Yes, Harrison Ford is back in Wichita; here’s a guide of what to do if you see him

Harrison Ford is back in Wichita, and while some will flock to get their pictures with him while he’s on the town dining, others will cringe watching people do it.

That’s prompted Wichitan Jennifer White, who has watched this from the sidelines for years as Ford regularly visits Wichita for flight training, to create a handy guide for what to do if you see him — or any other star or celebrity.

“PROPER WAYS TO GREET CELEBRITIES A guide for Wichita diners,” is the headline for her Wednesday morning Facebook post.

White presents four options, each with their own emojis.

The first acceptable reaction is a small wave.

“This says: Hey I see you! I think you’re cool but I also have some chill.”

There’s also the friendly smile.

“This says: I’m friendly. I think you’re cool but I also have some chill.”

She suggests you can even wink.

“This says: I see that you’re eating and other people are bugging you but I’m on your side and I have some chill.”

Or, White said there’s the nonchalant nod.

“This says: Hey. Hope you enjoy your lunch in peace and I have all the chill.”

Wichitans immediately responded with glee.

“Imma just scootch right in here and steal this,” one person wrote.

Another said: “He could only hope people would follow this!”

Not everyone agreed with White, however.

“No ‘double finger guns’ with a pew pew sound effect? I can’t stand with ya this time,” one person wrote.

White replied: “I couldn’t find a proper emoji! But yes, acceptable!”

The last time Ford was in town, White made a Facebook post about letting him be, and she said she was shocked to see how polarized the comments were — some arguing to leave the poor man alone, some defending approaching him by saying that’s the price of fame.

“It’s just funny to me that people had such a visceral reaction to my post,” she said.

Of all the things in the world to get riled up about, she said, “That’s just funny to me.”

White guesses that Ford likely is a lovely person and is gracious when Wichitans approach him. That’s not the point, she said.

“It’s more about us as Wichitans,” she said.

“I feel like sometimes Wichita still has an inferiority complex, and this is just, like, one of the little micro ways that this plays out,” White said. “It’s just an opportunity to kind of shake off that inferiority complex a little bit, if that makes sense.”

Though White admits she’d probably smile and give Ford a little wave, she said the bottom line is, “Let the man eat his sandwich.”

This story was originally published March 8, 2023 at 11:09 AM.