Is your instinct to react positively or negatively?

@vivasuzi (4127)
United States
November 24, 2008 11:56am CST
Think of these situations: - you're out and someone bumps into you, they apologize with a smile - you're walking and a kid runs in front of you and almost trips you, the mother comes and gets the kid and says she's so sorry - you're exiting a building and someone coming in almost runs you down b/c they aren't looking, they notice you and say "oops, sorry" and smile How do you react? I ask this because I know how some people react. I have bumped into people on accident and said "oh i'm sorry! :)" and get back the look of death! So I've learned to always react positively in these situations because the person was not TRYING to bump you. A kid runs in front of me at the mall, the mom comes and stops him and says she's sorry, I smile and say "that's ok". The same kid runs in front of someone else, and that person gives the mom a nasty look?? Is it that some people can't understand that accidents happen? Is it that some people think everyone is out to get them? How do you react when you are bumped? And have you gotten negative reactions when you accidently bumped someone else?
2 responses
@minnie_98214 (10557)
• United States
24 Nov 08
Im with you being a mom myself i understand that things happen so i tend to be very understanding. But the sad part is most people will bump into me and not say anything.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
25 Nov 08
I get that too minnie...too many people will bump into me, and not apologize
1 person likes this
@vivasuzi (4127)
• United States
25 Nov 08
How about when THEY bump into YOU and then YOU say "oh sorry" and THEY give you a nasty look? I mean I didn't even need to apologize b/c they bumped ME, but instead of them saying sorry as well, they go "grrrr" through their eyes.
• United States
25 Nov 08
I know isnt it annoying and it seems really bad with the teenagers these days.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
25 Nov 08
Mmmm...then the people that bump into you must be SO much politer to stop and say they are sorry. Here in my neck of the woods, it seems to be very different. There are some days when honestly I feel I must be invisible or something, and sometimes it really does reach a boiling point with..like, gee if one more person bumps into me, I'm going to scream bloody murder...the worse are the people with those gigantic backpack type book bags...yikes I get knocked over with those...and nope, not one apologizes but goes along there merry way. I mean if a person bumped into me and then apologized, no problem, but none seem to do that here. So yes, I'm guilty of giving a nasty look..LOL
1 person likes this
@vivasuzi (4127)
• United States
25 Nov 08
No those ppl aren't that polite, I was mostly saying how I would react usually is polite so it irritates me to no end when people look at you like you've bumped them on purpose. I'm with you on the invisible thing! I feel like that when I'm driving sometimes, but also when I'm walking. As if people aren't even aware there are others in the mall with them! I tend to apologize, as I said in the post above, even if I wasn't the reason for the crash. It's just in my nature that when I collide with someone I say sorry even if it was totally their fault. I guess it's just the nature of some people but not all.
1 person likes this
@vivasuzi (4127)
• United States
29 Nov 08
haha, I can imagine that situation :) I know people who do that sometimes, saying "EXCUUUUUSSSEEE ME!!" b/c they are so irritated by the rude person. I think even when I know it wasn't my fault, I just say I'm sorry instinctively b/c I'm used to being the klutz :-D
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
25 Nov 08
LOL...Lots of times when someone does literally crash into me and they don't apologize instead of my saying "I'm sorry" I say "Excuse me." That gets the nasty look at me..lol
1 person likes this