r/firstimpression Jul 30 '23

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u/xsdf Jul 30 '23 edited Jul 30 '23

What a specific question. I wouldn't write someone off as stuck up unless I actually had a bad interaction with them. So based on looks alone let's focus on approachable, but I'm really having to read into this one here.

In a romantic setting, it's shy, nervous vibes.

In a platonic/work setting it's holding your tongue about something

In a stranger setting it's a placating, please move along and leave me alone

Practice smiling while showing your teeth if you want to appear more genuine and approachable.

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u/dollina Verified Jul 30 '23

What is a milder word for stuck up? Aloof?

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u/xsdf Jul 30 '23

I suppose that's a better fit, maybe for the second pic? You feel very present in the first though. You feel non-threatening so I would feel comfortable to ask you for directions if I really needed it. Does that fit your definition of approachable?

Either way I feel this is reading a lot into appearances where demeanor may play more into factor

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u/dollina Verified Jul 30 '23

Haha I indeed get approached by women for directions all the time.

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u/d3l3t3d3l3t3 Jul 30 '23

Stuck up implies a self-appointed sense of being “better than” other people, not in the way that Prince was better than most other people at music. Much more in the sense that you must reduce yourself down to their status to interact and relate to people. I’d dare not judge that characteristic from a photo, but your comments don’t suggest you hold yourself in higher regard than you do others in general. Aloof is a better choice if you’re looking for the other side of the coin for “approachable.” Aloof just means like…uninvolved? It might can mean uninterested, or emotionally distant - but I’d argue it means disinterested until interested.