It doesn't have to be big. I'm not asking you to get all up into my cool aid. A simple hello, how ya doin', hi or wassup will suffice. If talking isn't your thing, you can nod your head, wave, give a smile or tip your hat.
I laugh to myself sometimes at the great lengths some folks take to avoid responding to my greetings. Were talking serious jokes! Every morning I take a 45 minute stroll around our complex while pushing Lil One in the stroller. Our complex is a good size and we usually pass approximately 7-10 people doing their morning strolls as well. I'm a greeter. It's the island in me - it's the way I was raised. If I make eye contact with someone, I'll acknowledge them in some way. I greet within reason, of course. If I'm in a public place like the mall I certainly can't greet everyone I make eye contact with there.
I don't know if it's fear, self consciousness, a difference in upbringing, demographics or plain ole disregard, but I'd be lucky to receive 3-4 replies. I've been darn near run over by some of these fellow strollers/runners and they didn't even have the decency to say hello before mowing over Lil One and I. Sheesh!
How about the folks that look at me sideways? Yeah, let's talk about them for a minute. They'll pass me doing their best to avoid the direct eye contact and give me the peripheral glance. You would swear they owed me money the way they refuse to look me in my eyes. People. None. Of. You. Owe. Me. Money! Give a girl a "holla" if you dare.
Is there really any validity to the thought that some parts of the country are more friendly than others? Is the south more "hospitable" than the north? Is greeting a cultural thing or is it about how a person is raised? What do you think?
6 comments:
We have lived ALL OVER the country (thanks to corporate relo's) and I must say we have undoubtedly found the south the friendliest!
Having said that, tis hard to meet the friendly person on the street on any given day!
Man I love your new blog!
I also think the south is the friendliest.
But I too get confused whether to say hi or not to people. I figure if someone is staring me straight in the eye I say Hi.
If they act like they don't see me, I don't say anything. It would be nice if we all could just say hi to each other.
I'm in the West and we are pretty friendly here. Coming from the east coast it was kind of startling in the beginning when people I didn't know would say hi to me, but I'm used to it now.
I live in the South and most people are friendly.
However, I must say, it may also be a cultural thing. I, too, am always one to say "Hi, good moring" or a simple nod of my head to at least acknowledge the person I'm coming face to face with during a casual stroll. Otherwise I feel RUDE. More times than not, I get a response - unfortunately, I have noticed that first Generation Asians (well, what I assume are straight from China folks cause I don't know for sure) are less likely to acknowledge you. Especially the older ones. I can at least get the younger ones to smile and nod, but the older ones keep their eyes STRAIGHT and act like you've never said a word or even appeared before them.
And I say Chinese because, outside of Indian and Pakistani, those are the Asian majority here in my neighborhood. They can be so rude and abrupt and hold no regard to anyone who doesn't speak Chinese. Makes me so mad.
But that won't deter me. I still speak even when I know I'm not going to get a response. I was raised to be polite and that's what I will continue to do.
Rania
I'm a native SoCal, so I can't speak for any other group, but we tend to be pretty friendly here.
I mean, people at least nod hello, if not an all out "Good morning/afternoon/whatever" with a smile.
I'm a CA native transplanted to East Texas. I've found Texas to be waaayyy more friendly than CA. People stop to chat with me in the store, wave when they pass me on the road we live on, etc. There is a down side, especially if you live in a small town like we do. Everyone wants to know your business and shares what they know about you with everyone else!
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