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A sociological phenomenon highlighted by Larry David in Curb Your Enthusiasm.
I think some ground rules need to be laid down for the Stop and Chat.
If I want to talk to you, I'll engage you early. I'll make contact and probably even smile.
If I'm trying to ignore you so you don't chat to me, don't then engage me.
If you happen to engage me, it's your responsibility to drive the conversation. Don't stop me halfway past you and expect me to say something.
The Stop and Chat is just a horrible experience when the person is a tenuous link of an acquaintance, and they're usually boring as hell. They'll stand in the street asking what you've been up to in the last X months as if that's a reasonable question to ask. Then they'll suggest they do something with you soon, and finally they'll ask if they have your number.
How far away is the person before you acknowledge them?
I hate it when it's a long street and you see someone too early. You then have the uncomfortable experience of either walking the whole way whilst looking/smiling at them or looking like a twat and looking away.
I've found that constantly keeping my earphones in prevents any possible Stop and Chats.
Never really had a problem with Stop and Chats. Then again, I'll only ever stop and chat with people whom I have something in common with to talk about, everyone else I'll just notice at the last minute (if at all) and walk right on.
Though a couple of times (with the person), they've been on the other side of the road (pretty much no other people around) and i've blanked them doing the old "oh, they mustn't have seen me" routine. Though i'm really not sure I got away with it
The Stop and Chat 
Linear Mode
