When someone greets you, do you greet them back? (judgmental, neighborhood, person)

[key4lp]

[quote=key4lp;29270542]I would agree with muleskinner and ^^^^. I would either say hello or a thank you with a smile
(ex. if some one opens or holds a door). It's just being nice. But when I go to areas where
there are panhandlers or moochers, I just look straight ahead not to get approached
and avoid having to say a harsh no. (note: sometimes I will give a little something
to a street performer).


Saw a clip (Huffington Post) of a homeless man who stands around the CVS by the metra station.
It's a very sad story. I personally never saw him when I'm there but next time I would help the
guy out.

[Mightyqueen801]

Originally Posted by lovesMountains

I always do. But then, I'm from the South

I have encountered people though, when in certain parts of the country, who look suspiciously upon an unsolicited greeting.

It seems strange to me and I always look at it as "their" problem, not mine.

Either that, or they might have tiny little ear buds in listening to music and they just didn't hear me, lol!

I always do, too, but then, I'm from New Jersey.

[JanND]

TO answer your question, Yes...I greet back.
RE your experience in the break room.....Next time just say..Hello. Perhaps as you described her as beautiful, she gets a lot of these open ended hellos and is just over it. I wouldn't take it personal, nor would I bark up that tree again so to speak.

[linden52]

Originally Posted by John13

That's harassment. You really want to go there?

I'll never understand people who can't take a hint. She brushed you off. The decent thing to do is leave her alone. She owes you nothing.

I agree with this and think you should just drop it and not talk to her again. What would you have said if she had responded to you?

She may be an extreme introvert who was afraid of getting sucked into having to make small talk with you. This is something that most introverts just don't want to do, especially with strangers. Introverts can seen as rude when all they are trying to do is protect themselves.

Also, maybe she's shy and has difficulty talking to strangers. Why demonize someone just because they didn't say hello to you?

[tasmtairy]

The whole "how are you" thing is way overrated, most people really don't want to hear how you really are, so we say okay and you? So dumb, really. Unless you are truly interested in the person don't ask and don't tell.

[jim9251]

Of course I do. And I pretty much smile and say howdy to everyone I see. It's being civilized.

[The Dissenter]

Originally Posted by jim9251

Of course I do. And I pretty much smile and say howdy to everyone I see. It's being civilized.

The bolded; to me that is creepy. And you wonder why some of us don't answer back.

[CarolinaWoman]

I always greet people and if they greet me first I always respond.

[Cape Cod Todd]

I'm a friendly type who will say hello to most folks. My wife who before I met her lived in Tenn. where she reports folks were very friendly. In NYC not so much and now in MA she thinks it is a New England thing that people here are not that friendly. She is from Ireland where everyone is friendly so she is usually very outgoing when coming across new faces. She thinks it is ridiculous that you can pass someone on the beach or bike\walking trail and not acknowledge each other.
For the OP that woman sounds like she was either stuck up, didn't want to be hit on, or she is stuck up. Obviously she is either having a bad day or sized you up in a second as someone she doesn't care to acknowledge. I have been there and it is silly, I have felt like saying "I DON'T WANT TO PICK YOU UP" just a quick affirmation that I am not invisible and that we are actually both human beings. Hi how's it going? "good", that is great have a nice day......

[jim9251]

Originally Posted by The Dissenter

The bolded; to me that is creepy. And you wonder why some of us don't answer back.

Seriously? Smiling and saying hi is "creepy"? Amazing.