I'm not predjudiced but this is just something that I have noticed. I don't see what the harm would be in saying hello back. Does this have something to do with the Breer Rabbit and the Tar Baby story? In that story, Breer Rabbit was mad at the tar baby because he wouldn't speak to him. Maybe that is why white people just smile when spoken to by a black. They probably think that blacks have read that story and are trying to switch it around. When someone just gives me "the smile" I never speak to them again!
2006-08-04 05:02:34 · 18 answers · asked by meme1972 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
I didn't mean to offend anyone, but that is just how the white people are in my area. People are different all over the world. If I see the same person over and over again, pretty soon I will just say hi. Our eyes might meet for the 5th time or so and I just say hello.
2006-08-04 08:56:54 · update #1
Hey I am an asian american female and I say hello to people all the time! I smile and say hello to people and they either just stare at me, give me a dirty look, or say nothing.
I would say "hello" to you if you said hi to me.
I think that the people that just smile and say nothing are usually stuck up and rude, as if they are too good to say something back.
It bothers me too and I don't like people that do that . I live in houston texas by the way, and this city really has a bunch of rude people in it.
2006-08-07 18:25:00 · answer #1 · answered by TiredofIdiots 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How come most white people just smile when a black person says hello to them?
I'm not predjudiced but this is just something that I have noticed. I don't see what the harm would be in saying hello back. Does this have something to do with the Breer Rabbit and the Tar Baby story? In that story, Breer Rabbit was mad at the tar baby because he wouldn't speak to him. Maybe that is why white people just smile when spoken to by a black. They probably think that blacks have read that story and are trying to switch it around. When someone just gives me "the smile" I never speak to them again!
2014-10-10 22:46:14 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hmm. I've noticed something slightly different...
I have noticed that black people seem more likely to *say* something (like hello, excuse me, thank you) in any common courtesy situation, and white people are more likely to just exchange smiles with someone (doesn't matter if that someone is white or black). I've also seen situations where one white person says "hello" to another, and since it's not the usual thing to do, it causes confusion or embarrassment for the first one, so they only smile in return like you're talking about.
So, I'm just kind of extending the logic here - I don't think what you're noticing is anything to do with being snobby or racist or anything. I think you're picking up on a minor cultural difference, and whites don't say "hello" to each other as much.
But you're right - there's no harm in answering back. I don't know the Breer Rabbit and Tar Baby story, so I don't know how that might relate to this.
Personally, if anyone - white, black, whoever, says something nice or friendly to me, I'll always say something nice or friendly back.
2006-08-04 05:38:34 · answer #3 · answered by locolady98 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
wow i cant not believe how ridicules this question is, its not racist and how is it prejudice anyway? that's my question for you, are they judging anyone, most people don't say hello if they do not know the other person, I'm white and i work at a job which deals with customer service, and i have to be nice to people and everything saying hello and most of the people that met me the first time don't say hello back, no matter what the race, the established customers say it back all the time, some even know me by name
2006-08-04 05:55:20 · answer #4 · answered by m. w 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is my personal view.Not across the board for all South Africans. South African black are still so uptight about segregated development that I am careful to speak to them.If I say hello to them and it sound to white I might get slapped with a lawsuit.So I just smile and nod my head.
2006-08-04 05:11:01 · answer #5 · answered by Snowey 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What are you talking about??? If someone says hello to me, I say hello back! Where on Earth do you live??? If that's the way people are where you live, then you better move outta there quick! That's just not normal.
2006-08-07 09:38:27 · answer #6 · answered by Samba Queen 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. I don't say hello to anybody I don't know regardless of race or ethnicity. Well, I sometimes say hello if it is a woman. As a woman, it is always to important to be safe and if ANY man I don't know says hello to me, I don't respond for safety reasons. Perhaps you should smile at women you don't know? You may get a better response, and a more genuine smile back.
2006-08-04 05:10:15 · answer #7 · answered by magerk 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
What? If someone says hello to me I say hello back to them also. Trying to label something like that as racism seems a bit far fetched.
2006-08-04 05:07:19 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am a naturally quiet and reserved person.
If someone I don't know speaks to me in passing, I smile and nod in response. No matter who it is, what race or colour they are, what gender, age, or anything else. It's my way.
2006-08-04 14:36:26 · answer #9 · answered by pyrplpynk 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i have never really noticed that. whenever a black person says hello to me, i always say hello back.its just the right thing to do.
2006-08-04 05:08:09 · answer #10 · answered by R B 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋