# Why do guys nod when they see each other? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 8, 2001, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-guys-nod-when-they-see-each-other/68122 "2001-06-08T23:42:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2001, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-guys-nod-when-they-see-each-other/68122/1 "2001-06-08T23:42:06Z")
Happens to me a zillion times. Walking down the street, some guy I know or don’t know comes up, looks me in the eye for .5 second, then nods his head up for a second or maybe up & down & then walks on his merry way not missing a beat. These are straight guys, too. Is this some sort of male instictive greeting? I’m not even sure why I do it either. Why are you guys doing it? ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2001, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-guys-nod-when-they-see-each-other/68122/2 "2001-06-08T23:55:19Z")
I think it’s an acknowledgement that both participants in the little head-nod are thinking about breasts. Or sports. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Zero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@Saint\_Zero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Zero)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2001, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-guys-nod-when-they-see-each-other/68122/3 "2001-06-08T23:58:33Z")
Contact your regional officer for the manual. Seriously, I always interpret it as “I’m acknoledging your presence, but I’m too much of a hurry to say Hello.” ---
**Author:** ![AwSnappity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a3d4f5/32.png) [@AwSnappity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AwSnappity)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2001, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-guys-nod-when-they-see-each-other/68122/4 "2001-06-09T00:26:14Z")
I’m a girl, and I do the head-nod business. I do this because it’s “cooler” than waving and saying, “hi-iiii!” Also, when I haven’t talked in a while, my voice is all scratchy and it’s not worth clearing it to say, “hello,” in passing. By the time I’ve tested my voice, cleared it, and said, “hello,” that person is already ten feet behind me. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2001, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-guys-nod-when-they-see-each-other/68122/5 "2001-06-09T00:26:46Z")
“I acknowledge your presence, but in a masculine way to indicate my heterosexuality.” Besides, it’s rude to ignore someone if it’s obvious that you know he is there. ---
**Author:** ![deepbluesea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ba9def/32.png) [@deepbluesea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deepbluesea)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2001, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-guys-nod-when-they-see-each-other/68122/6 "2001-06-09T00:59:00Z")
I always figured it was because guys are too manly to smile. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2001, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-guys-nod-when-they-see-each-other/68122/7 "2001-06-09T01:07:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by handy \* > **some guy I know or don’t know comes up, looks me in the eye for .5 second** At this point, I usually defy expectations by swinging into a deep soul-kiss. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2001, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-guys-nod-when-they-see-each-other/68122/8 "2001-06-09T01:15:39Z")
Guys instinctually nod to each other because it’s a lot less embarrassing than sniffing each other’s asses. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Cynical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee59a6/32.png) [@Mr.Cynical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Cynical)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2001, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-guys-nod-when-they-see-each-other/68122/9 "2001-06-09T01:27:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ukulele Ike \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by handy \* > > **some guy I know or don’t know comes up, looks me in the eye for .5 second** > > At this point, I usually defy expectations by swinging into a deep soul-kiss. \*\* Christ, what do you do when someone stares? ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2001, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-guys-nod-when-they-see-each-other/68122/10 "2001-06-09T01:31:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Manservant Hecubus \* > \*\* > Christ, what do you do when someone stares? > \*\* Sniff his ass? ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2001, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-guys-nod-when-they-see-each-other/68122/11 "2001-06-09T01:58:26Z")
I don’t know, I just do it. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2001, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-guys-nod-when-they-see-each-other/68122/12 "2001-06-09T02:08:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SPOOFE \* > \*\*I think it’s an acknowledgement that both participants in the little head-nod are thinking about breasts. Or sports. \*\* But it’s likely we’re already thinking about breasts and/or sports anyway. You wouldn’t need a signal. You might need a signal, on the other hand, if you weren’t thinking about breasts and/or sports. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2001, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-guys-nod-when-they-see-each-other/68122/13 "2001-06-09T02:10:04Z")
> [@](#): > > At this point, I usually defy expectations by swinging into a deep soul-kiss. You New Yorkers. Doesn’t it piss you off when you do the nod and the other guy doesn’t respond in kind? Makes me want to give them the finger when they are past you. That’s a code violation, man! ---
**Author:** ![Searching\_For\_Truth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@Searching\_For\_Truth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Searching_For_Truth)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2001, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-guys-nod-when-they-see-each-other/68122/14 "2001-06-09T02:23:39Z")
I’ve ALWAYS asked my guy friends about this. Having mostly male friends, I’ll be walking down the hall and this happens: I spot Fred. -waving enthusiastically- “Hey Fred!” Fred, as he walks by, nods to acknowledge my existence. Crushed, I continue walking down the hall. Oh, and if I’m lucky, I might get a smile, or even a look-over. That’s why hugs are good. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2001, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-guys-nod-when-they-see-each-other/68122/15 "2001-06-09T02:30:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Searching For Truth \* > \*\* > That’s why hugs are good. \*\* Tell me – have you even _tried_ ass-sniffing? ---
**Author:** ![Lyllyan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b2d939/32.png) [@Lyllyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lyllyan)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2001, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-guys-nod-when-they-see-each-other/68122/16 "2001-06-09T02:35:50Z")
I always assumed it was a “I am manly enough to beat you and rape your women. If we were in another time, we would fight, and see who is the better man”. So I asked Mr. L. He says it is a pecking order, the man who nods first is acknowledging the superiority of the other. Muy macho Mr L., who is indeed a very manly man who likes to do many manly things, says he never nods first. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2001, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-guys-nod-when-they-see-each-other/68122/17 "2001-06-09T03:22:20Z")
I work with a Thai guy who told me one time that “In Thailand, no one ever nods or speaks when they are just passing by each other.” Never been there, though, so I cannot personally attest to it. He also told me that Thai is a monotonal language.:eek: ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2001, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-guys-nod-when-they-see-each-other/68122/18 "2001-06-09T03:30:31Z")
Personally … my ass smells like lilacs in the springtime. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2001, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-guys-nod-when-they-see-each-other/68122/19 "2001-06-09T03:32:57Z")
\<\<\\>\> Good Lord, what died in here??? ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2001, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-guys-nod-when-they-see-each-other/68122/20 "2001-06-09T03:35:54Z")
> [@](#): > > But it’s likely we’re already thinking about breasts and/or sports anyway. You wouldn’t need a signal. You might need a signal, on the other hand, if you weren’t thinking about breasts and/or sports. But I like to make damn sure that EVERYONE knows that I’m thinking about breasts. For example… **Everyone, I am thinking about breasts right now**. You never know when a guy has his mind preoccupied by unimportant things like his job or politics… he should be thinking about BREASTS, dammit! Breasts breasts breasts! Big bouncy breasts! Pert purdy breasts! BREASTS!!! (God, I need to get laid…) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-guys-nod-when-they-see-each-other/68122.md?page=2)