So I smiled at someone today...

[customizedcreationz]

and they smiled back. I smile at people all the time. I figure its better to have a smile then look at the ground as you pass someone. But I am always amazed at how many people just look the other way quickly.

I am always amazed as well at the head down syndrome. How many people are oblivious to the dangers that may possibly be around them. Parking lot cars backing up, crackhead junkies waiting for an easy target etc.

I keep myself in condition yellow all the time. That is my lowest state of alertness. I am not saying I walk condition orange all the time. But I never ever am in condition white, maybe when I am sleeping.

Does this amaze any of you guys? How many people just go about their way and not pay any attention to what surrounds them. Be it the dangers of everyday life, the news, or just plain happenings of God.

I would consider myself a condition orange rider most of the time, and dipping into the red zone when traffic gets heavy. Because I consider everyone a threat in those conditions, cell phones, texting, gps units, stupid f'n tv's in cars etc.

So my questions to you guys are this......

1 What condition color do you consider yourself to be?

2 Do you make eye contact with everyone when you walk around during your day?

3 Do you say hi, hello, good day etc ?



I try and be friendly to everyone. Holding doors, thank you , please, good day etc. I appreciate the return to me when others do it. It makes me think that there are still some decent people left in this world sometimes.

Todd

 

[mr.maxx]

gotta be carefull here in the atlanta area....

but yea i try to make eye contact and smile if i happen to be inna good mood lol....

i try to be VERY aware of whats going on around me at any given time....and i make it a pont not to get TOO close to strange or suspicous looking people....ya gotta be that way round here . took me awhile to adjust to that as im originally from Maine and its a lot different up there:biglaugh:.

location makes a huge diff if how comfortable you can feel when yer out and about.

but generally im a friendly person and i like to make contact and interact with people.

 

[Fire-medic]

Many employee manuals reference the eye contact & 'make contact, acknowledge the other person' guideline. If you make eye contact, greet the other person, a 'hi' or 'hello' is sufficient.

Presently I am sitting in gridlock traffic for a motor vehicle fire on I 595. People are stupid. They pull-in behind the fire-rescue vehicles when the emergency vehicles pass, and instead of doing something reasonable like leaving the left lane vacant for responding emergency vehicles, they clog the lane, delaying the responders. Stupid,stupid people! I wish people would be more considerate, what would they want for their family members if that is who was trapped?

Ok this takes the cake-some a__hole just backed-past me on the shoulder to try and escape the gridlock! Then not 30 seconds later here comes another emergency vehicle he was delaying! Tickets, please! Hold stupid people accountable!

 

[Rollie]

Southern states tend to be very friendly toward everyone. We also have a concealed carry permit system . At one time , one of our local cities had a law on the books that every household would have a gun , ( Kennesaw or Kennestone ? ). Crime went down about 25 % I think .

Atlanta is like an oasis in the middle of the desert. It has about everything you could possibly want in a big city , and many things you probably would not want. I met my wife there , a true GA. Peach native . Most people you meet in town are not from GA. We knew we didn't want to raise children there , so we moved to the suburbs , where life moves at a more leisurely pace. I smile at everyone I meet or pass , and always say hi or hello. It's a southern thing. unk:

 

[sdt354]

I smile and say Hi to everyone. If they don't respond I don't care. Maybe we that do will set an example. I'd rather make eye contact than not. It also lets undesirables know I'm paying attention.The Cape is nothing like where I grew up. Everyone knew each other and few locked their doors even. Southern people are friendlier to strangers than most northerners, from my experience. We almost relocated to Texas a few years ago and it still could happen. I'll bring a picture of a snow storm in case I get homesick. We have an alarm, but noone likes to turn the dam thing on. I even made the codes their birthdays? It's going to just protect my Vmax I guess. We get complacent around here till something happens. I preach to the family that we're targets and to be aware.

Every household armed? That gives criminals something to ponder. The south is smart. They’re getting criminals to move north where it’s safe, for THEM, in the cities. You should not need a permit to be armed in your own house. Or to buy a gun and bring it home. What happened?

 

[RaWarrior]

NY sees it that nobody should have a gun legally. Except for people that get them illegally aka criminals, so the "bad guys" are the only ones armed. Seems like a sound strategy to lower crime and "keep guns off streets".

Maybe I'm a bit more used to it as a boat captain in a very busy, high traffic section of river, you have to have your "head on a swivel" all the time. Yes speeds are a lot lower but you have vessels that are pushing a million pounds of displacement.....it doesn't take a lot of speed.

On the bike I check the mirrors and look down-road every couple seconds. Look for cars that might be pulling into my lane. Look for cars that are tailgating someone else (and likely to change lanes to pass). Look for cars driving abnormally slow....probably don't know where they're going and likely to abruptly jam the brakes or veer off the road when they spot something. This is why I don't like driving small sedans and other low cars....you can't see anything around you in traffic.

When you see someone driving a terrible car, chances are they're a terrible driver. I don't mean a car that's old, or beat up, I mean a car that was no good even when it was new. That someone paid top dollar retail for and was a huge waste of money. Like a Hyundai Accent. Friend bought one brand new for a bit over $10k. It's a glorified go kart. It's slow, ugly, noisy, has a terrible ride, seats are hard, not that good on gas (35mpg), the radio is awful, brakes are wooden, absolutely everything about it screams cheap and soulless. And he's owned it a year and been in like 3 crashes and gets tickets constantly.

Another friend bought an 11 year old Infiniti I30 in very good condition, only 50k miles, loaded leather interior, for $7500. Fast, comfortable, lots of features, and reasonably fun to drive. And it gets nearly as good mileage as the huyndai shitbox for having much more space and much more power. This has been around for a couple years now and it's still as perfect and straight as new from the factory.

 

[sdt354]

NY sees it that nobody should have a gun legally. Except for people that get them illegally aka criminals, so the "bad guys" are the only ones armed. Seems like a sound strategy to lower crime and "keep guns off streets".

Maybe I'm a bit more used to it as a boat captain in a very busy, high traffic section of river, you have to have your "head on a swivel" all the time. Yes speeds are a lot lower but you have vessels that are pushing a million pounds of displacement.....it doesn't take a lot of speed.

On the bike I check the mirrors and look down-road every couple seconds. Look for cars that might be pulling into my lane. Look for cars that are tailgating someone else (and likely to change lanes to pass). Look for cars driving abnormally slow....probably don't know where they're going and likely to abruptly jam the brakes or veer off the road when they spot something. This is why I don't like driving small sedans and other low cars....you can't see anything around you in traffic.

When you see someone driving a terrible car, chances are they're a terrible driver. I don't mean a car that's old, or beat up, I mean a car that was no good even when it was new. That someone paid top dollar retail for and was a huge waste of money. Like a Hyundai Accent. Friend bought one brand new for a bit over $10k. It's a glorified go kart. It's slow, ugly, noisy, has a terrible ride, seats are hard, not that good on gas (35mpg), the radio is awful, brakes are wooden, absolutely everything about it screams cheap and soulless. And he's owned it a year and been in like 3 crashes and gets tickets constantly.

Another friend bought an 11 year old Infiniti I30 in very good condition, only 50k miles, loaded leather interior, for $7500. Fast, comfortable, lots of features, and reasonably fun to drive. And it gets nearly as good mileage as the huyndai shitbox for having much more space and much more power. This has been around for a couple years now and it's still as perfect and straight as new from the factory.

Wow ,I hope the Ealantra is better quality than the Accent. I didn't think it was much different than our Camry. Of course that's judging from the 5 minute ride in a brand new one just before my wife and daughter bought it new. They came for Dads approval as a formality...lol. I'm a Jeep Grand Cherokee lover. 178k and no oil burning or leaking. Tons of torque for an in line 6. Tows the Max like it isn't there.

 

[Rusty McNeil]

Yes to all three original questions. It's normal behavior in Texas. Although less the rule the bigger the city due to influx of "foriegners" ( out of state job chasers)

Where I grew up out in West Texas you even do the one finger wave at every oncoming car, since you only see in every now and then. The pop. Density was that low.

I travel a lot and notice that the further east or north (or in Cali.) being friendly just gets you weird looks. No biggie to me tho.

Condition wise, grew up in the white zone, living in Houston metro area last 27 years has made me into a yellow or orange. There are plenty out there that ARE looking for their next victim.

As it relates to riding. Orange, always.
The way I ride is
1. I'm invisible and no one can see me
2. If I'm wrong on rule 1. And they DO see me then they have malice in thier heart and desire to do me great harm.

 

[customizedcreationz]

Its not a safe world out there and no one is going to protect you from anyone. That is how I look at it atleast.

 

[twistedmax]

Im GREEN for GO! When I go to a restaraunt I wont sit with my back to the door, when Im driving in the city, theres always enough room between me and the car in front me for me to "get away" if need be.Kinda sucks....but Im very aware ALL the time! ptsd?

 

[ninjaneer]

I, more often than not, say hello with a sincere well-wish or well-being inquiry in a one-on-one passby like hallways, sidewalks, when I hold a door open, cash registers, etc. I am always responded to cordually.

Eye contact is something that, even after 40 years of Western influence, I have to make a conscience effort to do. With that being said, I still find it uncomfortable after a few seconds, and continue interacting by looking at a person's lips. I remember during job interviews I started off by explaining that if eye contact was in my parents culture, I would interact with the body language, and my lack of eye contact in no way displayed any lack of self-confidence and disinterest.

Regards from my Taptalking Hercules Android

 

[PATMAX]

Most persons that have been in Law Enforcement and probably the Military and maybe Prison Gaurds are Orange all times. I hate to call it situational awareness because that sounds paranoid. Years of that kind of work kind locks you into that mind set.
Sorry to say I watch body language and hands more than smiling faces while out and about but while among friends, I'm not so bad. I'll always shoot back a smile or a hello if someone catches me first. Is it a bad thing to be Orange most of the time?

 

[Fire-medic]

Most persons that have been in Law Enforcement and probably the Military and maybe Prison Gaurds are Orange all times. I hate to call it situational awareness because that sounds paranoid. Years of that kind of work kind locks you into that mind set.
Sorry to say I watch body language and hands more than smiling faces while out and about but while among friends, I'm not so bad. I'll always shoot back a smile or a hello if someone catches me first. Is it a bad thing to be Orange most of the time?

Depends. If you are in the south of Ireland, yes.

 

[RaWarrior]

Wow ,I hope the Ealantra is better quality than the Accent. I didn't think it was much different than our Camry. Of course that's judging from the 5 minute ride in a brand new one just before my wife and daughter bought it new. They came for Dads approval as a formality...lol. I'm a Jeep Grand Cherokee lover. 178k and no oil burning or leaking. Tons of torque for an in line 6. Tows the Max like it isn't there.

Can't say for that, just that Accent was the most miserable, awful car I'd ever driven. I attribute it's less than impressive economy due to the fact you have to constantly mash your foot down to make anything happen.

That AMC 4.0 six will probably be around forever. Know lots of people with Jeeps with loads of miles and they still run perfect. Buddy has an old (early 90's) Cherokee with it and it's over 200k. Runs great, quiet, no knocks or clatters.

I'm kind of surprised inline sixes aren't more common in cars, they're one of the few naturally balanced engines....run smoothly, last longer, great torque. BMW is the only one I know of that still uses them.

 

[85 MAX-fan]

Southern states tend to be very friendly toward everyone. We also have a concealed carry permit system . At one time , one of our local cities had a law on the books that every household would have a gun , ( Kennesaw or Kennestone ? ). Crime went down about 25 % I think .

Atlanta is like an oasis in the middle of the desert. It has about everything you could possibly want in a big city , and many things you probably would not want. I met my wife there , a true GA. Peach native . Most people you meet in town are not from GA. We knew we didn't want to raise children there , so we moved to the suburbs , where life moves at a more leisurely pace. I smile at everyone I meet or pass , and always say hi or hello. It's a southern thing. unk:

I am generally a good mood kinda a guy. I like to greet people and wave etc.
Once had a guy get all "what the fu#! are you talking to me for???!! in turn. I responded by drooling, picking my nose, babbling incoherantly and that sort of thing. He was so taken aback he just shook his head and walked away swearing.
I never feared for my safety because Illinois does not allow concealed carry, so I KNEW he didn't have a gun! Don't think I would have tried that one in your state as a guy could shot over crap like that.....

 

[dmax1]

Most persons that have been in Law Enforcement and probably the Military and maybe Prison Gaurds are Orange all times. I hate to call it situational awareness because that sounds paranoid. Years of that kind of work kind locks you into that mind set.
Sorry to say I watch body language and hands more than smiling faces while out and about but while among friends, I'm not so bad. I'll always shoot back a smile or a hello if someone catches me first. Is it a bad thing to be Orange most of the time?

I would have to say no it is not a bad thing to be orange all of the time. I have been a corrctional officer and a patrolman in Chicago and suburbs and it is like you said it just becomes a part of you. It will always be there!

 

[Rollie]

I am generally a good mood kinda a guy. I like to greet people and wave etc.
Once had a guy get all "what the fu#! are you talking to me for???!! in turn. I responded by drooling, picking my nose, babbling incoherantly and that sort of thing. He was so taken aback he just shook his head and walked away swearing.
I never feared for my safety because Illinois does not allow concealed carry, so I KNEW he didn't have a gun! Don't think I would have tried that one in your state as a guy could shot over crap like that.....

You would be fine down here. We don't shoot crazy people , professional courtesy so to speak. :rofl_200:

 

[Fire-medic]

My favorite south Florida bumper sticker:
"Come back to Miami, we weren't shooting at you!"

 

[naughtyG]

I'm with you on all counts Todd. To be fair I found most people much friendlier in FL and the US in general compared to my time in France and the UK.

When riding I'm definitely in 'condition Orange' whenever in any kind of traffic or built-up area, maybe relaxing slightly when in the middle of nowhere (but still aware of animal risk etc).