Why do check-out chicks greet white people more readily than me?

Question

I usually have a friendly smile, and I would say no less inviting than the average stranger... why is it that in a Western country, I experience most of the time the lady infront or behind me in the supermarket checkout gets greeted with a "hi how are you" and I don't? Do you think it's because I seem foreign to them or because too many Asian people have ignored their greetings?
(You can assume that I look like my avatar).

by the way, I live in a very multi-cultural country. There are lots of Asians around.

just trying to understand people, how they think. It doesn't bother me a great deal, just something I've always wanted to try to understand.

I do initiate the hello sometimes... but it does seem a little strange that they would just initiate the greeting to other customers (who are white).

Answer 1

I am Asian and I work as a check out girl at a supermarket myself. I am not sure of exactly why this happens, but I think that its to do with maybe of the fact that you do seem foreign to them, and most of the time they assume that you don't understand English, and/or basically ignore their greetings. It could also be for the fact that many Asian people don't like to hang around for a good conversation with the check out girl, that they're quite happy to be just served and leave, so then it becomes that many assume that a greeting is not needed. This is what I have experienced at work for the last 3 and a half years. But I still give a greeting to anybody. If they're not interested in talking or ignore my greetings, then the next time that they come back I will know that they don't need a greeting. But I think that Western people are different.

Answer 2

Well, that's a candid picture of society.
My son's half Asian, love, so whatever I say is tempered with that.
I have no idea why, exactly, and the only nasty thing I can think that these people may have as an unconscious excuse is that
Asians tend to be smarter, richer, and
more prejudiced than white people.
I know, because I've been around plenty of Asian people, especially the family, but neighbors and others on Long Island.
There is still a racist problem in Korea, for example, with mixed-race couples.
And the isoloationist approach in China was extreme until the Open Door policy. It's jsut about now that they really wnat to do business with outsiders- with Seh-un Gwi-loh, as the Cantonese might say.
You see what I'm getting at?
If we're not good enough for you, we ignore you.
But yes, people are stereotyping.
I guess I do this, too, with some things.
But I have had every kind of friend, except maybe from real Africa, and some remote areas.
So I'll try to be more aware, OK?

Answer 3

Smile and be the first to say hello to the checkout chick. She'll have to respond then. You might change her perceptions of people who are different.

Answer 4

I know what you mean. I go through the same thing. But life goes on. We can't focus on all the negativity around us. Otherwise it just makes us crazy. And it's their loss for being that way. So who cares.

Answer 5

It could be that they just happen to know the person standing in front or in back of you.
All you have to do is smile and be the first to say hello

Answer 6

its racism

it gets a little better with time

just remember its not your fault, they probably don't even realize they are doing it either, so maybe not theirs either, just try to teach by setting a good example, try to be twice as nice, make conversation, etc, that's how we begin to change it I think.

Answer 7

Why don't you say hello first? It'll make you feel better. Maybe they are anxious about your race, but who knows.

Answer 8

Maybe their father was tortured by the cong in nam? But probably just good old fashioned fear of strangers, or racism.

Answer 9

you have got to be kidding me!?!?!