Is this rude or am I just behind with the times?

[BBQsauceoneverything]

Do some neighbours no longer acknowledge each other nowadays?

My parents have lived in the same house for 52 years in a lovely popular semi-rural village. I also live in the village. It's friendly, not overbearingly but people are, in general friendly nonetheless.

On one side new neighbours have moved in, around 3 months ago now. To date they have never acknowledged dad's, my sister's or mine existence. I am round most days as I help care for my mum who is housebound with advanced dementia.
We have been out in the driveway on several occasions and they too have been in theirs (fence only 3 foot tall so can see each other easily) but they will not look our way at all. On several occasions now we have been ready for them to look up so we can wave and smile but they will not even dare turn their heads our way, nothing, zilch. Dad even called out hello once but they totally ignored him, kind of put him off doing it again.

I appreciate that time is precious these days and people are in a hurry etc and that a couple in their 30's will probably have no interest in a man of 84 but surely a little wave and a hello would be classed as a friendly and neighbourly thing to do or have times moved on? I live in a cu-de-sac with new and younger neighbours and they all wave when I drive by, this couple just seem so unfriendly. My poor dad feels a bit crestfallen. It's a good job the neighbours on the other side are friendly and kind.

Nothing we can do of course so hey-ho.

With the way you describe their behaviour, I wonder if they are very nervous around people or have had previous trouble with neighbours. It's a shame for your parents.

I'm close to one set of neighbours which has been a god send over the years, most recently after my stroke! I don't rely on them or ask for much, but it's good to know they are there if I do need help & prior to my stroke I was there for them. I still am & still do small things for them, but can't do as much as I used to.

other neighbours across the road I have their mobile numbers & I know they'd help in an emergency if they found 'no question' if I needed them & in a non emergency if I just needed help with something.

others I have a wee chat with (mostly about their dogs) but don't have their phone numbers, but I wouldn't hesitate to knock in an emergency.

i have had their dogs/kids in emergencies or unexpected situations. I'm happy to live in this area, like this.

ive never lived for long periods of time where neighbours haven't been friendly (lots of travelling living in a place short term where I've not known the neighbours)

You've no idea what's going on for them. But there have always been people who keep themselves to themselves.

Try to find something else to occupy your mind. On several occasions now we have been ready for them to look up so we can wave and smile this sounded a bit weird!

Weird and rude.

For those asking if any of us have knocked and introduced ourselves tbh we haven't. Mum has fractured her neck and along with her advanced Alzheimer's she needs round the clock care and we are all exhausted. We were hoping that a little hello, introduce ourselves etc could have occurred during the times we have all happened to be in our driveways at the same time but the fact they won't/haven't even looked our way is off putting, they really don't come across as friendly at all. They had a massive party at the weekend and were very noisy. Whenever my neighbours have a loud party they will always text me to give us a heads up so I suppose I am lucky to have good neighbours.

Mum is coming to end of life and dad won't want to live in such a big house alone so I suppose they may not be neighbours for years to come so it won't be such a concern.

How is that weird? Where I come from that's called being friendly.

We are all going through hell atm caring for my mum who is terminally ill but I still manage to smile at people.

I think waiting is a bit unusual, either proactively say hello or just get on with your day.

Best wishes for your family, that sounds very tough. Don't waste any energy on the neighbours, it's a tiny thing really. As long as they're not being noisy or messy, at least there's peace for your mum.

I don't suppose you pointedly ignore your neighbour and look the other way though, do you?

In a way I suppose I do because i pretend I havnt seen them and that they don't exist 😅🙈 .... I walked past one in the super market the other day and pretended I didn't see them. Never had a fall out or anything

And funnily enough, my best friend of 7 years..... was my next door neighbour in my old house 😅

Think some people don’t do anything for the local community. Don’t shop, don’t go to any groups etc in the area. The couple that lived opposite my parents’ old place did nothing. Didn’t speak to anyone when they moved in, even when others greeted them.

As my DF - the only local thing they do is pay council tax.

I only knew myself the name of one of my neighbours as I took in a parcel for him.

It does sound a bit rude OP.
to play devils advocate though, I live in a similar place and recently moved in (small ish village) and I always say hello but it does get a bit blah after a while :D as in, everyone says hello to each other and small talk a few times a week when you just want to go in to your house because you’re exhausted or you’ve got a million things to do before you have to rush out.
I think as long as there’s no drama, it’s fine. If you’re really bothered, your dad could send a Xmas card like “from your neighbours at number X” but I think some people just don’t want small talk. I also think some people are a bit awkward and shy but actually nice