Published on 12, July, 2020
Does anyone else struggle sometimes to do ‘appropriate’ greetings? You know, as the social skills textbook instructs, especially when hugely distracted by something else? Usually I can manage it, but this morning I may have managed to diversify!
I happened to need to pop to the Scout shop this morning to buy some badges for my Beavers. After I got out of my car I realised that there was what looked like a dead hedgehog by the side of the car park. So I had to stop for a few minutes to investigate whether a) it was actually a hedgehog, and b) it was actually dead. So after establishing those facts, I walked into the shop and rather than doing the textbook greeting, I just said “there’s a dead hedgehog in the car park!” Luckily they were fine with it, they even asked what group scarf it was wearing BUT this really isn’t the appropriate way for me to greet people who I haven’t seen for a few months!!
I very often say things like this. I find it much more interesting and can't see why people get offended by it!
It's much more interesting than the standard 'hello, how are you!'. What type of things do you say when you greet people?
I normally start with something I've seen like "I just saw a chaffinch on the phone wire" or "I've bought a new CD". I really don't do well with the build up to conversation.
I might have to do a social experiment of sorts this week and instead of asking ‘how are you?’ of people when I see them, instead make an observation of something that I’ve recently seen or experienced, just to see what reactions I get :-)