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Original poster

To ask why people say, 'nice to see you'....?

107 replies

mariposa1998 · 11/07/2025 19:38

.....when it's just meaningless waffle and they might not even care/didn't want to see you?

I know that it's politeness and a pleasantry, but I just find it insincere and silly. I'd rather just say bye. Maybe I'm just projecting?

OP posts:
Isittimeformynapyet · 11/07/2025 21:06

mariposa1998 · 11/07/2025 20:58

It's usually said as a parting greeting though, so you've already had a conversation with the person.

And exactly this - the person is using 'nice to see you' to excuse themselves from you, because they don't really want to see you!! 😂

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I say it as I make my excuses. I can be a smooth operator when needed!

I think you're right about the insincerity, but it doesn't really matter, does it? Half of what most people say is pointless anyway.

Original poster
mariposa1998 · 11/07/2025 21:04

foreverand · 11/07/2025 19:50

Most exchanges are meaningless. When you meet someone you say nice to meet you even if it isn’t particularly nice, you say have a good day even if you don’t care what kind of day they have or how they are when you don’t care etc

You're right, in professional and hospitality contexts. But in the world outside of that, for people we know, there's no need to be insincere I think. Even though I know 'it was nice to see you' is just a pleasantry, a meaningless nicety, I still don't like hearing it said when I very much doubt it was meant 😂

OP posts:
NautilusLionfish · 11/07/2025 21:04

To see you, nice

Original poster
mariposa1998 · 11/07/2025 21:02

DiscoBob · 11/07/2025 20:59

He's a multimillionaire so maybe he just doesn't like talking to benefits scum like me. Haha! His wife is really nice though. He's probably scared I'll ask to borrow a fiver. 🤣

I just think that turn of phrase when you clearly mean the opposite is quite comedic though.

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I also find it funny....they might as well say, 'hope I never see your face again!' 😂

OP posts:
Original poster
mariposa1998 · 11/07/2025 21:01

ArcticBells · 11/07/2025 19:51

Speak for yourself, the rest of us are polite

You can be polite without saying 'nice to see you' if you don't mean it! Many people manage it....

OP posts:
DiscoBob · 11/07/2025 20:59

mariposa1998 · 11/07/2025 20:42

Haha he sounds quite odd/eccentric? Or maybe he is on the spectrum (I am not calling people with ASD odd)?

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He's a multimillionaire so maybe he just doesn't like talking to benefits scum like me. Haha! His wife is really nice though. He's probably scared I'll ask to borrow a fiver. 🤣

I just think that turn of phrase when you clearly mean the opposite is quite comedic though.

Original poster
mariposa1998 · 11/07/2025 20:59

LittlleMy · 11/07/2025 20:58

Oh yes absolutely! What’s the deal there lol - probably the unstoppable innate British politeness!

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It's annoying. There's no need to be unkind or rude - in fact I hate rude people - but I also think there's no need to pretend to like/value someone when you don't.

OP posts:
LittlleMy · 11/07/2025 20:58

mariposa1998 · 11/07/2025 20:50

@LittlleMy That's insincere and annoying of her, but in professional contexts (and in hospitality, when the staff are acting as professionals), we can expect meaningless niceties. Outside of that though, I think people don't need to be insincere!

Oh yes absolutely! What’s the deal there lol - probably the unstoppable innate British politeness!

Original poster
mariposa1998 · 11/07/2025 20:58

Isittimeformynapyet · 11/07/2025 20:56

It's a very useful thing to say instead of "how are you?" to people who will take twenty minutes bloody telling you.

It's also much easier to excuse yourself from a lengthy conversation when you boost someone's ego a little bit.

It's usually said as a parting greeting though, so you've already had a conversation with the person.

And exactly this - the person is using 'nice to see you' to excuse themselves from you, because they don't really want to see you!! 😂

OP posts:
Isittimeformynapyet · 11/07/2025 20:56

It's a very useful thing to say instead of "how are you?" to people who will take twenty minutes bloody telling you.

It's also much easier to excuse yourself from a lengthy conversation when you boost someone's ego a little bit.

Original poster
mariposa1998 · 11/07/2025 20:56

@HerVagestyTheQueef I think, 'enjoy your walk', is a bit different though.....it's just obviously a parting greeting, it's like saying 'enjoy your meal' to a customer in a restaurant. 'Nice to see you' is different, it sounds a bit more personal, except it isn't always.

I have nothing against people being polite but I don't think we need to act overly friendly if we don't mean it.

OP posts:
BallerinaRadio · 11/07/2025 20:54

mariposa1998 · 11/07/2025 20:53

It doesn't build a 'deep connection' if it isn't personal though, and is just said as a nicety. I'm not offended by it or against it per se, I just find it irritating outside of professional/hospitality contexts unless the speaker truly means it...

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So do you ask everyone that says this to you if they mean it or not? Do you tell them to take it back if they didn't?

Original poster
mariposa1998 · 11/07/2025 20:54

BallerinaRadio · 11/07/2025 20:52

Yeah because what this world needs is more rudeness and ignorance.

When I'm saying bye to someone I always make sure I tell them to fuck off and I didn't enjoy seeing them at all. It's much better.

I'm not asking for rudeness or ignorance, but there are ways to be polite without pretending to like/value someone's presence when you don't. That's outside of a professional context that is, where everything is just a nicety and we can expect it.

OP posts:
HerVagestyTheQueef · 11/07/2025 20:54

TheBuffetInspector · 11/07/2025 20:52

I was looking for this!

It wasn't that long ago.

Was it? 😂

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The generation game with BF must have been on around... oh, 10 years ago now!

Original poster
mariposa1998 · 11/07/2025 20:53

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

It doesn't build a 'deep connection' if it isn't personal though, and is just said as a nicety. I'm not offended by it or against it per se, I just find it irritating outside of professional/hospitality contexts unless the speaker truly means it...

OP posts:
HerVagestyTheQueef · 11/07/2025 20:53

I think it's nice that people are polite and say nice things to each other. Can't imagine how anyone could have a problem with this.

I'm out walking every day with my dog, and when we encounter other dog walkers and have a brief chat they often say "Enjoy your walk" as we part ways. Perhaps they don't really care if I enjoy my walk, but I like that they say it anyhow. 🤷🏻‍♀️

TheBuffetInspector · 11/07/2025 20:52

Aintgointogoa · 11/07/2025 19:46

It's so they can reply "To see you, nice" ! But that will probably go over most people's heads now...

I was looking for this!

It wasn't that long ago.

Was it? 😂

BallerinaRadio · 11/07/2025 20:52

Yeah because what this world needs is more rudeness and ignorance.

When I'm saying bye to someone I always make sure I tell them to fuck off and I didn't enjoy seeing them at all. It's much better.

Original poster
mariposa1998 · 11/07/2025 20:50

@LittlleMy That's insincere and annoying of her, but in professional contexts (and in hospitality, when the staff are acting as professionals), we can expect meaningless niceties. Outside of that though, I think people don't need to be insincere!

OP posts:
Original poster
mariposa1998 · 11/07/2025 20:49

iamnotalemon · 11/07/2025 20:48

I only say it if I mean it

Good for you!

OP posts:
iamnotalemon · 11/07/2025 20:48

I only say it if I mean it

Original poster
mariposa1998 · 11/07/2025 20:48

Stormroses · 11/07/2025 20:44

Maybe they are pleased to see you. Today I bumped into a neighbour I hadn't seen for well over a year. We caught up and as we parted I said, 'Nice to see you,' because it was.

Well if you meant it then that's great, and absolutely the right time to say it! But I think some people say this when they are really thinking, 'oh sh!t not you', ahah. There are other polite phrases you can say instead, like, 'well we need to be going, see you', or just 'bye/see you'.

OP posts:
LittlleMy · 11/07/2025 20:47

allthegoodusernameshavegone · 11/07/2025 19:43

I think it’s more sincere than the “hi how are you” bollocks

lol my manager who never otherwise touches base with me even when she’s knows I’ve been unwell, well when she sends me a teams message forst of which says ‘Hi, how are you?’ it really gets my back up and I feel so angry inside 😅 - because without fail, hot on the heels without waiting for a reply will be a request to support her with some work. Before I used to acknowledge it like a naive bunny before penny dropped that no-one cares’ 😭! So I just ignore all niceties now and just answer the work Q 😑

Original poster
mariposa1998 · 11/07/2025 20:45

StrawberryCranberry · 11/07/2025 19:49

Honestly OP, if you can get offended by this you really can get offended by anything!

I am not offended by it at all. It would be like being offended when the Starbucks barista says, 'have a lovely rest of your day!'.

I'm saying I don't like it when it's insincere and said by someone you know.

OP posts:
Stormroses · 11/07/2025 20:44

Maybe they are pleased to see you. Today I bumped into a neighbour I hadn't seen for well over a year. We caught up and as we parted I said, 'Nice to see you,' because it was.