It is interesting to me how people react based on how I look. Being African-American I may in some ways be overly sensitive to how some people react when they see me. That may be a reason I chose to wear suits even in high school. Now I am in a profession where I have some flexibility in my dress. I choose to wear suits mostly but sometimes I "dress down" to business casual or what I call my street clothes. I find it interesting how people react to me based on how I dress on a given day. I definitely get more smiles and nods and even utterances when I am wearing a suit than when I am not. When I am wearing "street clothes", even when I smile, nod or utter first, very often my friendly gesture will not be returned. Growing up in a small city in upstate New York it wasn't unusual for two people passing each other while walking to be the only ones in that block. I always spoke to the person whether or not I knew them - somehow I felt compelled to be courteous. It never ceased to amaze me when the other person would not speak or even give a passing glance. I cannot for the life of me understand how and why people pass each other without speaking. I am not talking about being in a crowd and trying to speak to everyone you see. But if I am walking down a hallway for example and I am the only other person besides the person approaching me I feel compelled to speak. For as many times as the other person returns the acknowledgment (Ack) there are at least as many that they don't (No Ack). Sometimes I find it funny (funny "ha ha" as well as funny "curious") when I see people intentionally looking away because, I guess, they don't want to have to say hello. Other times it just hurts. Anyway, enough ranting for today...
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