Random women saying hi in the street. When is it an IOI?

[DarkKnight]

Sometimes women just say hi when they encounter me, sometimes it seems forced as if they just have to say it, but with a neutral tone. Are these signs of interest or just random politeness? I do nothing to force them to greet me.

I have difficulty with interpreting this even though it seems like such a simple question!

 

[Fluxcapacitor]

DarkKnight dude! It's hard to say without knowing the environment an social context. Where I live typically anyone saying hi either knows ya (even if ya don't know them) or they're interested.

A neutral tone either suggests politeness or as a defence mechanism for if ya not interested. Basic rule of assume attraction. If ya interested in her that's an AI an it wouldn't be unusual for ya to open here. If ya insure ya can always go indirect with it dude!

 

[DarkKnight]

Yeah man, that was what I was dileberating about. Is it politeness or a defense mechanism of not wanting to give too much interest.

 

[Fuck This]

When they go out of their way to engage you it is an IOI.

I run a state park regularly and I always say hello when I pass runners going the opposite way. When I get down to the more travelled sections the people are too numerous. So I have a pretty good baseline of gauging interest.

After a run a girl made eye contact, and we said "hi" She followed with "You're cute..." Yeah it was on...

If I'm standing still and they stop, that's interest in an introduction...

If they return the greeting but keep moving it's just being polite.

I've had a mountain biker stop and chat me up along the trail.

If they follow up the greeting with a comment there is at least some platonic interest.

If they look back after passing, there is some curiosity at least. You can engage with "You look familiar, have we met?"

Now it is going to be different on a NYC street, than in my little community or on a park trail. You have to calibrate it by pausing, and if they pause deliberately it's a pretty good indicator of interest.

 

[DarkKnight]

Fuck this that is very insightful actually!

"If they look back after passing, there is some curiosity at least"

You mean when they walk pass you and afterwards try to look back? It's really funny but from the place where I work the ladies always turn to look back at the very same place as if it is a computer game! I can easily assume some attraction when this happens.