You know what feels amazing?

bcktth · 2011-09-08T20:55:51+00:00

100% Agree.

I try to make an effort to do this each and every day, a little "hello" with a smile can go a long way!

ehbeeseedee · 2011-09-08T21:28:42+00:00

Interacting with strangers or individuals with whom you wouldn't ordinarily strike up a conversation with is a very, very useful tool. My father has always been very gregarious and will have a (usually humorous) conversation with anyone, be it a store employee, a stranger on the street, whatever. As I was raised around this type of behavior, I both emulated it and assumed it to be a common trait.

As I've grown up I've noticed that this type of social behavior is exceptionally uncommon. That isn't to say that it's found unwelcome, although by some it is (a very small minority, in my experience). I find that most are extremely receptive to conversation, so long as they aren't forced to say the first "hello."

If you aren't a social person or want some help with opening and conversational skills, this is a great way to start. I don't have AA, I don't get uncomfortable meeting/talking to strangers, and I find it much simpler to make that transition from opener to meaningful conversation.

ehbeeseedee · 2011-09-08T21:54:11+00:00

Allow me to add onto this a little bit.

You're in line at McDonalds. You make your way to the front of the line and you are greeted by someone. You order, step aside, wait a few minutes, grab your tray, give a polite "thanks" and go find a table.

This is what most people do at fast food joints, at cash registers, or anywhere really.

I've started calling people by their name: "Thanks Christine" or "Thanks Angela." Everyone says thanks. It's such a meaningless term nowadays because it's been pushed so far down our throats that when it comes out, it's just like mental vomit. Everyone hears it, and everyone tosses it aside. However, combining the person's name with... anything, really, makes a great difference even in the smallest conversation.

Just today I said it: "Thanks Mary." The lady looked at me, looked down, looked at me again, and gave me the faintest smile like she knew me. Our own name is the sweetest word we can ever hear. If you're working at a typical 5-9 job as well, hearing your own name being called by an unfamiliar face can mean so much more. It calls you out from being just another number in a corporate agenda and being just another robot. It gets people to genuinely pay attention to you if you're the one calling out to another. Lastly, if people are wearing their nametag, it can't come off as creepy or insecure in any way; they're wearing a nametag, so how could it?

Ziggyz0m · 2011-09-09T04:01:14+00:00

This is awesome, in high school when I was depressed some senior girl with ginormous tits ran down the hall straight towards me and I was like "...dont know if running to me or about to run over me" then wrapped me up in a hug and said Hi! then walked away. Brightenened my month lol.

I'm going to do this for a straight month at least.

WhereAreMyMinds · 2011-09-09T03:11:11+00:00

I live in NYC, and I've seen someone get punched in the face for doing just this. FYI

infininme · 2011-09-08T23:04:53+00:00

I just got back from Burning Man where I was giving hi5's to everyone on the street. This post encourages me to keep it up! Thx :)

returnofdoom · 2011-09-08T22:46:23+00:00

The first couple of times that this happened to me, I was polite back, but also wondered what they wanted from me, which turned out to be nothing of course. So now I try to initiate eye contact with random people, and if they seem receptive I'll say "hi" or "how's it goin". It really does have a surprising effect on how good I feel.

glassuser · 2011-09-09T07:13:05+00:00

Yeah I'm a small town guy. I did this without thinking about it. I went to college in the city, and continued. One day walking down the sidewalk, I heard a guy say to a girl something along the lines of "You know what I hate about it here? Nobody says hi. Someone will pass right by you and ignore you. This place sucks."

Now I think about it and continue to do it.

adriens · 2011-09-09T15:43:35+00:00

Also sex and drugs

notlurkinganymoar · 2011-09-08T21:27:39+00:00

abg.

Also, without reading the post, my first response was, "pussy."

gabriot · 2011-09-08T23:11:12+00:00

You actually get conversations about this? I must have something that screams rapist around me because I've said hi to people every day of my life in a big city for over 20 years and I have literally never had one conversation spawned from it.

maverick21 · 2011-09-09T04:23:11+00:00

keep spreading the love man

seutonius · 2011-09-09T04:51:52+00:00

my name tag read: Shit Boy

Best way to brighten my own day when customers seemed bitchy.

(until caught) took it on/off depending on my mood. all hip kids liked it...all angry folks and old timers got cranky.

SanguineHaze · 2011-09-09T22:00:09+00:00

I also say Hi to random people while walking down the street / entering the building I work at / etc... And I read a few people in this thread who mentioned that this doesn't work for them at all - no conversations are returned.

I have a solution for you, if you're willing to step it up a bit.

Do what this guy did. Get yourself a table, a pair of chairs, and a sign that says "Will talk to Anyone, about Anything."

I garuntee you will have people sit down and talk to you.

motherducker · 2011-09-08T21:16:42+00:00

You got it

kanji_sasahara · 2011-09-08T21:50:37+00:00

I do it all the time. Getting a smile and polite conversation is always rewarding.

2011-09-09T01:02:23+00:00

I do that all the time.

DesignMyself · 2011-09-09T01:42:11+00:00

I recently left a small city where downtown I could walk around and see a number of familiar faces who I had chatted or drank with. Now, I'm in NYC. The other day, I was walking with my friend and a young cute woman very strongly said, "Hi!" and I looked at my friend like maybe she was someone he knew. After passing us, she said, "BYE!" I was weirded out by it.

I think she was just weird about it. It seemed combative, instead of welcoming, and since it was so unexpected, I didn't know what to do.

ShamwowTseDung · 2011-09-09T11:17:03+00:00

Weird, I always loved this but never thought to give it back.

tiasg · 2011-09-09T11:21:26+00:00

deleted ^{^{^What}} ^{^{^is}} ^{^{^this?}}

takatori · 2011-09-09T12:20:53+00:00

Also, the first BJ from a new chick.

calis · 2011-09-09T14:29:11+00:00

Who is going to make a socially awkward penguin pic about this?

SanguineHaze · 2011-09-09T00:18:37+00:00

Some Yokel from a small town said hi to me today. I laughed and said Hi back, then me and my friends all laughed at his weirdness as he walked away like a smiling bafoon.

KallistiEngel · 2011-09-09T03:08:21+00:00

There have been a few times recently where total strangers have said "Hi" to me and it really throws me off. I live in New York (state, not the City) and while people are generally friendly here, it's uncommon for strangers to say "Hi" to each other. Of course I say it back, and it is nice to get noticed, but it always leaves me a little confused.

Title	You know what feels amazing?
Author	[deleted]
Upvotes	176
Comments	86
Date	September 8, 2011 8:50 PM UTC (14 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/seduction
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/seduction/comments/k98ka/you_know_what_feels_amazing/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/seduction/you-know-what-feels-amazing.1307824 https://theredarchive.com/post/1307824

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