Please excuse our absence. You see, we have been expanding our minds to their greatest capacity to accurately use our credible experience and knowledge to spread our ideals and philosophi.
Our first philosophi focuses on an issue that the entire human race faces and struggles with daily. We speak of the dreaded, awkward, undesired contact with an acquaintance. Not a friend. Not a stranger. But an acquaintance. We, the inhabitants of this 1st world country, have found ourselves in situations where we see someone we "know" at the grocery store, school, a party, an airplane, the bathroom, or in your very own apartment complex. You stare in wonder, weighing the options whether to say something or not. What if they no longer remember you? What if they don't want to talk to you? You don't really want to talk to them. While your pondering what to do, it's too late. Your acquaintance has met your eye contact. You start to panic. What do you do? You both look away and pretend not to notice each other. But the awkward part is, you both KNOW you know each other. You have vivid memories of when you had class together or when you were in the school play together, or even lived in the same neighborhood. So what do you do next time you see each other? Because with your luck, you will see them again. Well you can't say anything. You already purposely ignored each other and smashed any chance of a normal conversation in the future.
Our question is, Why do people do this? Why is it even a question whether to say something or not? And why does this happen ALL the time?
We believe the answer is that of a social issue. It seems that this occurs because you're worried about what might be said or if your acquaintance even cares enough. You wonder if you're even in the position to say something. It is an issue of self consciousness. People have the need to be accepted, especially in social situations. We strive to live by the social norms. Anything that might go against that acceptance or the norms is risky business. As humans, we like thrills, some strive for that adrenaline rush, but we all also enjoy a safe place. We like to feel comfortable in our own skin and we don't want to puncture that safety bubble or comfort zone. We stay in that zone to avoid the risk of an unpleasant or awkward experience.
The most interesting thing about this whole situation is that everyone has experienced this. And if they haven't it is a miracle from Zeus above, but one day they will experience this. And that is the odd thing about the human race. We aren't as unique as we think. Many, many people think the same way we do. Most of us function the same and have the same social fears. Those who don't are labeled as "socially awkward".
In conclusion, there's nothing to be done about this. It's going to keep happening for the rest of our lives. We're not encouraging change because, let's be honest, it may place you in some super uncomfortable situations. But on the bright said, if you tried to strike up a conversation, it could avoid future uncomfortable situations and maybe you could actually gain a new best friend for ever and ever.
"The young are permanently in a state resembling intoxication."
Aristocrates and Paristotle.
