[WumibBesowe]

Maybe you should stop wearing your bogu when walking the dog.

You know...I've tried that...but had the same result.

[RBJamez]

People in big cities just aren't used to it. Once you get people talking its no big deal, anywhere you go. Ask Ding if you don't beleive me.

[adsexpist]

First day in Wellington, NZ. BA has kindly left all my luggage back in Heathrow and I'm jetlagged like h... after a 31 hour flight...anyways, I need to do some emergency clothes-shopping, find a suitable store and go up to the counter with my selection and the girl behind the counter starts chatting with me. Not flirting or anything, just chatting...it confused the hell out of me, because I was certain that I did not know her. I grumphed a couple of London-style replies before going back to my hotel and wishing it all to return to normal.(It didnt).
I mean, what is this thing with being 'friendly'?. What's wrong with being busy, stressed and grumpy?. I'm happy that way!!!

Jakob

[tropicana]

hello appeals more like exchanging pleasentries with an aquintance.

when interacting with strangers, a "good day" may work best...

any way a wild guess.

it works charms where I come from

You're probably right... In Australia, a lot of people would rather say "G'day" (pronounced Goo-day) than "Hello". It's more of a laid-back form of greeting and most strangers will acknowledge you nicely by replying "G'day" themselves.

Having said that, fewer people in urban areas are perhaps going to be like this than our rural counter-parts.

[Ngdyoysv]

Now I also remember a commercial, I can't remember what it was about, maybe it was a beer commercial. This guy was just arrived to the states, and he said "How's it going?!" to everybody in the pub and then he tells the bartender, "People here are sure nice!" or something like that but the people who he said hello to were all grumpy and holding a beer, lol

Back to the topic, I would never get freak out if someone just smile and nod. The examples I gave were quite extreme, and that of course doesn't happen too often. I am so often the one who strikes up a conversation in some situations. I remember talking to a woman in a post office waiting in line for 20 minutes just because I told her the mail man looks like santa, next thing I knew I was telling her I might go get a Master degree in something, lol

I guess we can all look at this with this attitude... keep on smiling and be nice even people don't appreciate it. Not everyone's having a great day, but it's great to see a smile. It brightens up someone's day when a stranger nicely just smile and say hi. It's not a crime that you are nice to other and having a great day But just don't run over to someone and say hi and just stand there smiling, that freaks me out, lol

[werkeeque]

Hello

I guess I could say a lot on the breakdown of traditional values and how courtesy is not fashionable right now, coupled with how jaded and dissaffected my generation is but I'm too lazy to elaborate.

[Z3s9vQZj]

Before my village became a town. (This was years ago) Everyone never passed you without saying hello, at least someone knew you or even if they didn't they would say "Hello" or even stop for some banter.

Very rarely do you see that now

[nd90t3sf]

hmm its really wierd because when i went to atlanta people always said hi to me in the streets, and i just thought they were either insane or mistook me for someone else, but then i realised it was kinda normal in america, whereas in england if someone says hi to another person they might either get knocked out or arrested

[wpFWNoIt]

I feel wierd saying hello to people on the street. I think it is the result of times changing and more people doing more creepy things, or at least we have more knowledge of creepy things happening now with all the forms of media and communication around now. You never know if that random person walking down the street is crazy.

Granted, most people I have met are wonderful, nice people, or at least decent people even though they may not be friendly to me personally or whatever. But it is the harsh truth that there are just a lot of odd balls out there and people are getting to be more guarded about who they are friendly with.

Many people that I've talked with from around the US over the years have said that they find the NE US and Massachusetts in particular to be a little cold in the friendly-to-strangers department. I've lived in Mass all my life, so I would say, yeah, if some stranger says Hi to me on the street I'd think it was a little weird - more likely I'd be wondering what they want.

Also, people walking down the street alone and smiling freak me out a little, too. I'm not saying it's right, it's just how it is.

Hank.

[AlexClips]

Hello... Hello... Hello...

[IssuessBratte]

Hahaha, you weren't holding a shinai in your hand when you greeted her, were you?

well...its was right in winter...and I had a balaclava(ski mask) on cuz I my face was falling off...hmmnnnnnn...

Adelaide is a very friendly place, people will always say hi back and you'll nearly always find good conversation if you're looking to do so.


I think in general most of Australia is good in this regard, when I used to live in Hong Kong it definitely was not like this. Def a big-city syndrome thing here Hahaha..yeah, I went to Uni Adelaide. The locals are hell friendly...even in Victor Harbour...the surfers were sooooo nice and friendly.

Hong Kong...haha...try talking randomly to someone and they'll go "Chee sin ar!!!!"

[DavidShreder]

Well, at least people don't look at you like you're absolutely nuts when you greet them. I get acknowledgement, but it's usually the, "Ahaha... why are you talking to me?" kind.

I usually get pretty irritated about it. I value common courtesy.

[zuhraliyana]

I don't care if people say hello to me on the street, but I can't stand it when I walk up to the counter of some store and I say hello and the clerk just looks at me or ignores me all together.

I thought I was the customer. If I was the manager I would take care of that right away.

Hahaha, yeah. That kind of reminds me of the movie Clerks when that woman goes into the video store and Randal just blows off everything she says.

[MAKEMONEY]

First day in Wellington, NZ. BA has kindly left all my luggage back in Heathrow and I'm jetlagged like h... after a 31 hour flight...
I mean, what is this thing with being 'friendly'?. What's wrong with being busy, stressed and grumpy?. I'm happy that way!!!

Jakob

Oh my! That reminds me of a George Carlin routine where he was ragging about "Have a nice day!". "Well, maybe I've had 100 nice days in a row, and by gosh, I'm ready for a crappy day!"

[Breeriacoirl]

Or they'll look at you with a: "dont speak to me cos I dont know you" type of look!

heh...that's when I speak to them in my Tony Leung(God of Gamblers 2) "ham sap" voice.

"Siew Cheh..."

[Shootohoist]

I abhor people like you. There I am just walking down the road minding my own business when some random dude I've never seen before says "hey" or nods friendly. Do I look like I'm in the mood for a friendly social talk with a complete stranger? Do I?

[yarita]

Hahah funny topic

I agree it is kind of rude that someone says Hello to you and you just ignore them even though they're strangers. I say hello back to strangers who says Hi to me... it kind of freak me out sometimes when a guy just jumps out of nowhere and just say hi and just stood there... I just say hi back nervously and am I supposed to tell him about myself instead of roll my eyes and run really fast? lol

Talking about freaking out ppl saying hi to me... last week some guy yelled across the parking lot and say hi to me, lol I said hello back and rolled my eyes and went into my car really quick

The freakiest "hello" I ever got was when I was at work picking up mails (was job duty), and when I was trying to unlock the lock box. A guy came out of the elevator walked back and forth for 1 minute then came right behind me and said "How are you doing?!" He seems so happy, so I was like "Fine, thanks.... can I help you?" (I was crouching down, too btw) After that, he just like did a oh-forget-it hand gesture and walked away, lol It was pretty funny

...Yeah that is kinda scary. But I just meant like a "hello" and continue to walk by. Not as though you have to strike up a conversation or anything...but...like Joe mentioned, even a smile & a nod.

[obHQNsY2]

I'm not sure if it bothers you guys as much as it does me...but...recently, I've been walking my dog through a more populated area of our neighborhood. Usually when I pass someone walking or someone else walking their dog I say hello or at least hi. I'm going to have to say 98 precent of the time no one says hello back to me...It's kind of...weird...well...maybe I'm weird. But does anyone else feel kind of insulted by this?

I used to call this "big city syndrome". You know, big cuty, people are in more of a hurry, freaked out you are going to shoot them or something. Mind you, I grew up in Perth, Western Aust. Everyone is pretty much friendly...same thing, you walk in the park, say, "G'day" and they say it back.

When I moved to Bath I thought "Okay, UK small town...ppl should be nice." So as I was walking in the park, I passed an old lady and her dog. Said "hello" and smiled and she gave me the old classic "OMG! Take my money but don't kill me" look.

sigh...

[LarryRda]

i was walking in the alley some time ago. there was an old lady walking by and said hello to me. in response, i said, "can i help you". after that incident, i learned how to say hi or hello back

~taganahan

[Kristoferson]

heh...that's when I speak to them in my Tony Leung(God of Gamblers 2) "ham sap" voice.

"Siew Cheh..."

Bwahahahaha!!