I was in a shopping mall the other day with a frnd and I happened to twice bump into ppl I knew. On the 1st occasion it was just casual hi wi while on the 2nd I was trying to avoid the person! 2 different responses to very similar situations! Now being a tester and what not, I got thinking - what are the differnt possible ways a chance meeting like this could take (actually I guess the "thinking" part had more to do with my being bored in that place, having just accompanied a frnd who was actually shopping, than being a tester ;) ).
Anyway, here is my take on the case -
Scenario1: I meet a good frnd.
Response: I say hi hello and exchange greetings and go our way.
Scenario2: I meet a person who is office acquaintance - with whom I havent exchanged any dialogues at work itself. But I know he exists and he knows I exists as well!
Response: Well...maybe I will smile and nod in acknowledgement (ie if the other smiles back :-) ).
Scenario3: I meet a person from work, with whom I may have talked a few times - but in meetings only, in group - not one on one.
Response: Umm...maybe a courteous hi, how are you etc. If nothing else comes to mind, then maybe ask question to which I already know the answer...like 'So you shopping here?' types :).
Scenario4: I meet a person I knew long long back - so long back that I know the face, but cant put a name to it!
Response: I would try to avoid the person - afraid if the 1st question that guy pops is - 'Do u remember me, my name'?. What would be more embarrasing is if that person does remember my name. lol !
Scenario5 (worst scenario): I meet a person who I knew long back and I never liked him/her when I knew them.
Response: Hmmm. I would try to avoid the alley that that person takes, for the most part. But I know what would eventually happen, given my luck with such things - I would take a turn and BAMMM come eye to eye with that sameeeeeeee person!!! In the back of my head I would be like - Shitttt, look the other way, look the other way! Get past him as fast and still as normallyyy as possible! :)))
There are various other scenarios possible, I am sure; but like its said of testing - a product can never be 100-percent-tested - I cant prepare myself in advance of all the possible scenarios. Besides, whats the fun in stage-prepraing a meeting, more impormptu it is, the more pleasant it is.
Tell me about that.. happens to me all the time.. People whome we kinda know but not really know.. Its hard to respond to them.
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