There are people who I've met and I know their names and I see them around all the time. I never really talked to them anymore after first meeting them. I say hi the first few times after first meeting them but after a while, they start looking away when I see them and would not make eye contact. Are they just being rude? Or is this normal because I've only met them once and constant greetings with someone you barely know is annoying??
2007-03-06 17:17:08 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
...i know the feeling, you dont know this person and have nothing but hi to say... but then again if we didnt say hi to anyone we didin't know the world would be a miserable place.
2007-03-06 17:22:34 · answer #1 · answered by brown eyes 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Most likely, they are looking away because it is they who do not remember you. Here you are, saying hello, remembering their name, and they are struggling to place where they've even seen you before. Don't take it personally. It is acceptable to stop greeting someone if you never have a conversation or encounter with them after the initial meeting. You have done the courteous thing, by extending repeated greetings. If they are not interested in exchanging a simple greeting, then don't waste your breath. A simple nod will suffice if you happen to make eye contact.
Honestly, it is a loss that people find the simple courtesy of a greeting to be such a burden on their time and energy.
2007-03-07 01:37:20 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd keep saying hi. It just seems like the friendly thing to do. There may be reasons why these people look away when you see them. Maybe they're in a hurry, not in the mood for possible conversation or simply are embarrassed that they can't remember your name. Just smile and say hi, I don't think it's annoying when people say hi to me. I often say hi to strangers in passing. I've always thought that it makes most people feel good. Maybe I've been wrong all these years. I'll have to read how others answer your question here.
Take care.
2007-03-07 04:13:05 · answer #3 · answered by Mary R 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not for me it's not. I always continue to say hi to people I have only met once. It does kind of suck when they start looking away like that. Sometimes, I have had an opportunity to actually talk to them again, and I will re- introduce my self, and re-establish the "hi" routine again, but usually as more than just a mere "met them once" acquaintance.
2007-03-07 06:04:43 · answer #4 · answered by zaytox0724 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know some people that do the same thing to me. They might do this because they don't know what else to say besides hi. So they avoid you or they are being rude. If they don't make the effort to say hi first as well then just move on.
2007-03-07 01:29:59 · answer #5 · answered by Questions 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The person IS just being rude. Maybe not intentionally, but some people just are not well informed about introductions and/or the privilege of a friends introduction of you to their group and that they are not keeping up their part or proper etiquette to keep the acquaintance or pleasure of introduction to different groups and types of groups in/of friendships and/or social groups such as a book club or even a bridge group or other social events.
Local introductions such as introducing your friends to a new friend, you should keep your part by making yourself known when you see them in public or at another function that your introducing friend may have invited your to.
If you were not introduced to friends of a friend, then don't consider yourself part of that group and you have not obligation to to try or keep any kind if acquaintance going.
2007-03-07 02:58:27 · answer #6 · answered by The Answer Guy 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I always say hi and smile to people in my building when I see them in the elevator. If they don't respond I don't really care. I'm sure they will feel embarrassed for being rude, that thinking makes me feel good anyway even if it's not true.
2007-03-07 02:53:01 · answer #7 · answered by Speck Schnuck 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm kind of shy so I'll usually smile if I recognize someone who I don't actually know very well. If they say "hi" then of course I say "hello" back. I can't imagine just ignoring someone's greeting - how awkward and just plain rude that would be!
2007-03-07 02:48:21 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tricky. I say Hi if they said Hi first, or usually say Hi to others. But if they usually say Hello, that would be my first choice. Some people are more comfortable with that. I know there's no huge difference, but try it?
If they are being distant because they haven't much to say, you could smile or nod instead.
2007-03-07 01:31:02 · answer #9 · answered by WomanWhoReads 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi oh yeah i remember you we went up 3 floors in a elevator about 3 months ago how rude of me to forget
2007-03-07 01:23:59 · answer #10 · answered by havenjohnny 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
its normal i got a niebor who is always sitting in the middle of his yard in a park bench when i leave for work and i always used to wave (Hi) and id get a wave back he stoped waveing back once and know i drive on by and dont look at the guy ,might be becuase hes always out there even when its snowing and hes freaking phyco becuase he wears shorts ahhhhhhhhh
2007-03-07 01:23:07 · answer #11 · answered by BlazingHotFrozenCold 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋