My experience of people saying “Hej” (or making eye contact) is that the smaller the town, the more likely people are to respond (Will the Swedish ‘say hi’ campaign work in London? We put it to the test, 24 November). Being outside, in the countryside, makes people more likely to respond, as does a paucity of other people. For example, midweek in a nature reserve, almost everyone I meet (usually few in number) will acknowledge me. Most will smile and respond with “Hej”. On a Sunday in the same nature reserve, far more people are out walking and seem closed off, and will not glance towards me or exchange greetings.
Christopher Holliland
Ösmo, Sweden
• As a student in London over 50 years ago, I took the underground to college every morning and tried an experiment. While riding the down escalator, I would smile directly at the people coming up towards me. Nine out of 10 people were puzzled, annoyed or ignored me. But the tenth would reward me with a wonderful smile and we would still be smiling as the other went out of sight. I still smile on the downward journey whenever I visit London.
Dr Anne Read
Plymouth
• Re the people of Northern Ireland being more likely to strike up a conversation, I can confirm this delightful characteristic. Don’t look at a bus timetable or a menu in a window unless you have a 20-minute personal history composed and are ready to speak.
Jonathan Hauxwell
Crosshills, North Yorkshire
• Well done, Hannah Jane Parkinson, for greeting strangers in London. Now please come to my Suffolk village, where we routinely pass the time of day with passersby, including cyclists.
Giles Youngs
Drinkstone, Suffolk
• There’s no need to go to Sweden to see people saying hi to people they don’t know. Just walk down any street in Sheffield.
Steve Rolfe
Sheffield
• I’ve found that if you use a genuine smile, strangers respond positively. Maybe the best solution is to walk around with a dog.
Sam White
Lewes, East Sussex
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