People I half-know
December 3rd, 2005 at 22:34
I had a vague social dialemma yesterday, similar to ones I’ve been having a lot lately. What happens if I figuratively run into someone I only know a little bit? Do I ignore them? Do I say hello? Do I nod? Do I try and start a whole conversation?
I went into town yesterday to buy my dad a birthday card, and I happend to walk past one of Heather’s friends. I’d spoken to her a few times in the past- although Heather had always been there to essentially justify why I was talking to someone I didn’t know very well.
Esssentially, the only reason she knows who I am is because of Heather, and because I once wore a monocle to school.
As I spotted her, I thought “should I say ‘Hello’?”, and as time rapidly ran out as I was nearer and nearer, I eventually went for the cowardly option- my watch suddenly became the most fascinating thing in the world, so I looked down and walked quickly.
The unfortunate thing is that this was probably the rudest possible response, as she knew that I knew she was in greeting proximity, and I knew that she knew that I knew she was in greeting proximity. Whoops.
A similar thing happend in Leicester the other day. I saw Wells in town again- only this time Mike was also there. It was dead weird- two completely seperate friends… in the same place! As I was eating at the time, there was points in the conversation where I couldn’t contribute- leaving two people who’s only common topic was me to stand awkwardly in silence.
I wish people would either know me really well or not at all – it’d be much easier.
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