Why some white people always smile but don't reply back?

Question

I'll walk by and say what's going on. Then they would just smile and just keep on walking. I could understand if that was in NEW YORK. I'm in North Carolina though.

These are people at my job

Answer 1

because,you know, us whiteys are weird and all strange. i think it's because of the lyrics in honkie music that makes us act that way.

Answer 2

Maybe it's because they are busy doing something, or trying to think of something, or talking to someone, or something. You didn't give enough details, but there always could be an explanation, it doesn't necessarily mean they were being rude. I've been in the situation where I've been doing something and someone said something to me, and all I could manage was a a smile and possibly a nod (if that) I wasn't being rude I was just busy. It's called having manners, at least you weren't totally snubbed, or ignored, they acknowledged you.

Answer 3

many times someone will say hello as i am walking by them at the exact momet that i am pasing them. then by the time that i get my train of thought back on track they are already several feet behind me. so responding at this point is kind of pointless. so i usually just smile and nod my head as i pass people that way i have acknowleged their presence.

also when i am at work my mind is usually on work and i am usually very busy if you actually see me in a hallway i am walking at the fastest pace that i can and probally brainstorming. and i do not always realise when someone is talking to me. it is not to be rude.

Answer 4

What are you talking about????
Like if you pass a "White" person on the street and say hi to them? Sometimes they just smile but don't say nothing back to you?
I don't know I don't do that. Maybe it's cause they don't know you, maybe its cause they don't talk to strangers, maybe they did say hi and then smiled but you did not hear them, maybe they know you and just don't like you, maybe you should ask those people who do that to you.
Why are you generalizing in the first place dude? I know lots of people males and females of all races who don't talk back when spoken to at times they just smile at you. So its not just white people.
Maybe you make they are just shy. There is a guy who lives next to me who I don't really know but he will talk to me when he sees me out side. He always says hi to me and ask me what is up or tells me he is going to holla at me later. I always reply with "hey" or " not much" or "ain't $hit crackalackin" or "ight". Oh and I smile too. I keep my replies to him nice and short. I have my reasons for doing so. It because I know he beats his wife all the time and in front of their kids. (I have even seen him beat her out side) I don't stand for women beaters and not ones who do it in front of their kids.

Edit: they are people at your job? Well then maybe they don't like you for some reason. Or maybe they feel while at work they should not be having personal chats so they just smile. A simple way to find out why they do that is to ask them about it.

Answer 5

They're not smiling. They're showing you their fangs. You don't want the reply that would come after that. Don't worry about why they won't exchange simple pleasantries. As you can see from so many of these responses they don't even understand the concept. Save your pleasantries for those who will appreciate them.

Answer 6

We're not required to reply. Don't like it? Live somewhere up north where they won't even look at you, for a while.

Answer 7

I'm white and I always reply back, regardless of a person's race.

Answer 8

Maybe they think it's a rhetorical question? I don't know, I tend to greet everyone (yes, even in NYC, where apparently that makes me some kind of psycho??)

Answer 9

one never can keep up with what is acceptable N, negroe, african american, black, N, you guys have me confused and I never had a race problem .

Answer 10

:)






(sorry...i couldn't resist) Reply back to what?