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If you live in a suburb or an urban area that is relatively quiet, do you greet people you meet along the way? I'm referring to a place where there are few people walking around, so when you cross each other's paths you're acutely aware of sort of being the only two people in that 'space', not a crowded big city or urban area. Obviously, if you live in NYC you probably won't be saying hello to every stranger you meet, but say if you're going for a walk around your neighbourhood, maybe with your dog, and meet 2-3 people on your journey, how often, if at all, do you say 'g'day' (well probably not that unless you live in Australia, but say 'hello', or 'nice weather we're having?' or something).
I've noticed perhaps 1 out of every 5 people will do it. Then I thought of how often I personally do it. It's generally when I'm in a sunnier mood, but it would probably be about 1 in 5 as well. I think the fact it seems fewer people say hello randomly that I do it less though. I've noticed older people are far more likely to do so, I'm talking over 65 or so. Living in the country it's definitely the norm, but it's not so much in the suburbs these days.
When I'm running or doing my "roadwork"..no. I have my ipod plugged in and focused on getting my run complete. When just casually walking or getting the mail, of course.
It's seen as a bit weird. The usual protocol is a brief lifting of the head to acknowledge their presence while avoiding anything more than a brief dose of eye contact. Ideally you shouldn't be able to remember the shape/color of their eyes after 30 seconds.
I live in the NYC suburbs. Its a regular occurence on the streets by me.
we live in brooklyn, so it is a very pedestrian neighborhood, you see the same people day in day out and the merchants along 86th strret, we say hello to a lot of people, or just wave. Not a convo, just a hello, it is just polite....nothing more nothing less.
Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
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Originally Posted by TracySam
When walking in my neighborhood (usually with one of my dogs) I do say Hi to people, who are also usually walking dogs. I'm not generally a person to go out of my way to be friendly or make small talk, but these are my neighbors, whether we know each other or not, so I say Hi. The intimate greeting with sniffing, however, we leave to the dogs. If we are on opposite sides of the street I won't say hi unless I know them, or unless we accidently make eye contact.
Sometimes I'll see a completely unfamiliar person walking in the neighborhood, and as we pass each other, I definitely say Hi to them as well. Mostly it's a safety/security thing. If the person is just innocently walking through our neighborhood, then he/she just got a nice hello. But if the person is walking around casing homes for potential burglary, now they've been noticed and acknowledged, and are less likely to try something, because now there's a witness who can identify them. Kind of the same philosophy as having a greeter in a store: you're less likely to shop lift if someone has acknowledged you.
Depends on the city and the culture. Also depends on the age of the person. Generally the older they are the more courteous I am, because they generally are more receptive to it.
Oh absolutely I do. Like someone else mentioned here, it would be considered rude here, not to do so.
So, I smile, and say Hello.
(I live in Lexington, Kentucky)
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