Talking to Strangers Part IV

1. I was biking down a sidewalk a couple months back, and a man was walking in the middle of the sidewalk. I called out "On your Left" and he didn't even move. Would you be annoyed at his rude behavior?

Yes! People need to share the sidewalk, it's fine to walk in the middle but move if someone's trying to pass you.

I'd be annoyed, but maybe he was wearing headphones and didn't hear you.

No, this is your fault. Bikes shouldn't be on the sidewalk. Or on the road either, holding up traffic. Bikes should just be illegal.

Not Applicable

2. I slowed down to match his speed, since the cross street was coming up soon anyway. I figured I could pass when we're on the intersection with more space. When we both stopped he noticed me, and made a closed fist. Guess what happened next!

He got up in your face and you backed down and apologized.

You sped off on the bike before it could escalate into a real fight, since speed was on your side.

You made a fist and he got scared and backed down.

Something else entirely.

3. Here's what happened: he positioned his closed fist over his chest and made a small circle with it. Which I recognized immediately - because decades ago the Army had paid for me to take sign language classes to interpret for someone. The man was making the sign for "I'm Sorry." Turns out he didn't hear me because he's deaf. Did you guess right, that it was something other than an invitation to fight?

Kinda - I figured it was something else, but I didn't know what.

Yes - I use sign language, and my mind went there.

Nope, in my mind it was an invite to fight.

4. It was about a month after that, that I started volunteering at the food bank. Imagine my surprise when he was there, too! Turns out he's been volunteering, and he's a client there as all. Today we exchanged our first hug. Have you ever run into a stranger in multiple settings like this?

Nope, not that I can recall.

I've recognized people who were otherwise strangers in different settings, but not really formed a friendship from that.

Yes - I've struck up at least casual friendships this way.

Other, I might explain below. Or not.