It can be difficult to meet people to make new friends or into something more. Some folks take a leap of faith to go out to bars, concerts, and other events solo with the intention of making new connections, but still end up solo at the end of the night. What could be wrong? Well, it could be that you’re not letting people know you’re approachable with your body.
Body language is a huge factor in making social connections, whether it’s in friendship, romance, or even business. While it’s likely you know how to not appear standoffish (arms folded, not making eye contact, etc.), many folks want to appear receptive to newcomers without flat out saying aloud “Please talk to me.” Luckily psychologists and human behavior specialists have some tips on how to attract people towards you in loud spaces without saying a word.
@jacoblucas101 How to make yourself more approachable #bodylanguage #psychology #datingcoach #datingadvice #relationshipcoach #datingtips #bodylanguagetips
Never put anything in front of your torso
You likely heard not to cross your arms to appear like you’re closed off, but there’s more to it than that according to behavioral expert Vanessa Van Edwards. She says that not only should you keep your arms away from your chest, but to avoid blocking your torso with anything period. This includes purses, iPads, phones, and even the drink you’re holding. Be sure to keep your chest open and free to signal that you yourself are open and free, too.
Dart glances with a smile
Eye contact is a funny thing in that if you don’t do it enough you’ll appear disinterested, but if you focus too much you’ll end up staring and make people uncomfortable. If you see a person or persons you’d like to approach you, make a darting glance at them and try to make eye contact. As soon as you do, hit them with a smile to let them know that you see them and acknowledge that they saw you. This creates an invitation for them to approach you or you see their smiling response as a clue for you to approach them. You may want to do this a couple of times to further encourage a specific person to approach you, but you may also want to keep your options open by glancing and smiling at a few others, too.
@lizroseofficial Let’s talk about the psychology of getting approached, this applies to both men and women and it’s all got to do with your body language. #attractionpsychology #psych #bodylanguage #datingpsychology #attractioncues #datingover40 #bodylanguagesecrets #psychologysecrets #datingtips #dating #bodylanguageexpert #psychologyfacts #lizrose #lizroseofficial
Mirror others around you
While you should be able to express yourself uniquely, matching and synchronizing with another person’s posture and gestures can help create a connection. This isn’t just when you’re talking to someone but also when you’re in the general space. You appear more comfortable and “fit in” with the rest of the crowd while you’re still yourself. It’s like the saying “If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck…” If you’re in a one-on-one conversation matching their gestures and energy will allow them to see the similarities between you both while also making them feel comfortable speaking to you.
Keep your head up and towards the action
This may sound like obvious advice, but so many people live their lives with their head down and away. Experts say to make an effort to keep your head up, but for many reasons aside from showing confidence. Keeping your head up and angled towards the action not only displays confidence but also shows that you’re engaged with what’s around you rather than distracted or disinterested with your head in a phone or something. It also allows others to see your face, so you can flash a smile or dart a glance. How can a person come and talk to you if they don’t see you? Keep your head up to be seen.
@doacpod @steven talks with Vanessa Van Edward's Unlock the Secrets to Attracting Others at Bars Discover effective techniques to catch someone's attention in social settings. We explore the power of quick glances, open gestures, and subtle body language that can make a significant impact when you’re trying to connect with someone new. #SocialDynamics #AttractionTips #BodyLanguage #DatingAdvice #FlirtingTechniques #BarTips #ConfidenceBoost #SocialSkills #GestureMatters #Connection
Stand with “croissant feet”
To pair up with your open torso, the way you position your feet can subliminally let others know that you’re interested in speaking with them. It’s recommended that you angle your feet to point outward along the side in a V-like shape, mimicking the look of a croissant. These “croissant feet” being aimed towards a more open part of the bar, party, etc. allows others to see and think that you’re open to engage with.
These tips could help you find a new partner or group of friends, or at least someone interesting to talk to during an event. As one can see, there are many words, feelings, and thoughts that can be expressed between strangers before anyone even says the word “hello.” Just know that your body says a lot that just your mouth cannot convey.
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It wasn't all that long ago that shopping malls dominated the retail scene and the local social scene in their communities. Canva
The 1954 law gave mall owners no reason to modernize their malls as time went on as they could take that tax free money for 40 years. Canva
Left, A woman cleans up manure; Right, a man driving
17 everyday things we do now that the future will find bizarre
A recent thread on r/AskReddit posed a fascinating question: “What’s something normal to us in 2025 that by 2075 will be seen as barbaric?”
With over 4,500 upvotes and thousands of comments, the responses ranged from hopeful predictions about medical breakthroughs to funny critiques of social norms. It’s an interesting thought experiment at how our everyday habits might age in the not-so-distant future. Here are 17 of the most memorable takes.
1. Wiping with toilet paper
Redditor u/Dramatic-Avocado4687 keeps it blunt: “Wiping our asses with toilet paper.”
Another user chimed in to roast our primitive ways: “They cut down trees just to wipe themselves?!” In the future, bidets—or some next-level cleaning tech—might make TP as outdated as outhouses.
2. Factory farming
Factory farming got called out repeatedly. User u/w0ke_brrr_4444 called it “the worst hell on earth that humans have ever created.”
Others noted the rise of lab-grown meat could render the practice obsolete. As u/AltEcho38 put it: “I’m convinced it’ll all be lab-grown by then, and we’ll be looked at as savages for raising animals for slaughter.”
3. Medical bankruptcies
The American healthcare system came under fire. User u/SarlacFace said, “Medical bankruptcies and for-profit healthcare leaving people to die if uninsured.”
If universal healthcare becomes the norm, future generations might shake their heads at the idea of choosing between chemo and rent.
4. Treating women’s pain like an afterthought
Many commenters didn’t hold back on this one. “Not giving anesthesia with placing IUDs,” wrote u/tt_DVM2011.
Another user, u/ThatRoryNearThePark, shared a harrowing experience: “Worst pain of my life… couldn’t sit upright for at least 48 hours.” If future medicine treats women’s pain with proper care, this era will look like the Dark Ages.
5. Eating animals
Some users went beyond factory farming to predict the end of meat consumption altogether. Redditor u/ciquta said simply, “Eating animals.”
Others, like u/Zetsubou51, lamented how disconnected people are from their food sources: “We don’t care because we don’t see it. Factory farms are awful for the animals and the people that work in them.”
6. Scrolling endlessly on social media
User u/cornylilbugger predicted: “Spending multiple hours, every day, scrolling mindlessly on social media.”
The irony wasn’t lost on u/Izual_Rebirth, who admitted: “Scrolled way too long to find this one.”
7. Single-use plastics
“Plastic everywhere, all the time,” wrote u/letthisbeanewstart, imagining future disbelief at how we let plastic infiltrate everything from straws to textiles.
U/MarkNutt25 added: “An even bigger problem is plastic textiles. Microfibers are evil.”
8. The 40-hour workweek
“Working a 9-5 just to survive? Barbaric,” said u/DeathofSmallTalk1.
User u/EvaMayShadee painted a grimmer future: “We’ll probably be working 60-hour weeks by then.” Optimism? Optional.
9. Drilling teeth
The dental industry might face a future reckoning. As u/llcucf80 put it: “Drilling teeth.”
One user brought hope with a scientific breakthrough: “If that new shot from Japan works, pull the tooth, get injection, grow a new tooth,” said u/nomiis19.
10. Chemotherapy
Redditor u/Helpful_Finger_4854 hopes cancer treatments will improve drastically: “Dying from cancer, hopefully.”
Another user, u/Vocalscpunk, put it more bluntly: “We still poison the whole body with chemo and hope the cancer dies first.”
11. Driving ourselves
“Driving yourself will seem barbaric,” predicted u/CranberryCheese1997, imagining autonomous vehicles becoming the norm.
12. Using fossil fuels
Redditor u/loftier_fish had a grim take: “If the answer isn’t ‘using fossil fuels,’ there will be a lot fewer humans to deem anything barbaric in 2075.”
13. Child influencers
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Using kids to generate content got roasted as a future ethical disaster. “Hopefully, monetizing your children for social media will seem barbaric,” wrote u/TheWorstWitch.
14. Modern healthcare procedures
Some users pointed out that many current medical practices could be judged harshly in the future. “Orthopedic surgery with drills, rods, and screws?” asked u/Orthocorey.
Another user joked: “So you guys just strapped them down and blasted them with radiation to cure cancer?!”
15. Animal captivity for entertainment
Redditor u/w0ke_brrr_4444 went in: “Drugged dolphins in resorts and whales at SeaWorld. Barbaric.”
16. Fast fashion and waste
Wastefulness came under fire. U/rabbity_devotee called out “fast fashion” and “overflowing landfills.”
17. The whole premise of this thread
Finally, some users argued that future humanity might not even have the luxury of judging our “barbaric” ways. As u/NapoleonDonutHeart put it: “By 2075, we’re gonna be way more barbaric… we’ll fight over everything once food gets scarce.”
Whether these predictions hold up or not, it's clear that what feels normal now won’t always be. And when 2075 finally rolls around, let’s hope they’re a bit kinder to us than we’ve been to the past.
This article originally appeared earlier this year.