NationStates Jolt Archive

Imagine the following situation:

You dated a person for 2 weeks, meeting him/her twice. You decided to cancel the 3rd date, because you realised from his comments how shallow and deceited he really is. He reacts very negatvie to that, telling you that you can't do that, and that before long you'll come crawling back anyway. You shrug it off, because you had already realised that he was a jerk.

So, two or three months later, just when you're about to have Lunch in the canteen, you see him standing there. Obviously now working for the same company as you do.

Would you go over and say hello?
Would you ignore him?
What would you do?

I'd probably say hi and be courteous. After all, I would be working with this person and ignoring him or being hostile would not work for very long at all. Be a grown up is my answer.

I'd probably say hi and be courteous. After all, I would be working with this person and ignoring him or being hostile would not work for very long at all. Be a grown up is my answer.

There are about 700 people working here, and he's obviously not even in the same building, let alone the same depertment. If I had to work with him, I'd talk to him of course. But like this, I don't really see the point...

Same as with any person I've taken a dislike to... Polite, icy disdain. It's fun!

But it'd possibly be even *more* fun to walk up behind him and dunk his head in his soup. Dare you!

I don't think I'd try to treat them any better or worse than a casual acquaintance...

There are about 700 people working here, and he's obviously not even in the same building, let alone the same depertment. If I had to work with him, I'd talk to him of course. But like this, I don't really see the point...

You don't have to walk up to him, but if he's noticed you noticing him, then ignoring him is just pathetic. Acknowledge his existence with a nod or a smile or something, being the adult you are.

You don't have to walk up to him, but if he's noticed you noticing him, then ignoring him is just pathetic. Acknowledge his existence with a nod or a smile or something, being the adult you are.

As far as I can tell, he's ignoring me as well.

You don't have to walk over to him, but you could nod and continue to walk in whichever direction you were walking in.

As far as I can tell, he's ignoring me as well.

Well, then you both missed the train to mature interaction, it seems.

Well, then you both missed the train to mature interaction, it seems.

"Mature interaction" being synonym for interacting with someone you don't want to interact with and don't need to interact with, just so you would appear mature to everybody else?

"Mature interaction" being synonym for interacting with someone you don't want to interact with and don't need to interact with, just so you would appear mature to everybody else?

No, that you would be mature, period. You both failed, it seems. Had you acted like a grown up and given that little nod or smile, you wouldn't have been perturbed enough by this event to start a thread dwelling on it.

"Mature interaction" being synonym for interacting with someone you don't want to interact with and don't need to interact with, just so you would appear mature to everybody else?
The fact that this discussion is here already tells us that you haven't got over it. "Hi" doesn't really mean "I like you". It means "I know you".

I don't see any problem with ignoring him unless he pushes the situation. Lots of people go out, don't hit it off, and never speak again. Why should this be any different unless he makes it different?

And let me politely disagree with those on this thread who are making it sound as though ignoring him is somehow immature. Immature would have been causing an unnecessary scene. There's no rule of etiquette that states you have to go out of your way to be falsely friendly to someone you dislike, especially if the other party is willing to do the same.

Wellbeing is the best revenge.

Smile, nod, and forget he exists.

I don't see any problem with ignoring him unless he pushes the situation. Lots of people go out, don't hit it off, and never speak again. Why should this be any different unless he makes it different?

And let me politely disagree with those on this thread who are making it sound as though ignoring him is somehow immature. Immature would have been causing an unnecessary scene. There's no rule of etiquette that states you have to go out of your way to be falsely friendly to someone you dislike, especially if the other party is willing to do the same.


Making it obvious that you're ignoring him is immature. Just not bothering to pay attention to him is quite the opposite.

Making it obvious that you're ignoring him is immature. Just not bothering to pay attention to him is quite the opposite.

Which is basically what I'm doing.
If it's immature, fair enough.

Imagine the following situation:

You dated a person for 2 weeks, meeting him/her twice. You decided to cancel the 3rd date, because you realised from his comments how shallow and deceited he really is. He reacts very negatvie to that, telling you that you can't do that, and that before long you'll come crawling back anyway. You shrug it off, because you had already realised that he was a jerk.

So, two or three months later, just when you're about to have Lunch in the canteen, you see him standing there. Obviously now working for the same company as you do.

Would you go over and say hello?
Would you ignore him?
What would you do?

I'm not usually an advocate of "playing it cool", largely because I suck at it. However, I don't think you need to worry about how to approach this guy. You don't owe him anything, and, judging solely on your description, he's a goober anyway. Why give a goober the satisfaction (even though he can't know) of having that kind of effect on you? If you walk by and he says something, surely you reply, but why go out of your way? YOU broke it off with HIM, remember? He's just another guy...isn't he?