Walking Experiment: How many people will I come across?
By Michelle
@infatuatedbby (95001)
United States
January 18, 2017 2:14pm CST
After breakfast, I went on a morning walk. I walked 3,306 steps and on my walk - I decided to do a little experiment and see how many people I will encounter/pass by and say 'hi'.
I came across...
- An elderly couple
- Neighbor walking her dog
- A man jogging
- Lots of cars/trucks passing by!
Only one said "Good morning" (the neighbor walking her dog). The couple walked slow and stopped, so I went around - all they did was stare at me, so I kept going. The man jogging was busy jogging. I did get honked by a truck driver and he waved which was strange.
Do you often greet people if you see them? Or do you continue on? I used to say hello first, but sometimes I don't get any remark back so I don't often do especially if I'm by myself.
21 people like this
32 responses
@much2say (53959)
• Los Angeles, California
19 Jan 17
I walked earlier too - but I didn't keep track of my steps. I walked through a college and most times no one says hi there as students keep to themselves - and this time as always no one did. I did wave to guy who was driving . . . but only because I was waiting to cross the street and he gave me the go ahead, so I waved a thanks 
. I am usually one to say hi and make chit chat . . . but it's just not something people do at a school.2 people like this
@much2say (53959)
• Los Angeles, California
19 Jan 17
@infatuatedbby Hubby keeps track with some app . . . goal is 10,000 steps per day 
. He's been getting into running - so he's super motivated right now .
We live near a college - and it's very close to the kids' schools - so I can easily go there at anytime. I can feel like a college kid again - for that moment anyway .
. He's been getting into running - so he's super motivated right now .
We live near a college - and it's very close to the kids' schools - so I can easily go there at anytime. I can feel like a college kid again - for that moment anyway .1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
19 Jan 17
@much2say Do you have a goal?
I don't usually look at my steps but I want to aim 5,000 steps for now (now that I am looking at my phone).
Ohh I see, hehe so you get some walking done at the college.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
19 Jan 17
Oh yes, when you're walking through a college - no one waves or says hi (hardly). Were you going to class or just happen to be in the area?
I don't keep track but decided to look at my phone.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
19 Jan 17
@SIMPLYD Lol yeah chances are I won't come across them lol
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
19 Jan 17
@infatuatedbby And when that happens you take note of that person and never ever smile at him or her anymore. 
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
19 Jan 17
I always say hello to everyone I pass in public. You never know when it can brighten someone's day!
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
19 Jan 17
Yes! It was nice to hear Good morning, I did say it back :)
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
22 Jan 17
@moffittjc Oh well if its a few people here and there, but in a crowd of thousands of people ah no time! =)
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118442)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Jan 17
@infatuatedbby It always brightens my day too when I hear someone else tell me good morning when I pass them by! Greeting fellow passers-by is the polite thing to do. Although, I must admit, it would be very time consuming and difficult to do in a big city like New York, where you literally pass by thousands of people every morning! haha
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
21 Jan 17
@paigea But I think your yard would be big enough to walk? Right right? Hehe.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
21 Jan 17
Oh I would be too scared to walk on a lonely road. :) Are there sidewalks or just a road?
@paigea (35693)
• Canada
21 Jan 17
@infatuatedbby Just a road. Well anyone who drives down this road, lives out here in the countryside, so really nothing to be afraid of. Except they don't really expect to see someone walking and might be driving fast.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
18 Jan 17
When I'm on my bike, I always wave at other cyclists coming the opposite direction. Some even wave back.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
19 Jan 17
@teamfreak16 That is pretty cool. I don't see scooters often anymore.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
19 Jan 17
That is nice, even motorcycle bikers do too!
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
19 Jan 17
@infatuatedbby - I used to have a scooter. Scooter people always wave at each other.
1 person likes this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
19 Jan 17
What about greeting them first and find out how many would respond?
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
19 Jan 17
I done at that at the beach before - not many.
1 person likes this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
19 Jan 17
@infatuatedbby Maybe you did not say it with a smile :)
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
18 Jan 17
I'm kinda anti social so I do not say hi, and actually find it sort of weird when people say hi to me.
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
19 Jan 17
@infatuatedbby I enjoy small talk, I am just not outgoing enough to make eye contact or be the first to say hi
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
19 Jan 17
@katsmeow1213 Oh I see, I don't like small talk with strangers, but if I'm in line or something then thats ok =)
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
19 Jan 17
I am anti-social to, but I will say hi sometimes quickly but no small talk!
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
19 Jan 17
That is wonderful and a great village you live in.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
21 Jan 17
@Jackalyn Great to hear you live in a great community 
1 person likes this
@Jackalyn (7559)
• Oxford, England
19 Jan 17
@infatuatedbby It is rather nice. I would not want to live in town again.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
18 Jan 17
I don't need talk to strangers.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
19 Jan 17
@AbbyGreenhill HAHAH 
Well you can walk in your backyard and that'd be big enough :)
Well you can walk in your backyard and that'd be big enough :)@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
19 Jan 17
@infatuatedbby I'm not talking, I'm typing!
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
22 Jan 17
Oh yes it happens!
The person who didnt make eye contact or say it back, were they on their phones? Liking holding it while walking?
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246849)
• United States
22 Jan 17
@infatuatedbby No. They were just miserable specimens of human beings.
1 person likes this
@asfarasiknow (3341)
• Bournemouth, England
18 Jan 17
I greet people if I know them. In the British countryside there is the code of greeting anyone you pass.
I take it you have a device and you didn't count all those steps in your head.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
19 Jan 17
Oh yeah I did not count the steps, it shows on my phone.
The code of greeting does that depend on how one looks? Or their class? Or how does it work?
1 person likes this
@asfarasiknow (3341)
• Bournemouth, England
19 Jan 17
@infatuatedbby It's just a courtesy but there is an interesting story connected with it. Back in the 1980s the country home addresses of British senior government ministers were still listed in directories like Who's Who and available to the public. Some terrorists planned to murder our Northern Ireland Secretary, a very senior government minister, and spent time hanging around in the West Country village where he lived when he wasn't in Belfast or London. They attracted suspicion by not greeting locals with 'Good evening' when they passed.The police were called, they were questioned and searched and a murder plot was foiled.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
19 Jan 17
@asfarasiknow Now a days, you can find out who's who online too! Or, like when someone bought the home for what price - who's living there, the phone #, etc. 
So the ones who don't greet, are the suspicious ones?
So the ones who don't greet, are the suspicious ones?1 person likes this
@Daljinder (23233)
• Bangalore, India
18 Jan 17
I don't make eye contact so they could pass by without having to talk to me.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
19 Jan 17
Yeah I don't always make eye contact as well!
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
19 Jan 17
@Daljinder Yep but sometimes people do just strike a conversation sometimes and its fine if I am in line but not in the middle of whatever I'm doing.
1 person likes this
@Daljinder (23233)
• Bangalore, India
19 Jan 17
@infatuatedbby That's universal sign to say "I am not interested" lol And I am really not comfortable with random strangers striking a conversation with me.
1 person likes this
@amandajay (23264)
• New Zealand
22 Jan 17
If i know the person personally I greet them, if not just give them a smile... But I dont have time to walk..lol
1 person likes this
@amandajay (23264)
• New Zealand
23 Jan 17
@infatuatedbby hehe.. You know that...
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
19 Jan 17
Really why so? :( I do feel some are racist though or treat me different at times.
1 person likes this
@suhail1 (931)
• Manila, Philippines
19 Jan 17
@infatuatedbby sometimes silence is better
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
28 Jan 17
Yes it is nice, can totally brighten someones day :)
@luisadannointed (4171)
• Philippines
26 Jan 17
That is a cute activity. I say hi if they say hi first. And I say hi if I really know that person if not I am too shy to say hello... They should be the one to greet me. Anyway there are lots of people hates me I don't know why... Imagine how that it happens when I am not even gone outside of our house and mingle with Any of our neighbors except for my old childhood friends.... Who still the same nice friends ever.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
27 Jan 17
Why would people hate you :(
That isn't very nice of them!
@sabtraversa (12938)
• Italy
23 Jan 17
It's quite weird to greet strangers here. Especially in the North, especially among youngsters.
However, during my morning walks in a path where most people go walking or jogging, I had several people greeting me, usually elders. If they didn't say "good morning", they were at least smiling. 
I never greet strangers, I even try to not greet the people I know. I'm not very sociable.
But if they greet, I greet back.
However, during my morning walks in a path where most people go walking or jogging, I had several people greeting me, usually elders. If they didn't say "good morning", they were at least smiling.
I never greet strangers, I even try to not greet the people I know. I'm not very sociable.
But if they greet, I greet back.1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
24 Jan 17
I am not very sociable. Depending how one would look I sometimes greet back. But sometimes I ignore and continue on but I do have a smirk or smile.
I do greet others if they greet me too. :)
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
22 Jan 17
We greet people when they are walking or jogging. Some don't even look our way!
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
18 Jan 17
How many people I will see and if the community is nice. Just for fun, no real purpose.
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
19 Jan 17
@MALUSE Oh yes, the city would be larger. I just walked in the neighborhood.
@MALUSE (69413)
• Germany
18 Jan 17
@infatuatedbby Did you walk in the outskirts? If you choose the city centre, you may meet more people.
1 person likes this
@miesse2 (226)
• Canada
29 Jan 17
That's is what I love about the community that I live in, they are so kind and friendly. I walk my dog and almost everyone walking or in a vehicle says hi or waves! I love how we are to each other! My dog escaped my yard one day shortly after I moved and at least 8 people who did not know me helped me recapture her and she is a very fast dog (part husky) so it was quite kind of them to chase after her. I love a kind and interactive community!
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (95001)
• United States
31 Jan 17
That is wonderful and I love communities who are nice and friendly. :) I am glad many neighbors helped you capture your dog! My sisters fence recently fell from strong winds and her neighborhood helped them rebuild a new fence.
1 person likes this
