Overview
- Ackman posted that as a young man he opened with “May I meet you?” and claimed it “almost never got a No,” crediting proper grammar and politeness.
- In a follow-up, he said the approach works best when people are in motion, citing subways, elevators, escalators, airplanes, buses and walking.
- The posts generated tens of millions of views and thousands of comments on X as the phrase became a widely shared meme template.
- Reaction ranged from praise for a clear, polite ask to ridicule as awkward or out of touch, with critics noting that wealth, height and status can shape outcomes.
- Users documented mixed attempts in the wild and on apps, and Ackman replied to at least one failed try with “Try again,” while experts told outlets the structure helps but the wording feels overly formal.