Meeting someone in the street

[You, sir, name?]

This has been bothering me for some time. Consider you are walking down the street, and in the distance you see someone you're loosely acquainted with. As you don't want to sour your relationship, you decide to greet them.

As I see it, these are some fallout from doing this the wrong way:

If you greet them too far away, it gets weird as you kinda have to shout, or wave which makes them think you have something important to say to them when you really just want to say hello.
If you greet them when you get too close, they may have decided that you don't intend to greet them, and looked away as you nod/wave/say hello.

What is the optimal greeting distance? And what do you do in the awkward period between making visual contact and actually greeting them. Stare directly at them? Look into the ground/sky? Pretend to do something with your phone? Desperately try to find something that appears interesting you can look at in the environment?

Any ideas?

[Apparently Anonymous]

Oh, I am in this situation all too often. Alas, I have not found any solution for it yet.
Will definitely be following the thread though.

[DaBigCheez]

My usual solution is to walk with my gaze aimed at the ground ~20 feet in front of me, or else with the clear demeanor of being totally spaced out thinking about something else. (The former is my usual walking posture anyway, and the latter is usually true.) At about ten feet (close enough for me to notice if my gaze is aimed downwards), I usually acknowledge them with a nod and maybe a "Hey."

If I'm not in fact lost in thought and have been walking with proper posture, I tend to either look a few feet to their left, or find something nearby to occupy my attention - usually searching for the source of a bird noise or somesuch.

Of course, being known as somewhat absent-minded can help with these - while I'm usually being genuine with the "not really noticing surroundings" thing, I'll occasionally notice someone a long ways off and follow the above until I "notice" them about ten or twenty feet out.

[Deva]

Begins long distance greetings with a visual greeting (typically, a wave). Occasionally mouths a greeting too. Looks at the person mainly while closing the gap. Breaks absolute eye-contact by checking for obstacles. Initiates a verbal greeting when within earshot of a normal speaking voice (approximately a meter or two beyond normal conversation distance).

Avoids eye-contact and/or fiddles with a cellular telephone when pretending to not notice someone. Works passably with people handing out unwanted items.

[PeteP]

I don't pay much attention to my surroundings when I walk around. But let's pretend I actually notice said person.
I think simple raising your hand for a moment signifies that you noticed them but is more decent than actually waving. The actual greeting can wait till you are near them. And personally I look in their direction if I intend to greet them.
Though to be honest I think it's silly to greet people you don't really want to talk with. But you have to do it anyway because people expect it and might be offended if you don't... Politeness is a blight.

[Black Dynamite]

Usually, I make eye contact as soon as possible, and don't break it until they've passed. The person will almost always look away, due to eye contact being uncomfortable. When they do look away, you'll be at the correct distance to say hello. If they refuse to make eye contact in the first place, then they're not trying to preserve the relationship, so nothing of importance is lost in the exchange. If they refuse to break eye contact, wave, and spend life together as best friends.

Or, "What're you up to?"

"Well, and you?"

[Steax]

I tend to smile from a distance, which seems to be the safest option. For me, the issue often is that I mistake people I don't know for people I do (I'm bad at that for some reason) or I forget their names. If I get close enough and decide not to greet them explicitly, I'll widen my smile and give a nod when I pass. If it turns out not be someone I know, at least the smile didn't hurt anyone.

[Adam H]

There's a man in my neighborhood who takes a walk every morning when I take my dog out. I've never actually met him, but we usually say good morning or some variant. But the thing is, we usually pass each other from across the street. So we aren't forced to look at each other, but it's not like there's anything else to look at... though sometimes we just pretend to not see each other. Ugh it's awkward.

What about the scenario where you are overtaking an acquiantance going in the same direction. How close do you get before you get their attention? You don't want to get too close (or pass them), because then when they notice you it's creepy. But it can be hard to get someone's attention from behind...

[rigwarl]

I just wave, after they wave back I look away (usually down).

[gorcee]

A smile and a nod solves everything.

[Deva]

What about the scenario where you are overtaking an acquiantance going in the same direction. How close do you get before you get their attention? You don't want to get too close (or pass them), because then when they notice you it's creepy. But it can be hard to get someone's attention from behind...

Moves close (about one meter away) and matches their pace. Opts for a position diagonally behind them (approximately sixty degrees with respect to the x-axis). Allows a view of their face. Greets the person after verifying their identity. Prefers a verbal greeting, along with a mention of thinking that you saw them. Speeds up to pull even with them, also.

Might reconfirm an unresponsive target. Should see at a better angle by now. Repeat your greeting (or choose a new one) when certain.

[Jave D]

The optimal greeting distance is directly proportional to the sum of the radii of the greeting persons' personal bubbles.

[melloyello]

The optimal greeting distance is directly proportional to the sum of the radii of the greeting persons' personal bubbles.

say you had an overbearingly large personal bubble radius? wouldn't be very optimal if you resolve to shout
i usually end up giving people an icy stare. not intentionally, but because of my below par vision