What if you have passed the same person several times in one day? Do you acknowledge the co-worker (by verbal greeting, nod of head, etc.) each time? Do you ever completely ignore anyone? Under which circumstance is a total lack of acknowledgement acceptable?
I believe total lack of acknowledgement is rude. A simple nod, or glance, or smile is acceptable if you pass someone a lot. If you pass them a real lot, you say, " … what are you following me??" 
Or if they work in a different department something like, “hows things in development?”
Personally, I’m a teacher, whenever I see people from the philosophy school I say, “how’s the moulding of the young minds going today?” or anyother whitty saying.
But when it is a redundant monotonous walk by a simple smile will suffice.
If it s first thing in the morning I just ignore. (I’m grouchy in the morning) If its the afternoon I will nod or smile.
The real question should be when do you HUG your co worker?
Say you go to someone’s house and you have a really good time. it is only natural to hug them good bye. Does it stop with that one hug or do you hug eachtime you see eachother outside of work?
That hurt my brain!!!
I just do the eyebrow raise/half smile combo and move along.
Usually I do, unless I’m reading or looking at something.
I pretty much always acknowledge them, even if it’s just a wave or a smile/nod.
Scott Adams did a Dilbert strip on this subject once. As I recall, it was 1st pass, verbal greeting, 2nd, eyebrow raise/smile, third pass, fake sneeze in order to avoid any eye contact.
And a second coment. I know this varies by locality, but in Houston it’s common to give even strangers a nod or a, “How ya’ doin’?” In my building, though, there’s a long hallway I must pass down to our office door, and there’s enough traffic that I commonly encounter someone else coming the other way.
In a normal walking posture, this hallway’s length would demand longer eye contact than most are comfortable with, so almost everybody takes the opportunity to do a little bit of shoe inspecting; even the ones I normally chat with on the elevators.
I seem to be in the minority, but I’m used to it and can’t say that it’s a surprise. I generally don’t acknowledge any of my co-workers.
There are a few that I like, or at least don’t actively despise, and so they’ll get a quick smile and maybe a “hello,” but for the rest I’m perfectly happy to ignore their existence.
It may sound rude, and I suppose it is, but I’m not there to make friends or conform to social rituals set forth and maintained by vacuous, superficial dolts with nary an original thought in their heads. It may be a harsh way of going about it, but in over a year at my current place of employment I’ve yet to be cornered into a meaningless conversation about the local weather patterns or someone’s grandkids or who’s having sex with whom.
Sorry Juanita - I write haphazardly sometimes. :shruggs:
Part of the corporate culture where I work is to speak directly to anyone within your ‘friendly space’ - which is defined as an area 20 feet around you. This includes other associates, guests, and anyone else around. We are also required to address everyone by name, if known. This is actually a good practice - it has forced me to learn the names of just about everyone who works there in other departments, and gives me a cheap thrill when I see a guest and smile and say “Hi Karen!”, and she gives me a look of amazement because she’s trying to figure out how I know her name - forgetting she has a big badge around her neck with her name on it.
From The Meaning of Liff: http://www.douglasadams.com/creations/liff.html
This describes my corridor etiquette perfectly. Alas.
CORRIEARKLET (n.)
The moment at which two people approaching from opposite ends of a long passageway, recognice each other and immediately pretend they haven’t. This is to avoid the ghastly embarrassment of having to continue recognising each other the whole length of the corridor.
CORRIECRAVIE (n.)
To avert the horrors of corrievorrie (q.v.) corriecravie is usually employed. This is the cowardly but highly skilled process by which both protagonists continue to approach while keeping up the pretence that they haven’t noticed each other - by staring furiously at their feet, grimacing into a notebook, or studying the walls closely as if in a mood of deep irritation.
CORRIEDOO (n.)
The crucial moment of false recognition in a long passageway encouter. Though both people are perfectly well aware that the other is approaching, they must eventually pretend sudden recognition. They now look up with a glassy smile, as if having spotted each other for the firt time, (and are particulary delighted to have done so) shouting out ‘Haaaaaallllloooo!’ as if to say ‘Good grief!! You!! Here!! Of all people! Will I never. Coo. Stap me vitals, etc.’
CORRIEMOILLIE (n.)
The dreadful sinking sensation in a long passageway encounter when both protagonists immediately realise they have plumped for the corriedoo (q.v.) mutch too early as they are still a good thirty yards apart. They were embarrased by the pretence of corriecravie (q.v.) and decided to make use of the corriedoo because they felt silly. This was a mistake as corrievorrie (q.v.) will make them seem far sillier.
CORRIEVORRIE (n.)
Corridor etiquette demans that one a corriedoo (q.v.) has been declared, corrievorrie must be employed. Both protagonists must now embellish their approach with an embarrassing combination of waving, grinning, making idiot faces, doing pirate impressions, and waggling the head from side to side while holding the other person’s eyes as the smile drips off their face, until with great relief, they pass each other.
CORRIEMUCHLOCH (n.)
Word describing the kind of person who can make a complete mess of a simple job like walking down a corridor.
Also in Houston.
I speak or smile at everyone although I do not maintain eye contact in long halls or elevators. I even speak to the housekeeping and delivery staff who are often surprised but pleased at my feeble attempts at spanish with " buenos dias" or “buenos tardes”.
MetalDog, your post brought a tear to my eye.
Personally, I wait for the other party to make a decision regarding a greeting. My personal favorite is the stare down. It’s classified somewhere between a congenial hello and total disregard.