Am I weird for smiling at people?

So when you move to London, do you instantly become a shallow husk of a person, or does it take time?
 
Yes i'd be weirded out. However looking at it logically/rationally no it's not a big deal, we probably need more friendliness in the world.

But i'm told I look unapproachable anyway so take what I say with a grain of salt.
 
So when you move to London, do you instantly become a shallow husk of a person, or does it take time?

Takes as long as you want it to take. But can you imagine saying hello 200 times a day on commuter trains? No you can't because it would be freaking retarded. That's why not many people do it.

And

If someone said Y'alright to me id think they were and idiot or lost Texan cowboy so maybe stop that.
 
So when you move to London, do you instantly become a shallow husk of a person, or does it take time?

Took my about 4 years before I wanted out - I love London but find it best in small doses living there got old fast (and I literally wanted to punch the next person who said "init").
 
Once in a blue moon, there's a question for which I have to dip my toes into the murky waters of GD in order to get an answer to (ooffftt, sticky...)

Whenever I catch someone's eye on the street, I always make a point of smiling at them. Perhaps even a "hey" or "Y'alright". Rarely am I to receive even a nod of the head in reply.

I mentioned I did this to my lady friend a few days ago and she thought it was rather odd.

So, am I just too innocent for this world to bear or am I just a freak?

No you're normal. If the world smiled more often there would be less trouble.
 
I try to smile more often. Make you feel better and if that person smiles back at you, you never know you might just have cheered them up a bit.
 
I say hello to everyone I walk past, however that's quite normal in cornwall on the cliff paths etc..

I probably wouldn't do the same if I was back in London
That's because you'll walk past one person a week out there and both of you will crave the social contact!
 
I find it really depends on where you live. When i lived in London, it would have been weird to say hello or give a nod to someone, who you simply didn't know, just to be polite. Where i live now, its just common courtesy to acknowledge the presence of a passer by. People just seem happier. Maybe its something to do with the sunshine ? maybe its just a happier place, i don't know, but i quite enjoy it.
 
I also do this. Just feels a bit ignorant to outright ignore someone you've made eye contact with.

I will add that I really only say something if I know the person or unless they say something first. I tend to lead with a smile.
 
Yes, I do it a lot. I'm often out walking early in the morning and people seem friendlier then, especially dog walkers. Except in Hook (Hampshire), they've all seemed a bit grumpy there when I've been out for a morning walk.
 
I smile at old people, who seem quite happy to smile back. Don't bother with girls though, you're likely to get a "I have a boyfriend" remark these days. :p
 
People say hey to me on the street all the time here, comes with the territory of being a hairy foreigner. Always reply, but the awkward silence after they do it when you're waiting at a pedestrian crossing makes me feel very british.

Here or in the UK, I'll usually smile at people if we make eye contact, though don't usually say anything. One of the weird things that makes me happy though is seeing someone, usually middle aged and alone, walking down the street and just having a little smile on their face. I don't care why, it's just nice to see that they're either a happy person, or something nice has happened to them recently.

Or they're a creepy murderer, but I try to hope for the best.
 
I live in a small(ish) village and quite often if you walk about around the shops/streets you'll say 'hello' or 'evening' to a lot of people even if you don't know them. Monthly trips to London especially on the underground you'll find the most ignorant, unfriendly self centred people ever. Sod that for everyday travel, so depressing when you look around at people there and all you see is an empty, vague expression...
 
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