Do you smile to Strangers?
By eve301345
@eve301345 (658)
Philippines
September 20, 2009 9:57pm CST
Hello my fellow Myloters,
This is one question that I been meaning to ask for a long time but just haven't got time and thank god today I remember to ask this.
We often travel to Australia and other part of the world and I see different sort of attitude towards strangers.
In Australia every time we go in there it really amaze me the attitude because sometimes I get some people waving and smiling at us even though if we don't know theme and never seen theme before. Also in the elevator when there are others on board they always smile when you get in and often try to make conversation. Its really great but for me as a Asian raised woman I was never use to it before and often it was sort of awkward but now I am use to it and I do this actually already smile to stranger wherever we go. Though sad because hen we go back to Philippines and try to smile at some people they look at me like I am crazy 
. I wish everybody could just be nice so I dont have to look like a fool when i smile to somebody and they look at me like I got a whole in my head.
How about you do you smile to stranger? Is this some kind of attitude that you get use to since you were still young or you just learn on your later life? What do you do when a stranger smile at you? Don you think its good to be friendly all the time instead of being a b***h?
Thank you all myloters and happy myloting
. I wish everybody could just be nice so I dont have to look like a fool when i smile to somebody and they look at me like I got a whole in my head.
How about you do you smile to stranger? Is this some kind of attitude that you get use to since you were still young or you just learn on your later life? What do you do when a stranger smile at you? Don you think its good to be friendly all the time instead of being a b***h?
Thank you all myloters and happy myloting1 person likes this
19 responses
@Killabyte (65)
• South Korea
21 Sep 09
XD
it depends on your situation and the strangers personality
i would just recommend you not smiling XD
1 person likes this
@Archie0 (5636)
•
21 Sep 09
When I was at high I would smile at people who would stare at me for a long time then they looked at me weird so now I just smile to the elderly, kids and people I know. I would smile at guys that would stare too and they would think I was flirting with them. Now I just look at them for 3 seconds and turn my head somewhere else.
@offlimits (596)
• Philippines
21 Sep 09
Yes, I do, most especially when I see them smile at me, I tend to smile back. I am a Filipino so I totally understand what you're saying that people here don't smile to strangers. Don't get them wrong though, because even if they don't smile back at you, you can always guarantee that people here are friendly. Maybe they just find it unusual at first because they are not used to it here. I think it's not like being a snob or something because it only depends on the people or place you go to.
@eve301345 (658)
• Philippines
21 Sep 09
I am pretty sure they are friendly and I am filipina too just spend more time abroad that's why maybe I sort of different attitude. Sometimes maybe I just smile to thus people who really not use to of the culture but abroad it seems to be OK all the time. I am the one actually that get the smile first abroad and then I just return some greetings and smile to theme. One time actually a kid had actually stop to say hello to me and it was really great. He didn't move though until I return my hello back to him.
1 person likes this
@eve301345 (658)
• Philippines
22 Sep 09
Yeah I would say I am very fortunate person to be able to travel countries to countries and learn there cultures.
Happy myloting
@offlimits (596)
• Philippines
21 Sep 09
Oh, that was nice :) At least you experience the way people treat strangers in other countries. It's good to learn about different cultures when you actually experience them. Have a nice day! :)
@ladym33 (10979)
• United States
21 Sep 09
Yes, if I happen to meat eye contact with someone as I am walking past them I will always smile a small smile at them. I think if you make eye contact you should smile. It would not be right not too, if you get eye contact with someone and don't smile I think that comes off as rude or stuck up or something. I don't like being that way.
@eve301345 (658)
• Philippines
22 Sep 09
Thanks lady for the response,
I think your right and I absolutely agree with you.
Though I often get an eye contact from kids so when I see theme looking at me I just straight away pop a sweet smile on my face and almost all the kids that stare at me return a very sweet smile and its really good feeling.
Happy Myloting
@maezee (41997)
• United States
21 Sep 09
I don't think you're being a "b****" just if you don't smile to a stranger. I'm friendly enough while I'm at work (where I'm constantly greeting and chit-chatting with 'strangers' - AKA the customers - as it's part of my job), but outside of work..I don't smile at everyone who I walk past. To me, that's a little creepy. But where I'm from - we're all very individualized and private people - or at least most of us, especially in inner cities. I have friends who have lived in the same house for 10+ years and who never got to know their neighbors, for example. I don't think you're a bad person for not going out of your way to be friendly to people you don't know; especially if you don't know that they DESERVE your friendliness. But that's just my opinion.
@eve301345 (658)
• Philippines
21 Sep 09
But I mean not to everyone you go across with. What I mean is like in the elevator because its a common place where people share a place for few seconds.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
21 Sep 09
hi why on earth do people have to deserve your smile, arent we all human beings? if you met me an elderly lady would you think that I was so horrible you couldnt return my smile? a smile only takes a few muscles and doesnt cost a darned thing. so maybe I am horrible because I smile at you and dont know you and well maybe you do not deserve my smile afterall.
@angryeve (684)
• Philippines
21 Sep 09
Hi eve, it's funny cause we have the same name and I'm from the Philippines as well. Actually I do smile at strangers here, and do get a positive respond. But I understand what you're saying about not getting a nice respond back and totally snubbing you.lol I get that too sometimes. I guess some people just isn't comfortable doing that. Or just paranoid on being too friendly thinking you might have some evil plan on them or whatever. I mean, we can't really blame them for being paranoid since "budol-budol gang" here in our country is quite popular, having different schemes and style. But if everyone is as friendly as we are, I guess it'll be a lot nicer world to live in to. =)
@eve301345 (658)
• Philippines
22 Sep 09
Thanks angryeve for the response,
Will really I don't smile when I am walking in the road something like that but smiling to stranger really often happen on the elevator or in some public transport specially if its crowded and your trying to get a space. But where we live in Makati I often encounter people who when I get into the elevator I sort of say Hi and once there is this old lady look at me from head to toe. I thought probably what a young lady doing in this building at her age. I often get this from Filipina's too but I am use to it already.
Will for me I reckon when somebody smile at me as long as its friendly smile it make my day.
Happy myloting
@angryeve (684)
• Philippines
23 Sep 09
Hi eve, well I don't actually smile while I'm walking on the streets too. That would definitely get me in a mental hospital or something.lol Sometimes when I ride the jeep or fx or any public vehicle, then I get to see someone suddenly look at me, that's when I usually give a smile. But of course I don't smile at people who look like a maniac from the very start. Actually I don't smile at guys, cause I'm a little paranoid they might misinterpret it and think I'm flirting with them. I just make exemptions with senior citizens hehe.
But what you experienced when you say "Hi" to someone in an elevator was not surprising. I actually don't do that.lol I don't say hi since I'm pretty sure I'm gonna get the same respond as you did. Some people just think its awkward and that some just doesn't have anything say. I bet you are enjoying the culture there in Australia since it's really nicer if people are more friendly. =)
@cutepink_13 (691)
•
22 Sep 09
i believe in the saying give your smile to everyone but your love to only one. well i do my to strangers especially when they are smiling to me too. for me flashing a smile is a way of greeting others. this will also brightens their day.
@eve301345 (658)
• Philippines
22 Sep 09
Hi cutepink,
Actually it does make other people day specially me. When somebody smile at me it just tell me that I look friendly enough to have there smile.
Thanks for the response and happy myloting
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
21 Sep 09
hi eve yes here in southern califoria we are more friendly and I often smile at strangers and they will smile back. a smile often makes a 'sad person smile back,and may make someone else's day. we are 'not as stand offish as some other countries.we are more open and trusting, and we do smile and even speak to strangers at time. this is just our custom. we each have our own culture.
@eve301345 (658)
• Philippines
21 Sep 09
Hi Hatley,
Actually here in Australia it the same and I guess because I travel a lot I am very open which sometimes I guess I should really think where I am at times. It really good though this kind of attitude and like you say you wouldn't know but maybe you make somebody else day. And to be honest I remember one day I was having a bad day and this old lady smile at me and it really lighten up my whole day. One time too we are driving in country town in Australia and this lady standing her front door wave to me when she saw me and I smile back at her and wave back. Its really nice culture for one country to have.
@hotsummer (13835)
• Philippines
21 Sep 09
haha. it is really funny if you will do that in the philippines. cause you can't just expect people to understand why you are smiling at them. as most people are not familiar with how people in other countries behave so they don't have any idea that you are doing that basically because you just want to act friendly. here in the philippines. the thing to do is just to mind your own. he he. i mean don't smile randomly to people. they may think you are up to something. i don't ever do that. though i would be happy if someone will smile at me and wave at me, but since i know people don't do that here i may think they have something in their mind or planning something. LOL. but i ever go to Australia, i will definitely feel happy to be waived upon and smiled at. and given a nice greeting.
@jules67 (2788)
• Philippines
21 Sep 09
Hi eve301342. I never got that habit ever since. I do not mind saying hello back to them. But for me to initiate a smile or a hello to strangers is something far fetched. I think it is because I am some kind of an aloof person. I know that it is no good but I have to learn hard to smile.
@Hazelrose (2179)
• Philippines
21 Sep 09
Hi jules67,Yes,I always smile at people,even to strangers because I believe that thru smiling I can gain more friends.during my younger days my parents told me to smile always to make me beautiful.thanks and good day.
@moneymakingtoday (4061)
• Philippines
21 Sep 09
at times, i have done that. it really depends on whom i meet. if i see a very smiling and pleasant face in front of me, i will gratefully return a smile. it is very seldom that i initiate a smile though. if i do, it would mostly be to the children being tagged along by their moms.
just yesterday, we sat beside a 3-year old girl who was so cute with her very curly hair. i smiled at her and she smiled back. then i asked her name and she answered. the mother smiled too.
smiling to people u meet usually makes that other person turn their head in amazement as if asking themselves, what is she smiling about? and sometimes makes him ponder if the other person was a past acquaintance but not just being recognized immediately. that is what happens here because we usually smile to people we know.
@eve301345 (658)
• Philippines
21 Sep 09
Will I guess I should have been more specific. Really its not just smiling often its part of when you say good evening. Often in Manila we got into elevator and you know try to make the elevator presence uncomfortable we say good day to whoever was there first and often we get response but sometimes we don't.
@killersss (638)
• India
21 Sep 09
no i don't smile to strangers. i don't even look at strangers i am too busy to do all this kind of stuff. i think i don't have time to even look at the strangers, so i don't think that i will smile to them. i will just ignore , if a stranger smile to me.
@emailocto (63)
• Philippines
21 Sep 09
It depends...If the person looks pleasant I do smile at them, a simple gesture changes a persons mood and they might feel important because of the single smile. First step of having a new friend starts with a smile...
@eve301345 (658)
• Philippines
22 Sep 09
Hi emailocto,
Actually it does, when I am in Philippines and I am in bad mood and somebody say good morning or afternoon to me when they get into the elevator it really make my day.
Happy myloting
@smukeet (6)
• Pakistan
21 Sep 09
Yes I agree to have a friendly manner and it is good to have smile on face all the time. Actually this is all cultural difference. You can see different regions have different traditions and culture. Some characters they may adopt from their religions and their backgrounds.Culture itself is nothing and it is made by people. I can give you one example of Multi national organizations which are expanding their businesses throughout the world. Suppose Australian Company is establishing their business in Asia culture where people have distinctive values but when they work in the environment of Australian cultured organization they would likely to adopt their values. You may conclude culture is a form of environment and developing with practice. One more thing which I noticed, it can vary from person to person. Such are moody, jolly and naughty these are all the characteristics of the person and even you can find in Asia; If you are travelling in a bus and you find some old person standing on, you may offer him/her a seat rather you also observe some other people who may not consider and dont want to give a respect.Thanks to Mylot.
@diggityjed (107)
• Philippines
21 Sep 09
Here in our country it is kind of weird to smile with the stranger it is like you are insulting that stranger, so do you smile with a lot of stranger that you passed through the street?
But there are times that i do smile with the stranger if it is with someone i know or with my relatives,that is one way of being polite.
