NOVA is the most unfriendly avoiding place I've ever lived (Alexandria: apartment complex, gated community)

[normie]

Originally Posted by themommy

Interesting! Thanks for clarifying, all.

When we lived in Texas, there was just a Wave. Everybody waved at everybody else from their cars. Not in the city, obviously, but out in the country? Everybody. It weirded me out a tiny little bit until my uncles explained what was going on. I kept thinking, "Why do all these people think they know me?"

LOL, oh that takes me back to when we moved here. We came from California, and seeing strangers wave at us wierded us out at first, too--Los Angeles is a friendly enough place, but nobody waved in our old neighborhood unless they knew you. I thought maybe we looked like somebody else that lived there, or maybe we stood out in some way (my family's racially mixed, sometimes we get a little too sensitive about thinking people notice us).

Took us a few weeks to realize it was no big deal... everybody here waves at everyone! It doesn't mean a thing, it's just people being friendly.

[SteelCityRising]

Would it be proper etiquette for me to say "Good morning" or "How ya doin'?" to people whom I pass while running along the W&OD Trail, or would I freak people out?!

[themommy]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

Would it be proper etiquette for me to say "Good morning" or "How ya doin'?" to people whom I pass while running along the W&OD Trail, or would I freak people out?!

You won't freak people out. Just don't be freaked out -- or offended -- if not everyone reciprocates. People have their own reasons for engaging or not engaging, and rarely do those reasons have to do with you (this would be the generic you, not the "you" you). On the W&OD, it's probably mostly because they can't hear you for their earbuds.

[leighland]

Originally Posted by normie

LOL, oh that takes me back to when we moved here. We came from California, and seeing strangers wave at us wierded us out at first, too--Los Angeles is a friendly enough place, but nobody waved in our old neighborhood unless they knew you. .

Thats funny-I'm from San Diego and everyone gives a wave and a hello there. I don't notice that here very often but I'm in Merrifield so its probably varies from neighborhood to neighborhood.

[normie]

Originally Posted by leighland

Thats funny-I'm from San Diego and everyone gives a wave and a hello there. I don't notice that here very often but I'm in Merrifield so its probably varies from neighborhood to neighborhood.

You're from southern California too? Cool! It's so funny how many people on this forum used to live there. Lots of people in my neighborhood are from California, too. Mostly the L.A. area. Small world, huh? Where did you live in San Diego?

[leighland]

Originally Posted by normie

You're from southern California too? Cool! It's so funny how many people on this forum used to live there. Lots of people in my neighborhood are from California, too. Mostly the L.A. area. Small world, huh? Where did you live in San Diego?

La Mesa-East County We moved 1.5 years ago to a job in Philly, (spent a year in Bryn Mawr -Now thats snooty and unfriendly!) and we've been here almost a year. My toddler has lived in a different state each year of his life!

[Tom Lennox 70]

Originally Posted by jimmycrapcorn

I want to know if anyone else has noticed this. I find the DC area and Northern Virginia in general to be pretty much the strangest coldest place I have ever lived. People dress like they've got big money in the city, but no one talks and nobody makes eye contact. Metro stations can be full of people who aren't talking, and the packed yet silent trains are eery sometimes. Everyone seems afraid of everyone else. I've noticed neighbors don't wave when you pass by. I have a Jeep, and nobody out here does the Jeep wave either. Everyone is an avoider unless they're in safe groups and I'm not sure what it's all about. People look right at you or start talking in other cities. Around here strangers seem really really uncomfortable if you try to say hello without provocation. Am I missing something? This is like living in an antisocial Stepford community.

I don't think this is a generalization, I think job opportunities aside, as far as human contact goes this feels like a bad place to live. I would LOVE to hear some opinions on why it's like this.. Too many foreign embassies, too much Intelligence, Miltary.. Too many CIA and FBI people? What?? What is WRONG with DC?

Just too many yuppie types, NOVA and Montgomery County, Maryland just have a lot of them. I live in Baltimore, and here the situation you describe is true for yuppies but a lot of blue collar folks are as friendly and down to Earth as people in small towns. As a guy, I actually have to say yuppie women as especially stuck up and unfriendly. I have lived in the DC area for most of my life. And especially in situations like a Metro, if you are a guy and are friendly to a female stranger they often think you are hitting on them. Anyways, NOVA and points north (except Baltimore) are overwhelmed with this high stress, career-oriented culture.

[Tom Lennox 70]

Originally Posted by Andy1369

I do relate with you in some ways, but there ARE plenty of friendly people in DC. You just gotta try a bit harder, and try to avoid the big boys at the various federal buildings. As for NoVA, I can't say, as I don't go there often. (Too boring for me - overpopulated, too rich and snobby, nothing exciting to do).

How do you feel about Maryland? You didn't mention MD in this post.

Maryland is actually fine outside of Montgomery County and a number of select Baltimore suburbs like Columbia. Keep in mind MoCo is not the real Maryland and NOVA is not the real Virginia...the DC area is its own area that is an anomaly in both states. Its the unfriendliness and brashness of the Northeast mixed with with rootlessness of Western cities like Los Angeles and Phoenix. There is little authentic Maryland or Virignia culture in the DC area, for area the lack of crabcakes and Natty BOh beer.

In Baltimore a lot of families live for generations on the same street and people call you hon and sweetie and say yes sir and yes ma'am. The Eastern Shore of Maryland is true small town USA and feels somewhat Southern. However I fear change as Baltimore and Richmond are both becoming yuppified by developers and transplants.

[Tom Lennox 70]

Originally Posted by themommy

Wow, I'm sorry I missed this thread when it started! I think it's plenty friendly here, but then, I grew up here, so maybe I'm just rude and cold and I don't realize it.

I'm really curious about this Jeep wave, though. What is that? I never knew Jeep owners had a secret handshake of sorts.

Yeah what is the Jeep wave? I learned about the Eastern Shore wave in Maryland and did try it when driving on some isolated country roads and it certainly was returned though I was very clearly not from there! I also know bus drivers have a certain wave which I have seen in the DC area with the Metrobus and the RideOn in Montgomery.

[roanoker 4]

I think people are getting more unfriendly everywhere in America, not just in the larger cities. Our lives are more stressed out than every before, raising kids is now almost impossible unless one is well off, America is deteriorating so rapidly politically and economically it is frightening. There is no more "American Dream", its now the "American Nightmare". Socially, there is too much diversity, too many nationalties, too many lifestyles, too much "instant gratification" and waaaaaaaaay too much consumerism.
Lets face it folks, we are not the one big happy proud family we once were.
I don't know what the answer is and I don't believe its going to church but America is in serious trouble on every level. Would you be friendly?