When you come across a stranger on the street .........??

Question

or actually, just in general, when you come across someone you don't know, what do you do? Do you acknowledge them or just pretend they aren't there? Also, where are you from??

I'm just real curious about this because I just moved from the northern east coast and we've always been rated as some of the most unfriendly and rude people in the states, other than New York. I moved down south where people are supposed to be a lot friendlier yet, I've always talked to anyone I come across, no matter where I am.. walking down the street, standing in line, in the aisles in the grocery store.. it doesn't matter, and in situations like that, down here, people seem alot less likely to say hi or even acknowledge you. So I was wondering if maybe it had something to do with what part of the world you were from??

Answer 1

I was born and raised in Florida (near Orlando), now I live further south in Stuart, FL. I always at least smile at someone and sometimes I say hello or good afternoon. If I'm stuck in a line, I am likely to make some kind of chit chat with someone else. And the funny thing is that I used to (and still can be sometimes) super shy. And I am 31.

Answer 2

It depends on the situation. I'm not going to tap a stranger on the shoulder just to say hi, but I will at least smile at people I pass when I'm walking. More of the time, as I pass them I'll say "hi" or a quick "how are you?" and keep going. 99 times out of 100, the smile is returned, the "hello" is returned the "how are you" is returned with "fine. you?"

If I'm stuck in a slow moving line, I'll chat with the person behind me about how slow the line is, the weather, whatever. No big deal.

It's not about making friends or talking to strangers. I just happen to believe that I should smile at everyone I meet - it may be the only time they are smiled at the whole day. My saying "hi" might be the only time someone greets them or says anything nice to them all day long (it sounds stupid, I know, but in some cases it might well be true!), and if me going out of my way to smile makes them feel not invisible for three seconds, then it was three seconds well spent.

Answer 3

I'm from GA. If I come across a stranger and we make eye contact or have to be in the same area for an extended period of time, I say hello or ask how are you doing or both. A lot of the times, I don't get a response. I would acknowledge anyone unless they creeped me out by ogling me or my children. I am of the mindset that being courteous to the next man/woman doesn't cost a thing and it isn't going to make or break me. I don't know why some people act like you need to be paying them in order for them to speak.

Answer 4

that depends on where you live

i live in Canada, and actually in a rural area that isn't a urban city
so ya, if people are walking on the street and come across strangers, we sometimes say hello but not usually cause there has got to be eye contacts first, so if the person doesn't notice you, then who cares about him/her you'll just keep on walking
but if going to grocery stores or places like that, only old people or older than middle age people would find the time to chat with the person beside him/her

Answer 5

If someone is looking directly at me I usually say Hi. I lived in the south for awhile. They are not that friendly. I now live in the mid west. Seems there are many friendly people here. I found that when I was shopping. People were rather rude and unhelpful. My friend and I started asking people that were nice where they were from. 9 out of 10 were not from the south.

Answer 6

I generally acknowledge people I pass on the street with a smile, nod of the head and/or a "Hello". I was raised in CA, lived in Seattle for 10 years, moved to Chicago where no one says hi to anyone on the street- lived there 5 years and then just moved here to Saint Louis where I have yet to get a for whether people say hello to one another on the streets.

In Chicago I used to complain about people not saying hello to one another on the street- My husband thinks it has to do with people who live in cold climates- everyone's bundled up and in a hurry to get back into the warmth that they've no time to say hello to one another for more than 1/2 of the year.

Answer 7

People are less friendly in the south. It is that simple.

Think about this - the south had a culture of slavery. How friendly is that?!? Enslaving your fellow man has to be about the rudest and most unfriendly act committed by people.

In 1860, there were 6.4 million free people and 3.7 million slaves living in the south. That is one slave for every 1.7 free people! Incredibly unfriendly. Unless southern mentalities regarding their fellow man has change 180 degrees (unlikely), the south is just extremely unfriendly.

Answer 8

Hi, I'm in NJ and I always acknowledge strangers and say hello upon passing on a street or in a hallway. Although it always amazes me the number of people who would rather look past others than be civil and polite and at least look at and smile or say hello. The kicker is at my work. I work at a municipal building and even some of the people I work with would walk right on by in the hallway and not even look at me. To me, that's downright rude!
Ok, I guess you've hit on a pet peeve of mine!

Answer 9

If I see a complete stranger, I just sort of ignore them unless it's a pretty girl or something, then I'll occasionally speak to her, and sometimes I just kinda glance at here. Anyway, it depends on where you are. I live in Alabama and people outside the big cities tend to be friendlier than those in.

Answer 10

I do acknowledge the people I come across. The only time I do not is if I am in deep thought. I reside in Northern California.