music: Tea Leaf Green- 3/11/2005, Petaluma, CA
It was the first legitimately nice no-jacket day of the year today and people seemed to be in good spirits all around the city. I decided to conduct a mini-experiment as I was walking from the 1-2 to Davis: make eye contact with everyone that I walk past and smile. I passed 27 people. 11 didn’t look at me at all. The other 16 averted eye contact as soon as our eyes met. No discernable smiles, although some close call tight-lipped grimaces. There was, however, one biker who I made eye contact with, and he actually crossed the street and pulled over to say hi. It was Peet.
0 for 27. Must be because I don’t have a beard anymore. Although I’m tempted, I’ll withhold making conclusions from the gathered data because it’s just too discouraging. Perhaps more randomized trials will have to be implemented.
—
In better news, my travel guitar arrived today. I’ll give it a field test in Utah before bringing it along to parts unknown this summer. It’s good to know that I’ll have a guitar to pick while sitting around campfires deep in the outback…
Posted by davidtaus at April 5, 2005 10:10 PM | TrackBackBoston-town is cool like that. I once smiled at some lady who looked up as I passed and she stopped me to ask me where I was from because I certainly wasn’t from Boston.
Of course things here in San Francisco are a bit more hospitable but it’s still a city and you don’t always get a good look in the eyes. It’s a step in the right direction though.
Posted by: 1e at April 6, 2005 12:16 AMDon’t go live in Munich. I felt Boston was syrupy friendly in comparison… mind you my visit was interesting times. (arrived Sept 15 2001)
Here is odd… it depends where you are. The Subiaco Markets are great for smiling at strangers and starting conversation. Not at a supermarket. Jogging more smiles than cycling.
Posted by: brad at April 7, 2005 01:01 PM