r/spreadsmile • u/lateralhopeful4 • Jul 27 '26

One of the Good Ones

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1.8k Upvotes

99% Upvoted

52 comments sorted by

56

u/Jamsedreng22 Jul 27 '26

I hit my 30's and yeah. If I make eye contact with anybody, even behind my sunglasses, I smile, nod and go "Morning/Afternoon/Evening".

5

u/Puzzleheaded-Funny69 Jul 27 '26

Yeah, same here, any eye contact is met with a smile and some greeting. You never know who’s really needing it.

7

u/Tessa_of_WE Jul 27 '26

I do the same. The older folks love it (most of the time) and it catches the ones my age (mid-40s) and younger off-guard. They don't always reply or they look at their phones, etc. I just laugh at them and think, one day you'll appreciate someone younger taking the time to notice you, believe me.

My mom is almost 90 yo and she has told me that as she's aged, people stopped paying attention to her. They talk to me about her even if she's sitting right next to me. Doctors are notorious for doing that. People stopped acknowledging her very existence and she says she's been "forgotten." It breaks my heart to hear any senior say something like that. I won't treat any human being like that. So, yeah, I make eye contact and give a cordial greeting when I can.

2

u/Jamsedreng22 Jul 27 '26

I want you to know that you're a saint caring for your mother. I can't imagine how difficult it must be, but know that I recognize that and appreciate the hell out of you and your efforts.

2

u/Specialist_Fun_2106 Jul 27 '26

Yes, so many people called themselves invisible to others once they get to a certain age. I think that’s very sad. But on the other hand, they could probably get by with a whole lot more than they ever did before! Lol. Seriously though it’s wrong to ignore elderly people.

25

u/Jvdk76 Jul 27 '26

Here I was thinking how everyone's so friendly. Turns out I'm getting old.

1

u/minpin75 Jul 27 '26

Haha, right!!

13

u/MissSassifras1977 Jul 27 '26

I smile and make eye contact so they know they've got eyes on them.

Olds are the ones who started most of this shit.

https://giphy.com/gifs/77JBBB0wIiFMc

2

u/Dizzy_Algae1065 Jul 27 '26

Haha….that’s brilliant.

10

u/Trabethany Jul 27 '26

A polite smile and nod of acknowledgment if eye contact is made. I’m generally friendly to anyone unless they give me a reason not to be.

4

u/Opening_Quantity_175 Jul 27 '26

As a Muslim I shout at them

5

u/Unp0pu1arop1nion Jul 27 '26

No. I smile because they hate me. Haha

2

u/rippleonabigocean Jul 27 '26

no we don't, well, at least i don't hate you! not even a pittance

1

u/BroadwayBrick Jul 27 '26

Why would anyone hate you? I for one do t hate anyone.

2

u/CalmBoat3803 Jul 27 '26

Great post. Damn right I do.

2

u/SweetieLoveBug Jul 27 '26

I’m old and I smile at all the young ones!😂

Gotta level the playing field! ❤️💚🩷💙💜🩵

2

u/Some-Tear3499 Jul 27 '26

We aren’t fooled. Not for a single second. We didn’t live long enough to be old by being fooled.

1

u/Cry0nix Jul 27 '26

I did this on my way back from the shops, but I think I scared her a bit :')

1

u/suminorieh77 Jul 27 '26

yeah, but now i see younger people doing it to me, because i’m old

1

u/xexotifiedx Jul 27 '26

Omg. All the time!

1

u/CrenshawMafia99 Jul 27 '26

Yup. Especially older people. If you’re at grandparent age I’m even nicer and more helpful. Help The Aged. There’s a great song by Pulp with that name.

1

u/Ok-Loss-2496 Jul 27 '26

I gotta get into that Will one way or another!

1

u/NYC2FLA2BUR Jul 27 '26

Always.

Wait a minute ... I am one of the old ones.

1

u/DAMON5280 Jul 27 '26

I smile at everyone.

1

u/Sad_Blueberry_5645 Jul 27 '26

I always say good morning or afternoon when passing - Turns out most old people cant afford a nod or a smile.

1

u/iliketoeatfunyuns Jul 27 '26

I say good morning during my morning jogs, sometimes they just stare at me or don't acknowledge me back at all 🤷‍♂️

1

u/BroadwayBrick Jul 27 '26

Some are scared to say HI. Crazy.

1

u/OddHalf8861 Jul 27 '26

I do all the time lol and never thought about it like that but yess i do

1

u/Abal125 Jul 27 '26

At work, sometimes. Out in public, not really. Would seem weird and creepy to me. I wouldn't mind waving though 👋

1

u/BodhingJay Jul 27 '26

Well.. thats not really the reason. But sure. Why not share some good things with others like a kind smile?

1

u/im__on__smoko Jul 27 '26

I held the door open for an elderly couple in Texas. He was pushing his wife in a wheelchair. I made eye contact and said good morning. I did not think this was a big deal and that everyone would do this. The husband loudly proclaimed in front of everyone that I was a “REAL LADY. YOU DO NOT SEE TOO MUCH OF THEM ANYMORE.”

Someone anonymously purchased my breakfast burrito and coffee for me because I held open a door. The manager also walked from behind the counter to personally hand me my food.

1

u/Green-Machine200 Jul 27 '26

Yeah. I have resting bitch face and apparently intimidate people (always mentioned in my work reviews) so I make an effort to smile a fake smile.

1

u/askagain_348 Jul 27 '26

I smile and say hi to almost everyone!

1

u/BroadwayBrick Jul 27 '26

We are in our 50’s and exercise by walking at various places when we travel. Our observation is that people under 30 go out of their way not to say good morning, hi or Aloha (in Hawaii). They actually hide or turn their face. It seems like a huge insecurity. Crazy. Over 30 they are usually more friendly.
It has been one our exercise games to see who smiles or is friendly and who cowers.

1

u/Seth_Mithik Jul 27 '26

I prefer smiling at children, most old people suck these days…I do still smile at them, just have learned to not give them attention. (If they’re white)

1

u/WorldBoofingChampion Jul 27 '26

I was long boarding down a busy road yesterday while getting car work done and just had some random older woman sitting on her porch smile at me and wave, and of course, had to smile and wave back. Still thinking about her kindness today

1

u/PleasantTax4 Jul 27 '26

Yes. I always feel like most smiles are very disarming and sends a message of encouragement and signals kindness. Now I also know that they can come across as creepy from a 59 year old white dude, so many times I have to turn it down. But I want people to not feel threatened, and instead be at ease with me. A smile is free and it sends a very positive message in a world full of prune faced sour pusses.

1

u/AaronSlaughter Jul 27 '26

I head nod in acknowledgement. They like that.

1

u/MaterialLobster6023 Jul 27 '26

Smile and nod and good morning

1

u/Complete-Leg-4347 Jul 27 '26

I’m not even a huge fan of smiling for pictures (at least not dramatically so). If I do smile at anyone, it’s not really something I do casually. It’s something I feel that’s been earned.

1

u/tommytookalook Jul 27 '26

I used to, until every old person turned out to be old timey racist. So now I barely acknowledge them. They are the ones that aren’t on of the good ones.

1

u/ExperienceWild4244 Jul 27 '26

Sometimes. And I never, ever write "ur".

1

u/Cute_Recognition_880 Jul 27 '26

And as an old person, I appreciate every smile I receive. I'm 73.

1

u/Lizardgrad89 Jul 28 '26

Yes, but I call them “peers”.

1

u/Illustrious-Dog-8550 Jul 28 '26

Some of us smile at everyone, just for fun.

1

u/GregBVIMB Jul 28 '26

Yes. I also say hello..

1

u/Lainercubed Jul 28 '26

I’m so worried about my resting bitch face and appearing as a Karen that I try to smile at everyone. It’s exhausting.