Hi Janine,

If they didn’t want to talk for even a second, why would they stop in the first place? Why wouldn’t they just keep walking?

To be polite.

It’s not like I am able to hold anyone captive by talking to them. I usually am trusting the other person to end the conversation whenever they want to, if I don’t end it first.

You said that the whole time you were talking with him he seemed uncomfortable, like you had “trapped him” by stopping him to say hi. Those were your words. If it were me I would have immediately ended the conversation once I picked up on his discomfort. To me it would mean he doesn’t want to talk. Maybe it was the awkward location (stairwell). Maybe it was that he had some place to be. Maybe he was feeling upset or down (you mentioned he had been suicidal). Maybe he has anxiety. Maybe the conversation itself was just too awkward for him. Maybe something was said that rubbed him the wrong way or “creeped” him out (your words again). He didn’t end the conversation because he was being polite, but he wasn’t able to hide his discomfort.

I guess I am confused, should I not say hello to my classmates when I see them outside of class, out of consideration for all the things they might potentially be doing or feeling? 

I already told you that saying “hello” is good! It’s assuming that someone wants to stop and talk that’s not. You hardly knew him! There was zero connection! It’s not like he was a friend of yours when you stopped him. So you have to read the social cues that people you don’t know give you, whether the cues are intentional or not. You picked up that he was uncomfortable. It may have had nothing at all to do with you, but read the cues and act accordingly.

In your original post you stated: I am mad at people like him. I think, why do they get to treat others poorly/lesser than?

…and now you seem hostile when I see another side to it. I’m telling you honestly how I feel, and I’m sorry you are feeling so badly.

I sincerely hope it works out and that in time you’re able to feel better about this situation.

B