So I'm sitting on the train this morning, in the downstairs section (yeah, we have double decker trains in Sydney). The train was stopped at a station and I was on the other side of the aisle from the platform. Anyway, I looked out the window at this young guy sitting on a seat on the platform... he's looking at me and he smiles at me, just a very quick grin. I looked away. The train started to leave and I looked back at him wondering if he had really just smiled at me or if I'd imagined it. He was looking at me again and he gave me this little wave goodbye. He definitely wasn't waving at anyone else.

Maybe I should think it was sweet and be flattered but I really found it creepy. So far the only interaction I've had with random guys in public has been weird or inappropriate. Am I a weirdo magnet I wonder?

It sounded like he was being friendly and sweet unless there was more to the story.

I think the thing that creeps me out is that I would never smile and wave at a complete stranger, no matter how much I liked the look of them.

Don't worry Grace no harm done.

I had a guy on the bus last week try to chat up this girl. He really got very annoying to all.
He crashed and burned badly in front of all of people on the bus.
Creepy.

But suppose that's what guys are.

How would we ever meet someone if we never dared to make a friendly gesture? Maybe it's a cultural thing. I'm working in Russia right now and at first I thought people were rude but Russians just never smile or make eye contact with people in public unless they just have to. Once you break the ice with them, they are quite friendly.

The joys of citysnail. I mean Sydney rail

As long as it's from the window, it can be sweet and also a bit of a boost for the ego. It's when they want to sit in the row in front,  behind or next to you and talk that it can start getting very creepy very fast

Ms Grace,

I hate to be the one to break the news to you, but if you look at your avatar photo, you ARE an attractive, sweet looking woman with an incredible smile and happy eyes. Guys are going to be attracted and how else are they going to break the ice but by a smile. And don't you think he was kind of nervous getting caught looking at you because you are attractive?

I think it was kind of sweet. Accept it as a compliment and confirmation that you've chosen the right path.

Best Wishes!

Traci

Quote from: traci_k on October 07, 2014, 06:52:45 AM
Ms Grace,

I hate to be the one to break the news to you, but if you look at your avatar photo, you ARE an attractive, sweet looking woman with an incredible smile and happy eyes. Guys are going to be attracted and how else are they going to break the ice but by a smile. And don't you think he was kind of nervous getting caught looking at you because you are attractive?

I think it was kind of sweet. Accept it as a compliment and confirmation that you've chosen the right path.

Best Wishes!

Traci

This.  Grace he was caught looking.  He found you attractive.  Frankly I am not surprised.  There will be more of those looks and shy smiles coming your way.

Aisla

Quote from: traci_k on October 07, 2014, 06:52:45 AM
Ms Grace,

I hate to be the one to break the news to you, but if you look at your avatar photo, you ARE an attractive, sweet looking woman with an incredible smile and happy eyes. Guys are going to be attracted and how else are they going to break the ice but by a smile. And don't you think he was kind of nervous getting caught looking at you because you are attractive?

I think it was kind of sweet. Accept it as a compliment and confirmation that you've chosen the right path.

Best Wishes!

Traci

Perfectly said Traci... I totally agree.!

Just think how sweeter the world would be if everyone
smiled more, and made a little extra effort to make
others feel good and liked. 

If it was me I would just assume CLOCKED!!!

Nah, Grace totally passes.  Point blank.

Unless 'he' was a transgirl who has spent the last weeks/months starting at picture after picture of transitions worrying she won't pass and can now clock the most passable gal on tiny details.  (Cause none of us ever do that).  . Maybe the wave was 'hello sister'.

Personally I would just read it as something a guy did once.  Take out the meaning.

From a safe distance- he probably just liked you.

It's hard to say how I'd personally feel about that if it happened to me. In Alabama, literally every stranger you pass on the street will make eye contact and wave. I'd feel weird if they didn't. But I guess it could be different in a crowded city, where only one random person in the crowd feels the need to wave at another random person in the crowd.

He was being friendly. Seems to be just a confident young man smiling back at a woman that glanced at him from train.

It sounds like he was just being friendly to me. As others have said, it could be a cultural thing. Around these parts, y'all, it's common for that to occur. Hell, even I do that now. (In contrast to back in the day, when people would just get the icy cold glare of death in return.)

just a young mans hormones . what's creepy is a very much older man staring and drooling.

If he was respectful then take it as the compliment that was implied.

Quote from: Jenny07 on October 07, 2014, 06:27:55 AM
Don't worry Grace no harm done.

I agree Grace, I would say he was just trying to be sweet. And besides, you were on a moving training so no harm done

On a side note, we have double decker trains in New Jersey. I've also seen them in Florida on the tri-rail. 

Quote from: Ms Grace on October 07, 2014, 06:25:03 AM
I think the thing that creeps me out is that I would never smile and wave at a complete stranger, no matter how much I liked the look of them.

Maybe that's because you've never seen anyone as beautiful as you.