[_____]

Does it happen to you often that strangers say "hi" to you or something similar, while you are walking down the street or just standing somewhere?

I am pretty sure this is a common thing. It happens to me quite often, generally at least once a day if I come in contact with lots of people. I mostly get younger people than me to do that but sometimes old people say it too which is kind of weird in my society (older people are more respected). As weird as it is, I always reply back no matter who it is. I figure it doesn't hurt to be nice especially when it's pretty much effortless.

How do you react to this kind of situation?

[OverTheBelow]

Yeah pretty much everyone in my local village gives you a smile or a hello when walking past even if they don't know you. I find it's best to acknowledge with a smile or a hi back rather than awkwardly blank them.

[Piperka]

I say hi all the time when it's just one person walking the opposite way on a footpath and hardly anyone starts the "hi"

bloody australians

[TheGreatGig23]

I always say hi or at least give a respectful nod to older people. Obviously if I'm in a crowd or something where it's pretty much impossible to say hi to every last person then I don't. It's only usually when we pass each other on the pavement or if I walk past the bus stop near mine. I sometimes say hi to younger people but more often than not I just get either a look of complete disgust or they just ignore me.

I think it's a good thing for people to say hi to each other on the street or wherever they are. It seems that everyone is so busy or wrapped up in their world these days that they forget to be polite or friendly. I work in a small Co-op so I see hundreds of people a day and I can guarantee that maybe only 10-15% of them will say hi or at least smile. Most customers are miserable, rude, ill mannered, and just downright unpleasant to deal with. The worst, in my opinion, is teenagers. They smirk, giggle, make snide comments, they're completely rude, the way they talk is utterly incomprehensible, and they just don't seem to appreciate the help you offer them. In all fairness, there are some that are complete opposites to their garish counterparts. Still, some people need training in how to be nice.

[Pandazoot]

I say Hi then give them a pamphlet and invite them to my local life improvement centre.

[Edmachine]

Nobody here really does that. Especially not to just passers-by on the street. And that's not really considered rude. Sure, when you walk into a smaller shop, sometimes people say "hello" to the shop-assistant or other staff, and in the bigger shops the shop-assistants usually greet you before ringing up the stuff you want to buy. But, no, no greeting on the streets, unless it's someone you know, obviously.

[Gtaghost22]

That happens alot to me and i always reply nicely.
I think it's normal to say hi to somebody if he is walking past you, no harm being nice to strangers, it's not like they will kill you for saying hi or something.

[K^2]

Around here, just randomly on the street rare enough. Usually, it's a result of one person or the other happening to hold eye contact a touch longer than usual. Which can happen for a number of reasons. But at that point, the other person would usually throw a "hi" or "how are you". On the other hand, in my apartment complex, it's very common. I guess, people feel a bit more of a connection with the neighbors.

[lzw3]

When I lived in Frankston I was lucky to get a grunt.

[ZoomZoom]

I always get the situation. People I've never seen or talked with smile with me and sometimes say "Hi!!". I actually respond to them by a little hi or a smile and a nod.

[_____]

QUOTE (K^2 @ Friday, Aug 3 2012, 13:50)

Usually, it's a result of one person or the other happening to hold eye contact a touch longer than usual. I guess, people feel a bit more of a connection with the neighbors.

Yeah, I noticed it happens to me when I do that as well. I don't necessarily look on purpose, maybe I am thinking about something at that moment and I happen to look in their direction at the same time.

This is true where I live. I usually say it to the people that live on my street, well, not the whole street, just the people living all the way up to the second corner from my house. Those are the people I most frequently meet.

I don't usually say hello that often when I go to a bank or shop though, it really depends on the age of the person. If it is an older person I feel quite confident saying that but if it is a younger person I don't always do it. I don't know why exactly, probably because I expect them to ignore me more than I expect the older people to do that. I hate it when I say hello and I am ignored or unheard, I also often get quite paranoid thinking that people didn't hear me say it if they said it first.

Edit: Grammar mistakes.

This post has been edited by _____ on Friday, Aug 3 2012, 11:07

[GTA_stu]

QUOTE (_____ @ Friday, Aug 3 2012, 10:25)

How do you react to this kind of situation?

I add another name to the list.

But really it doesn't happen very often that people do that anyways. I say hi to neighbours and stuff, and I occasionally even stop to speak to them for a minute or two. But rarely does it happen that a complete stranger will say hi. A lot of people often say "You alright" or just "alright" which causes a lot of awkward situations. See it would appear that it's a question, and that the person saying it would like a response of "yh I'm fine" or "no, turns out I have syphilis and the wife's left me for the Portuguese greengrocer who lives down the road".

But there are 2 kinds of people: those that say "alright" as a replacement for "hello" or "hi", and aren't actually inquiring as to the state of your well being, and those who genuinely do want to know how you're doing. So you'll get lots of situations whereby one person says "alright" expecting nothing more than an "alright" in return, to be then met with "Yh I'm really good thanks, how are you?" and they're completely unprepared and there's an awkward moment when the 2 people realise what just happened.

Maybe it's just a regional thing. I remember my first day at uni a nervous looking posh guy said a friendly "You alright?" to me, hoping to strike up a conversation and make a friend or something. I replied "alright" and carried on walking. He seemed slightly confused. I wasn't just being a dick, I did genuinely have to get somewhere in a hurry.

This post has been edited by GTA_stu on Friday, Aug 3 2012, 11:08

[zoo3891]

I'm very insecure, if someone were to say "hi" to me I'd probably mistake it for some sort of insult and go over how much of an a**hole I think they are in my head. Of course if I were to know the person, or think they looked friendly enough I'd reply with a simple "hello."

[playaindahood]

I don't see why it's a big deal unless you live in an area like this

[Fireman]

QUOTE (K^2 @ Friday, Aug 3 2012, 10:50)

But at that point, the other person would usually throw a "hi" or "how are you".

A "how are you"? Now that is something that I've never heard anyone say around here.

I usually just say "hey" or nothing at all, unless the other person says something.

[lzw3]

QUOTE (playaindahood @ Friday, Aug 3 2012, 21:12)

http://gothamist.com/attachments/arts_jen/...ysign021122.jpg

China?

[4 Bagger]

I very rarely say "hi" to anyone. It's quite a small town I live in and everyone comes across as a miserable b*stard so it's best not to. If someone does say "hi" though, I would respond as it would be awkward to blank them.

[Garfield 2]

I do that all the time and most people do so as well. Just go with a "Hiya" and they reply "how's it goin?"

[TheGreatGig23]

QUOTE (GTA_stu @ Friday, Aug 3 2012, 12:05)

they're completely unprepared and there's an awkward moment when the 2 people realise what just happened.

This exact thing happened to me the other day. I sometimes say "Alright" in a way that I don't really want to know whether you're alright or not, I'm just being polite. I said it to this woman and she replied with "Yea, a bit drenched from the rain but, you know. Yourself?". I stood in complete shock at the fact that I was now committed to this conversation. I spoke to her for about a minute or two and then made my escape. Needless to say, I've learnt my lesson.

[finn4life]

When I lived in a small town 150 people you waved to every car and had a chat about How the old man was doing.

Most people with eye contact smile, nod and/or throw the "how ya goin" in.

This post has been edited by finn4life on Friday, Aug 3 2012, 12:40