Smile and Wave
A simple experiment, this one.

While travelling through the North of England on a long coach journey, I decided to smile and wave at the people I happened to pass, to see who would wave back. I was on the National Express 060, which goes Liverpool - Salford - Manchester - Falisworth - New Moston - Chadderton - Bradford - Leeds.

The first thing I noted was that more people look up at coaches than I'd realised, so the sample was larger than anticipated.

Without proper recording of the results, I wasn't able to draw up a full and detailed analysis, but I did note trends.

Of the main cities, Liverpool was the most friendly and responsive, then Bradford, then Leeds, and Manchester last. I'm not going to suggest why this may be, as I can't think of any reasons. All the cities involved are pretty similar.

I also found that black people were the happiest, often returning an enthusiastic smile and wave, while Middle-Easten/Asian people were more likely to look puzzled at me. While a few white people waved back, most seemed disinterested. One young white girl saw me, looked at her friends, then looked about her, before sticking her middle finger up to me.

I also found younger people seemed happier than older people, and men seemed happier than women.

Though my being a young-ish white male may have influenced the results a little, I still ponder on it to this day. I often repeat the experiment in other places, on other journeys, even in other countries, and I still find the same age / gender / race trends.
( Thinker, Mon 28 Jul 2008, 12:13, 5 replies)

CLICK!
I'm from Bradford and I play a similar game when I visit London except that I just smile or nod to people as I walk by. 9 times out of 10 they just look at you like you're a mad person but it's funny to freak them out.
( DUMBLONDE is a rubber lover girl, Mon 28 Jul 2008, 12:23, closed)

I shall perform this test
Whilst on my Epic Road Trip(TM) in September.

I shall be visiting many locales across the UK and Ireland, so will report back on my findings.
(Ethelred is watching cheese grow, Mon 28 Jul 2008, 12:28, closed)

youre not the only one to find such results:
www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-life-features/capital-of-culture/2004/01/30/ways-to-overcome-the-language-barrier-64375-13896602/
(Dan dan dan They tik urh jerbs!!!, Mon 28 Jul 2008, 12:34, closed)

A great way to up the happiness quotient of the nation

Working in York, near the river, I've noticed over the years that people on pleasure boats have an almost irresistable need to wave to people on the bank. Some days I wave back, some days I just stare at them with a blank expression, other days I wave to them, then look away when they wave back. Am I a bad man?
(Che Grimsdale Best before:, Mon 28 Jul 2008, 13:20, closed)

@Che
People on boats seem to just go insane. On the ferry to and from the Isle of Wight if you go past another ferry people will literally run to the side to wave to other people.

Why!?
( TGB checking Off Topic is still shit at, Wed 30 Jul 2008, 10:36, closed)