Is NOVA really that rude these days? (Richmond, Hampton: houses, neighborhood)

[oneasterisk]

Oh no not another 1!

Others have said it more eloquently than I, but you get what you give in my opinion. If you say hi to random people then you'll probably get a hello back or at least a nod or a "what's up". When I'm out walking my dog in my neighborhood, I run into people and always say hello or they ask about my dog. There are a few neighbors that I've seen numerous times and just shoot the breeze while our dogs are sniffing each other. I hold the door for people, and people have held the door for me or pushed the button on the elevator. I even had a lady at Cold Stone let my coworkers and I go ahead because she had a huge order to fill. I thought the was the nicest thing 'cause who wants to wait for ice cream!

I don't see why people thinking NOVA folks are unfriendly. I'm sure there are unfriendly folks out there, but maybe try flashing them a smile and a hello and you'd be suprised to find that disarms them quickly.

[pcity]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

As a fellow Yankee residing on the outskirts of a medium-sized politically-moderate city I'm the antithesis of pcity. I frequently strike up random conversations with complete strangers, and 99.9% of the time my efforts are met with a positive response. Most people whom I greet at work and say "How are you today?" give me the generic "Good" response, but more often than not here than in other areas that is followed by "How are you?" to which I also reply "Good." (Technically I ought to say "I am well, thank you," but I don't want to sound snobbish given the fact that I work in a home improvement store).

I find Northerners (at least here in Pennsylvania) to be downright friendly! If this stereotype about people in NoVA being standoff-ish is true, then I'm really not going to enjoy my impending relocation to Alexandria!

I'm from NY by way of Philly.

You have a good point that it's not Northerners in general. In small towns and rural areas in the North, people are much more likely to strike up a conversation.

I don't think we're "standoffish" in general; it's just an aversion to small talk with people we're probably not going to see again. In other words, don't expect to meet people by starting a conversation on the Metro. At work, at a bar, at social events, we're certainly not standoffish.

[Yankeesfan]

It's a matter of boundaries. If I'm on the Metro reading or emailing, I may be trying to get something done. I'll gladly answer a question about what Metro stop to get off at or where Nationals Stadium is or how to find somewhere once they're off. Sometimes someone makes an interesting comment that strikes up a nice serendipitous conversation. But if some random narcissistic person just wants to run his mouth because he finds himself entertaining, why should I feel obligated to listen to that? I'll respond politely but go back to what I was doing and let him talk to himself. That's not unfriendliness. That's making good use of my time.

[BoriNena85]

I am from NY and thought about moving to North VA...I don't think I want to anymore =( NYers are rude but we still together and we can always count on a complete stranger to help us cross the street carry bags shovels our cars outta snow lend us money wen we short of it in the store...tsk tsk Maybe I should stay here

[oneasterisk]

Originally Posted by BoriNena85

I am from NY and thought about moving to North VA...I don't think I want to anymore =( NYers are rude but we still together and we can always count on a complete stranger to help us cross the street carry bags shovels our cars outta snow lend us money wen we short of it in the store...tsk tsk Maybe I should stay here

maybe you should if that's what you think of us here

In all honesty though, anyone would help you with those tasks. My mother needed to go to the embassy in DC so I lent her my metro card. (I would have gone with her, but I had a ton of work at the office and couldn't break away) I though there was plenty of money on there but apparently not so because she couldn't go through the gates. A man saw her having trouble and helped her reload the smart pass, but instead used his credit card to fill it up. My Mom was so happy that he took the time to help her out and paid for it. It was a total random act of kindness. She offered to pay him but he would not hear of it. He also helped her with the what stop to get off at, even though I had written out the directions for her.

[The_Fairfaxian]

To be honest, when it comes to dealing with the 30 and over crowd, Northern VA isn't as rude or unfriendly as people would expect. The population may be more reserved or preoccupied, but that's mostly due to their families and careers.

Now the yuppie population (college grads and young transplants) who reside in Arlington and Alexandria are probably another story. But if anyone can disprove that to me, it would really relieve my fears of staying here after college.

[pcity]

Originally Posted by BoriNena85

I am from NY and thought about moving to North VA...I don't think I want to anymore =( NYers are rude but we still together and we can always count on a complete stranger to help us cross the street carry bags shovels our cars outta snow lend us money wen we short of it in the store...tsk tsk Maybe I should stay here

Did you read my post? That's exactly what I said about Northerners in general. We'll help if someone needs help but we don't feel the need to ask everyone we meet how their day is.

[Richmonder27]

Originally Posted by The_Fairfaxian

To be honest, when it comes to dealing with the 30 and over crowd, Northern VA isn't as rude or unfriendly as people would expect. The population may be more reserved or preoccupied, but that's mostly due to their families and careers.

Now the yuppie population (college grads and young transplants) who reside in Arlington and Alexandria are probably another story. But if anyone can disprove that to me, it would really relieve my fears of staying here after college.

Over 30? You make that sound old, lol.

I dont see why anyone would expect NOVA to be rude in the first place.


Anyways, I have met nice young people. But young people all over the country can be rude. Its not just NOVA.

I fail to see how NOVA is as bad as say um, NJ or New England- where people dont even say hello or kiss my foot.

I mean, I grew up in Loudoun County, maybe it was different then, but everyone was pretty friendly. Even some of the transplants were.

[Melbourne Family]

We recently relocated to NOVA from Australia & I would have to say that people here on a whole are very friendly. We had neighbours that we had never met before moving here invite us for dinner & we had welcome gifts left at our front door. I do think our accent is a bit of a novelty so that often initiates a conversation. But the crazy drivers here, well that's a whole other story!!!!

[oneasterisk]

Originally Posted by Melbourne Family

But the crazy drivers here, well that's a whole other story!!!!

Wait a sec, you guys drive on the wrong side of the road!