Gus Mueller

I've been in Missouri and Kentucky for the past week, and one thing I really like about traveling outside of the Seattle area is that people will look you in the eye and actually smile or say "hello".

Just walking by someone in a park? "Hello!". Catch another guy's eye walking down the street? A little nod.

Why is Seattle so stuck up? I wish I could change that. (I still smile at folks and look them in the eye when I'm out. I'm still a midwest dude on the inside).

Aug 1, 2025 at 4:19pmWeb
Show threadSean HeberAug 1, 2025
@ccgus ah yes, the midwest head nod. We're good at that around here. I think of it as a signal that's like, "I acknowledge your presence - if you don't mess with me, I won't mess with you."
Show threadSlaíneAug 2, 2025
@bigzaphod @ccgus interesting. We’ve two different nods for that. There’s the down stroke nod with a smile. That’s the “hello” without the awkwardness of speaking to a total stranger. Then there’s the up stroke nod that’s the “what’s up, don’t mess with me and I won’t mess with you”
Show threadianAug 2, 2025
@slaine @bigzaphod @ccgus super interesting, we do the exact same up or down nod meaning the exact same thing in the north west of England 🙂‍↕️
Show threadSlaíneAug 2, 2025
@finitebaffle well, given that I’m in Dublin, we’re culturally very close. So that’s not too surprising.
Show threadianAug 2, 2025
@slaine huh, yeah makes sense, we’re just over the water from each other.
Show threadteklAug 1, 2025
@ccgus I do this in Seattle too! I get some weird looks in response, sometimes 🤣
Show threadJoshua LaaseAug 1, 2025
@ccgus I say Hi or Howdy to most people nd my kids die inside each time. 😀
Show threadrosscarterAug 2, 2025
@ccgus While you’re in KY I hope you get to do some climbing at Red River Gorge.
Show threadGus MuellerAug 3, 2025
@rosscarter I did not, this wasn't a climbing trip. I have however climbed there in the past!