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It's really all relative. I lived most of my life in North Jersey and moving here was a refreshing change. By comparison, everyone around here is friendly. Try holding a door for someone in a North Jersey diner and see if you get a "thank you".Now if someone moved here from the midwest or the south, they may feel differently.
I don't think South Jersey has any of the attitude that stereotypical "Jersey" has....like it or not.
Yes I should not have been so general. The residents of South Jersey shouldn't be lumped together with their northern counterparts.
I'm a gal who grew up in Hawaii where everyone is super friendly. I've tried to apply that "Aloha spirit" here in NJ and it works pretty well. I make it a point to greet people, say hello, make eye contact, etc. Sometimes people are initially surprised but usually acknowledge me with a greeting or smile. My philosophy is to just be super friendly to folks and perhaps that will rub off.
I dunno. You can "Aloha" all you want around here and people will still ignore you. But you're right, it's the a good attitude to have anyway. I just wouldn't expect anything in return
Location: The place where the road & the sky collide
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Linmora
I'm a gal who grew up in Hawaii where everyone is super friendly. I've tried to apply that "Aloha spirit" here in NJ and it works pretty well. I make it a point to greet people, say hello, make eye contact, etc. Sometimes people are initially surprised but usually acknowledge me with a greeting or smile. My philosophy is to just be super friendly to folks and perhaps that will rub off.
One thing I won't miss though is that attitude when driving. People are just so rude and aggressive. People can be rude anywhere but drivers around here really get on my nerves for some reason.
I really can't figure out whether you're in South Jersey. This thread is on the South Jersey board.
Will people walk down the street waving & greeting total strangers, no. If people see someone who they know, yes. If you look lost, though, someone will probably ask if you need help.
Drivers. . .native & long-term residents are polite behind the wheel. For instance, in South Jersey & Philly, when faced with a merge, drivers alternate.
I really can't figure out whether you're in South Jersey. This thread is on the South Jersey board.
Will people walk down the street waving & greeting total strangers, no. If people see someone who they know, yes. If you look lost, though, someone will probably ask if you need help.
Drivers. . .native & long-term residents are polite behind the wheel. For instance, in South Jersey & Philly, when faced with a merge, drivers alternate.
I think it depends where in NJ. In my experience, the mosty densely populated areas where residents are largely transient, are the least friendly. I grew up in Sicklerville back when it was all farms and it was very neighborly/friendly. Lived in Marlton for 13 years and hardly met anyone, no one hung outside or talked with each other...moved to Ocean City because it is very small-town like (at least for 9 months of the year) and people generally know each other, sit on porches and yes, even wave and say hi to strangers.
I do think part of it is attitude, too. So many people walk around with bluetooths in their ears or walk thinking about other things and don't make eye contact - but on occasions where I was in a great mood about something or thinking about something funny so had a smile on my face, I always notice a lot of people smiling back at me, talking more to me, etc.
I spent 6 months in Houston, and to me it didn't seem all that different in terms of friendliness than NJ, at least south Jersey. There are many places where the locals are friendly UNLESS you're not a local. Actually, a friend of mine had a bad experience when she took a teaching position and moved to Honolulu for a year - she said "they don't like mainlanders" and she couldn't wait to get back to Jersey, which per her particular experience, was friendlier.
I think it depends where in NJ. In my experience, the mosty densely populated areas where residents are largely transient, are the least friendly. I grew up in Sicklerville back when it was all farms and it was very neighborly/friendly. Lived in Marlton for 13 years and hardly met anyone, no one hung outside or talked with each other...moved to Ocean City because it is very small-town like (at least for 9 months of the year) and people generally know each other, sit on porches and yes, even wave and say hi to strangers.
I do think part of it is attitude, too. So many people walk around with bluetooths in their ears or walk thinking about other things and don't make eye contact - but on occasions where I was in a great mood about something or thinking about something funny so had a smile on my face, I always notice a lot of people smiling back at me, talking more to me, etc.
I spent 6 months in Houston, and to me it didn't seem all that different in terms of friendliness than NJ, at least south Jersey. There are many places where the locals are friendly UNLESS you're not a local. Actually, a friend of mine had a bad experience when she took a teaching position and moved to Honolulu for a year - she said "they don't like mainlanders" and she couldn't wait to get back to Jersey, which per her particular experience, was friendlier.
ur right south jersey ppl are beyond nice when I was down there I had very good experiences yes I did not drive either or have a friend to pick me up. Several rural places are nice ppl even offer you rides when you get lost I got lost in upstate NY I got help.
Location: The place where the road & the sky collide
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ocnjgirl
I think it depends where in NJ. In my experience, the mosty densely populated areas where residents are largely transient, are the least friendly. I grew up in Sicklerville back when it was all farms and it was very neighborly/friendly. Lived in Marlton for 13 years and hardly met anyone, no one hung outside or talked with each other...moved to Ocean City because it is very small-town like (at least for 9 months of the year) and people generally know each other, sit on porches and yes, even wave and say hi to strangers.
I do think part of it is attitude, too. So many people walk around with bluetooths in their ears or walk thinking about other things and don't make eye contact - but on occasions where I was in a great mood about something or thinking about something funny so had a smile on my face, I always notice a lot of people smiling back at me, talking more to me, etc.
I spent 6 months in Houston, and to me it didn't seem all that different in terms of friendliness than NJ, at least south Jersey. There are many places where the locals are friendly UNLESS you're not a local. Actually, a friend of mine had a bad experience when she took a teaching position and moved to Honolulu for a year - she said "they don't like mainlanders" and she couldn't wait to get back to Jersey, which per her particular experience, was friendlier.
I found that your marital status plays more of a part in finding friends in South Jersey & many other places. As girls who I'd known for years married, they would freeze out the unmarried, whether single or divorced.
I've heard about the Hawaiian dislike of "mainlanders' for years as well.
Ugh, I'm sick of the Jersey attitude. Maybe I need to move to Arizona for a while!
Phew! I agree! I was born and raised in Salem County and left when I was 18. Lived in various states for about ten years, and ended up marrying a so. California native and living there for 28 years. He and I had to move back to south Jersey because my mom needed help so she could keep living in her house. Neither of us has quit whining since we got here!
What with the mosquitoes, the humidity, the snow, the taxes, the absolute absence of anything to do, the ten-nice-days-to-be-outside a year ruined by the incessant whine of lawn mowers, edgers and blowers, all day long, every freakin' weekend, the miserable roads and the Xtreme Tailgater crowd , neither of us can wait 'til we can get out of here and go back home. We live twenty miles from where I work, and there are no freeways, that way; it's all back roads. People get RIGHT on the bumper (less than a car length) even at 55 or more, and just sit there, like that's going to make the guy in front of me go faster! In CA, maybe 5% of drivers do that; here, it's closer to 95%. Most of the time, I'll just pull over and let them go tailgate the next guy. Hubby and I chuckle 'cause it reminds us of a line-up of dogs sniffing each other.
As far as the "Jersey attitude", I'd say that the customer service department where I work epitomizes just that. Holy cow, those chicks are scary! Customer service, my Aunt Fanny! They think that I'm difficult to work with, even though in 30 years of working, I've had compliment after compliment about how helpful, friendly and optimistic I am. I'm just so grateful to have gotten out of here at 18, before that attitude set in!!!
And yes, I have heard that it's worse in north Jersey.
Phew! I agree! I was born and raised in Salem County and left when I was 18. Lived in various states for about ten years, and ended up marrying a so. California native and living there for 28 years. He and I had to move back to south Jersey because my mom needed help so she could keep living in her house. Neither of us has quit whining since we got here!
What with the mosquitoes, the humidity, the snow, the taxes, the absolute absence of anything to do, the ten-nice-days-to-be-outside a year ruined by the incessant whine of lawn mowers, edgers and blowers, all day long, every freakin' weekend, the miserable roads and the Xtreme Tailgater crowd , neither of us can wait 'til we can get out of here and go back home. We live twenty miles from where I work, and there are no freeways, that way; it's all back roads. People get RIGHT on the bumper (less than a car length) even at 55 or more, and just sit there, like that's going to make the guy in front of me go faster! In CA, maybe 5% of drivers do that; here, it's closer to 95%. Most of the time, I'll just pull over and let them go tailgate the next guy. Hubby and I chuckle 'cause it reminds us of a line-up of dogs sniffing each other.
As far as the "Jersey attitude", I'd say that the customer service department where I work epitomizes just that. Holy cow, those chicks are scary! Customer service, my Aunt Fanny! They think that I'm difficult to work with, even though in 30 years of working, I've had compliment after compliment about how helpful, friendly and optimistic I am. I'm just so grateful to have gotten out of here at 18, before that attitude set in!!!
And yes, I have heard that it's worse in north Jersey.
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, neither of us can wait 'til we can get out of here and go back home. We live twenty miles from where I work, and there are no freeways, that way; it's all back roads. People get RIGHT on the bumper (less than a car length) even at 55 or more, and just sit there, like that's going to make the guy in front of me go faster! In CA, maybe 5% of drivers do that; here, it's closer to 95%. Most of the time, I'll just pull over and let them go tailgate the next guy. Hubby and I chuckle 'cause it reminds us of a line-up of dogs sniffing each other.
They think that I'm difficult to work with, even though in 30 years of working, I've had compliment after compliment about how helpful, friendly and optimistic I am. I'm just so grateful to have gotten out of here at 18, before that attitude set in!!! 
