Do you smile upon making eye contact?

I don't do it, but I do notice others who do smile when you make eye contact with them as you're walking towards them. I suppose it's a gesture that is taught or a nervous reaction. My family doesn't really smile, and my interpretation of a smile is a bit different from others. You could say I have somewhat of a resting-bitch-face.

Whenever I do get a smile from someone as I walk by them or when I make eye contact in their direction, I feel guilty because I never smile back. I prefer to express myself involuntarily.

Depends on the environment, the person, and the facial expression.

10:00 PM with a guy wearing a scowl on the streets of Chicago = no

11:00 am with a little kid smiling next to the small town ice cream parlor = yes

Where I come from, it's just considered polite. World is ugly enough as it is, may as well be friendly.

Typically a slight smile. It;s not a habitual thing, just kind of an ingrained thing my parents probably instilled in me. It's dependent upon context. I'm not gonna smile at someone staring and mean mugging at me.

Nope.

Yeah I usually do, it just seems to be the polite and friendly thing to do.

Small smile and nod to pretty much everyone regardless, with more of a reaction to those who seem friendly. It's not weird in the US, but there are countries where that behavior will make you look like a lunatic so I don't do it abroad. I heard that there's a joke/expression in Russia that basically translates to "People who smile all the time are either insane or American."

-Byshop

I give a cheap grin in response to a smile usually. I assume for most it's just a habitual reaction, in some cases to purposefully be friendly.

I do when it's appropriate. Not all the time though, the people who do that all the time are creepy as f***.

Those are the best ones to smile at. I always smile at mean mugs and stinky stares. It really burns them up, it's almost a slap to the face and that's exactly my attitude towards such people. Other times, like especially when I'm in a ghetto area, I just stare back, just to show I'm not scared because they do it as a way to show others to not mess with them or to show they are alpha but mostly to intimidate...etc. It's an attitude and like any attitude I either mock it or give it right back.

I'm not the type to lower my gaze. I typically dont stare back, because I have had bloods and crips do it to me, in groups. Time and place, and it was not the time or place for me to get into a staring contest as a white dude wearing a red hoodie, in a crip block haha. I also box with people who know bloods and crips, and in the boxing gym, that stuff doesn't matter. That's when I stare them down, then only.

Highly depends on not only the person but also the situation.

pretty much this. I don't give a huge teeth=baring smile, mind you, but a genuine, mild smile.

I always smile. People need to appreciate each other more.

Yup. I also return a little acknowledgement such as a nod or a wave of the hand.

Generally no. I should do it more often.

It depends if I think the other person is going to try and beat the shit out of me.

City folks will pass by you like you're invisible.

I guess the whole smiling thing works better in suburban/town areas.

I try to. Sometimes I'm in my own world and it's too late by the time I process that someone greeted me.

I use to but no it probably class as rape these days.

Depends on the person/situation and what kind of mood I'm in.

@Gaming-Planet: I live in Chicago. I always smile and get plenty of smiles back. I think it's mostly an incorrect stereotype about city dwellers.

I say hello or how are you to most people I pass by with a smile.

If I'm on the train or whatever and I'm standing around in one place with the same people for a while then I'll try to put on a non-hostile/half-smiling face just in case I end up making eye contact xd Otherwise if I'm walking down the street I usually have a more leave-me-alone-if-you-will face and don't make as much eye contact anyways.

If I'm greeting somebody known or new? I'll almost always smile, just to seem a more open person... I can't think of any reason why I wouldn't smile towards someone really.

I got called hay up lad other day from this OAP. I said hello back but In UK that normally means young person. I'm 36 year old and even some call me kid. greee. lol

In the UK as well especially where I come from saying allright cock is normal. Sometimes though I feel like saying ok bellend back to them. :P.

Definitely depends where you at. At work, yes most of the time. On the street, at beautiful ladies, all the time. And if them ladies are extra fine, i give them the god dam rock eye and a smile, lol ..

white people be like:

@mattbbpl: "11:00 am with a little kid smiling next to the small town ice cream parlor = yes"

A 11 year old Chicago kid is capable of doing what a person at 10:00PM would do.

Usually just a nod, smile when it seems appropriate.

Recently held the door for some German tourists. They made eye contact and said thank you. I met their eye contact with a scowl and said, "your welcome" in an effort to dispel the myth that all Americans are happy.

I'm pretty outgoing so I would say most of the time.

Here's my smile!

I do, and I have a good smile.

Whenever I make eye contact with anyone, I normally shoot them half of a smile then continue on my way...

@FireEmblem_Man said:

Here's my smile!

That's extremely disturbing! lol

I smirk. And then say something so utterly reprehensive that the other person bursts in laughter.

I subscribe to your words.

@Gaming-Planet: I usually do. Grew up in the city but now live in rural town. People smile more outside the city...

Yes normally as I'm a nice bloke. Depends on the situation however obviously.

Sometimes I attempt to smile but it feels so awkward that I don't know how it looks so I worry about it and sometimes don't and give a leave me the **** alone face by accident instead and then they wonder what's wrong with me.

If they smile first I might, if not then I don't.

I work in retail pharmacy. Bet your ass I smile and am friendly. I don't want patients to believe some angry asshole is handling their medication.

@Gaming-Planet: I never look people in the eyes while walking. I just look forward towards my objective at all times and purposely ignore everyone. If I look someone in the eyes, I'll realize I am walking and I'll think about how my legs are moving and becoming aware of this automatic process i'll become anxious because i'll be holding my breath.

If I exchange greetings with someone as we pass one another, absolutely. But if we're passing in silence, no. I usually just nod if our eyes meet. I find it much harder to smile if I'm not involved in a conversation - that has a lot to do with anxiety related to showing emotion to people I'm not directly engaged with.

I don't really make eye contact with anyone. It's one thing i would like to change about myself, i just feel weird and scared when i look into another person's eyes.. I can't even ask my mom for help with the rent without having a steering contest with the floor..

I don't smile unless something makes me smile, just like the OP really.

People who smile at me when they don't know me normally creep me out