I certainly wouldn't be smiling back!

If I don’t know you and you smile at me I’ll think you’re weird. Certainly I won’t smile back.

Maybe they’ve had a bereavement or some bad news. Maybe they’ve had a bad experience of being harassed by people in public. Maybe they’re shy. Maybe they can’t smile. Maybe they’re in pain. Maybe they think you’re weird.
Who knows? Maybe another reason.

Flashing a smile can certainly get you a date though!

Sometimes I'm literally so wrapped up in my thoughts it doesn't register that someone just smiled at me - or even said hi to me - until they've gone by. I just assume others are the same if it happens to me.

People usually known those you see everyday, will ignore if we smile at them.
Then next day when we don’t smile assuming they won’t, then they will say morning. Like British weather.

I have RBF and social anxiety, if someone smiles at me, I either grimace, or cant get a smile together in time and by the time I do, they've passed me. Is that ok?

@ineedsun

Maybe they’ve had a bereavement or some bad news. Maybe they’ve had a bad experience of being harassed by people in public. Maybe they’re shy. Maybe they can’t smile. Maybe they’re in pain. Maybe they think you’re weird. Who knows? Maybe another reason.

why weird? Can understand the others you mentioned but weird??

Whats wrong with smiling at another human being happens all the time.

I'm not going to smile at someone I don't know. I shouldn't feel like I should have to.