A Longboard Journey as a Social Experiment: Are We Isolated?
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Chapter 1: The Setting of the Experiment
Recently, I embarked on a longboard ride through a picturesque nature trail in a public park located in southwest Michigan. The goal was straightforward: to remain active while soaking in the beautiful late summer weather and to engage positively with others.
As part of my effort to boost my social confidence, I've been challenging myself to greet strangers in various public settings. During my ride, I began greeting the people I encountered with a simple “hi” or “how's it going?” These interactions were fleeting, lasting only a second or two.
After successfully exchanging greetings with the first few individuals, an idea struck me. What if I made it a point to say “hi” to everyone I passed? It didn’t matter if they were wearing headphones, avoiding eye contact, or engrossed in conversation—everyone would receive a friendly hello. I was eager to observe their reactions, viewing this as a small exercise to desensitize myself to initiating social interactions.
Section 1.1: Response Rates
While I didn’t keep precise records of my encounters, my recollections from the ride provide a fairly accurate estimate. Over the course of a 3 to 4-mile ride, I encountered approximately 40 to 50 individuals or groups, with families counting as a single interaction. For the sake of simplicity, let's round that number up to 50.
Out of these, around 35 people reciprocated with a friendly greeting. Some of these responses were quieter, yet I was able to hear them. Conversely, about 15 individuals did not respond. I suspect around five of these genuinely didn’t hear me, as they were wearing headphones. However, I believe that around ten heard my greeting but chose not to reply.
Most of those who ignored my greeting avoided eye contact. Interestingly, several who did respond initially seemed hesitant to make eye contact until they heard my salutation.
Subsection 1.1.1: The Nature of Interaction
Section 1.2: Reflecting on Social Norms
This experience left me curious about the reasons behind the lack of responses. Perhaps some were simply having an off day. When someone greets me, I find it instinctual to reply, regardless of my mood. To not respond feels counterintuitive.
Is it wrong to ignore a stranger’s greeting? My moral compass leans toward no, and I don’t intend to judge. However, considering the friendly context of a public park, it seems like a minimal effort to acknowledge someone passing by. Generally, most people in public parks are amiable and would expect to engage in some level of social interaction.
In a more isolated setting, like a dark alley, the dynamics would undoubtedly shift. But on a sunny day in a public park, it’s reasonable to anticipate some level of social exchange.
This was merely a one-time observation with a limited sample size, and numerous factors influenced the interactions—my appearance, tone of voice, and the individuals' personal circumstances, among others.
Despite these variables, I can’t shake the feeling that society is moving toward increased loneliness and social withdrawal. It’s disheartening to witness so many people avoiding eye contact and fixated on their screens when encountering others. This realization drives my determination to foster more social connections.
Chapter 2: Conclusion of the Experiment
Ultimately, most of the individuals I encountered responded positively, which leaves me feeling somewhat optimistic. This experiment served as a valuable exercise in understanding how strangers react to greetings. The “rejections” felt insignificant due to the brief nature of our interactions.
I found this to be an enjoyable experiment, and I highly recommend trying it the next time you’re out biking, longboarding, or simply walking in the park.
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