It seems odd to me how many people pass each other by on the streets... while shopping... in elevators... and countless other situations... and while they make eye contact, in 99% of the cases never even say hello. Why is this? What is everyone so afraid of? Is it instinctual that we are always on guard and fearful of strangers? Did our parents "poison" our adult minds by teaching us as children to not talk to those we don't know? Seems like such a shame that people are not generally friendlier. Why do you think this is?? Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
2007-01-03 20:56:01 · 14 answers · asked by SoCalAgency 2 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
THey are in a hurry and they are afraid of people unfamiliar to them, which may lead to unknown things.
2007-01-03 21:21:15 · answer #1 · answered by zoe 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it's because we so often don't care about saying hello to people we DO know. Think about the routine "How are yous" we say to people we work with (or otherwise come into contact with regularly) -- do we actually care how they are, or are we just hoping they'll say "Fine" so we can go on with our own lives/agendas/problems. This may be a bit anti-humanistic, but I think that most people are more selfish than they would like to admit. If we don't really care how those close to us really are, why should we want to instigate a conversation with someone we know even less--or, in the case of a stranger, not at all? Why bother?
2007-01-03 21:07:57 · answer #2 · answered by chris g 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's true what you said. I love saying hi to random strangers as it brightens up their day. Youand I and some other people can change the world. Say hi to every stranger you pass. Smile and wave at truck and car drivers. After five years it'll spread like a vyrus and you'll smile the rest of your life. Good luck. You can contact me at yojoeyoman@hotmail.com or yoimjoe@yahoo.com.au.
2007-01-03 21:01:30 · answer #3 · answered by Yo Im Joe 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I certainly say hi to strangers in the event that they say hi first... in actuality, I make a factor to assert hi and throw a wave to all people, incredibly whilst i'm walking or driving around in my community. What incredibly gets me, in spite of the incontrovertible fact that, is how many human beings do no longer wave back!! it is like all people is caught off shield by skill of the positioning of somebody asserting hi... then it makes me understand what a tragic, unhappy worldwide we live in right this moment. i do no longer think of there is something shallow approximately pleasantries, do you?
2016-10-29 23:19:51 · answer #4 · answered by bonanno 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I guess people are always rather safe than sorry. Pitiful though, i mean, if we taught peopel to be more friendly and trustworthy, it would still be there in my opinion. Its like fearing lightning or sharks, 1 in a million (roughly) chance, but we'd rather not take the risk of testing that.
Oh well, guess i also dont want to risk being branded a pervert to women or a weirdo (maybe even pervert..) to men.
2007-01-03 22:00:38 · answer #5 · answered by Dabidu 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A VERY GOOD QUESTION!
My answer is.... I don't have a damn clue...
I once gave every soul all the respect i could muster....
After I had a gun shoved in my face in MY OWN drive way and was robbed of $17,000 I lost faith.
I now look at everyone as a possible robber and I'am waiting for the unlucky person that trys to rob me next.
I will kill him without any regret
2007-01-03 21:12:28 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I walked past a young woman this evening when I went to the mail box. I said hi and smiled. She didn't say a thing.
The world is a different place. But there is another generation that can be taught to be kind and friendly to others
2007-01-03 21:07:23 · answer #7 · answered by clcalifornia 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's very simple. People are so used to talk virtually, like we now, that real communication has been changed to computer and phones. Watch the people from the countryside. They HAVE to talk to each other. Their lives depend on it.
2007-01-03 21:50:06 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Haha, yeah, I agree. Theres been so many times that Ive said hello to people and they give you a funny look, almost like they dont know what to say. People wonder if theirs aliens in outerspace and they dont even know the name of their neighbour.
2007-01-03 20:58:38 · answer #9 · answered by xeraphile 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You don't necessarily have to say something to someone to be friendly. You can simply just smile and your more than likely to get a smile in return.
Smile and the world will smile with you =)
2007-01-03 21:03:57 · answer #10 · answered by luscious0071 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋