Why don't Austinites make eye contact and smile? (Bishop, West: live in, moving to)

[earthisle]

Originally Posted by Austin97

Unless you actually counted, wrote it down, and made sure you had a large enough sample size, your anecdotes are worthless.

Stop trolling. Most of the content on this forum consists of observations about cultures

[ScoPro]

And they usually devolve like this one into back & forth smack talk.
He said she said I said, sayeth all.

[austin-steve]

Originally Posted by ScoPro

And they usually devolve like this one into back & forth smack talk.
He said she said I said, sayeth all.

So it is when a thread title is a presumptive subjective assertion/judgement.

[ScoPro]

[Jennibc]

Originally Posted by earthisle

So how come black people will almost always smile, but white people almost always won't? You're saying what different ethnicities do is somehow my fault?

I am white and I always smile if someone smiles at me. When I do a jog around our neighborhood as I pass other joggers/runners/walkers I put up my hand as if to say howdy and smile and nod. About half the people return the gesture, half act as if they don't see me. When we moved to the neighborhood over 8 years ago it was closer to 80/20 with 80 acknowledging the greeting. So I agree, Austin has become less 'friendly' - at least my neighborhood has, in the past decade. But I don't think it's race related. Could be an influx of people from more 'reserved' geographic areas.

[355spider]

Too many California transplants.

[verybadgnome]

Originally Posted by earthisle

Stop trolling. Most of the content on this forum consists of observations about cultures

And maybe your anecdotal evidence is filtered through your preconceived biases and someone else may have the exact opposite experience. Whatever it is not a scientific observation.

Living in the Holly neighborhood unfortunately you run into people like this occasionally. Worst that no eye contact at all is being stared down by someone who looks like they sold their soul. I have also learned to avoid eye contact with anyone displaying a Santa Muerte icon as they will usually give you a hateful look.

[earthisle]

Originally Posted by verybadgnome

And maybe your anecdotal evidence is filtered through your preconceived biases and someone else may have the exact opposite experience. Whatever it is not a scientific observation.

Living in the Holly neighborhood unfortunately you run into people like this occasionally. Worst that no eye contact at all is being stared down by someone who looks like they sold their soul. I have also learned to avoid eye contact with anyone displaying a Santa Muerte icon as they will usually give you a hateful look.

I didn't have any bias against the supposedly transplanted Austin whites. I wasn't expecting the cold shoulder from them. I moved back to Austin and experienced it in a very obvious way, and so have others.

The standard you are setting would make any experience invalid, unless everyone wears body cameras

[thenewtexan]

Originally Posted by earthisle

I just moved back to Austin a year ago after a decade in other cities, and one big culture shock has been that people don't make eye contact and smile. What I've come to realize is that it seems to be race related-- Anglo/Northern Euro people don't make eye contact and smile, while Blacks and Hispanics do. I'm mixed race mostly South Asian.

Is it a white cultural artifact that I didn't notice when I lived in Austin before? Is it negative sentiment toward my ethnic group related to the recently booming Indian population?

I've noticed the same trend in suburbs of Houston, but not in rural areas which is the opposite of what you'd expect. Rural whites, especially older ones are very likely to make eye contact and smile, and even ask how you're doing.

What's going on here? Has anybody else noticed this?

...because they're not your friend. Move on.

[Basse Bud]

Originally Posted by earthisle

I just moved back to Austin a year ago after a decade in other cities, and one big culture shock has been that people don't make eye contact and smile. What I've come to realize is that it seems to be race related-- Anglo/Northern Euro people don't make eye contact and smile, while Blacks and Hispanics do. I'm mixed race mostly South Asian.

Is it a white cultural artifact that I didn't notice when I lived in Austin before? Is it negative sentiment toward my ethnic group related to the recently booming Indian population?

I've noticed the same trend in suburbs of Houston, but not in rural areas which is the opposite of what you'd expect. Rural whites, especially older ones are very likely to make eye contact and smile, and even ask how you're doing.

What's going on here? Has anybody else noticed this?

Most probably the non-smiling/no eye contact types you comment on are recent arrivals from out of state...Austin is full of 'em!