You know when people say, long time no see…….do you think it’s guilt tripping ?

[JennyTals]

I never know how to respond, other than yeah it’s been a while
or yeah how are you

but it often makes me feel like they guilt tripping

Also ment to say what do you say when someone says that to you ?

When I say it, it’s code for “I’m embarrassed because I haven’t made any effort to see you, so now I’m going to be jokey about it.”

No. Just another thing we say to each other.

I just take it on face value and respond in kind - usually ‘I know! It’s been far too long!’ Or something similar

I presume they are simply glad to see me after not seeing me for a while.

The reply is: "Long time happy."

I’m sure some people would be using it to guilt trip you but most people just say it without thinking. I’d respond by agreeing it’s been ages since we saw each other and ask what they’ve been doing.

I say it sometimes,

I'm not guilt tripping.

When my family say it, yes it's a guilt trip because I've always made the effort to see them having moved away from my home town and they can't be bothered.

I remind myself motorways operate in both directions and try to ignore it.

For most people though it's one of those banal comments people add in conversations.

It's a translation of the Chinese hao jiu bu jian, which is a perfectly normal greeting for someone you haven't seen for a while.

Just greet them back in any way you like

I say this and I literally mean it as it is. Haven't seen you in a long time. It's not a guilt trip, some people you just don't see very often

In fairness it would depend on who was saying it to me.

If it was a fair-weather friend, I'd respond as @MudpiesinEssex suggested.
If it was a long time close friend that I hadn't seen in ages and I knew why (if there was extenuating circumstances) I'd respond "I know - way too long. Let's not let that happen again. It's so hard when life gets in the way of a good night out!" or something equally open and friendly in nature.

Ouch!

just something to say when you havent seen someone for ages. not guilt tripping. i often say this. maybe 'dont be a stranger' could be seen as guilt tripping - but often means nothing too

Nope, never taken it as guilt tripping or meant it that way. Wod just respond with "I know, how have you been?". It's just a normal interaction requiring a normal response.

I think it's just a common phrase. I think it's a weird one, but just that.

It just means they haven't seen you for a while. Nothing else.

I don't think it's guilt tripping. I'd just reply something like "Yeah - time flies doesn't it" Or "Yes, indeed, I think we last saw you at Fred's Easter BBQ".

Unless the person saying it is your housebound elderly relative I don't see how it could be guilt tripping. Surely any guilt is mutual?

I respond with "I know!!!! It's been aaaaaages! What have you been up to?"

I'm so familiar with the phrase that it hadn't ever clicked with me that it wasn't actual English grammar until I read that. According to Wikipedia it might also derive from a Native American saying.

I wonder if it will get cancelled at any point: if you look at it with fresh eyes it does sound slightly iffy.

I sometimes reply, yes I've not seen you for ages either.....
Maybe I shouldn't reply with that

I say it.

I mean it’s been a long time since nothing more or less and no way guilt tripping.

In my friendship circle we mostly say it when we have actually seen each other multiple times that week/day l.
Otherwise its a genuine one to/ from someone you've not seen for ages like an old colleague or distant relative

Depends on who's saying it. When it's my friends we're saying it to each other to mean "fuck we're all so busy, how on earth has it been so long", and I think that's how most people say it, typically with a big smile and a big hug.

When it's my (lovely) PIL they definitely mean it in a very pointed way.

No, I say that to my friends. Life gets in the way and those drinks next weekend end up 2 months later due to various factors!