to think that people you see out walking would at least smile

[gallifrey]

I went out for a walk yesterday, an old couple were walking toward me, I smiled at them and they just glared back at me.
I then saw a man about my age, he got his phone out and started looking at that rather than make eye contact with me.
The next person I saw smiled and said hello as did the next one.

You get my drift...

What is so bloody hard about saying hello or smiling at a fellow human being?

I always smile at people with babies in forward-facing slings. They look so comedic

OTOH, I totally agree with Winky "Cheer Up, it might never happen" makes me feel stabby

I usually find that it is older people who will smile and say hello and like YouOldSlag I am aware that many of our elderly don't speak to anyone all day.

I find it is younger people who look the other way, or just stare at their mobile phones and hate making eye contact - I walk my DS to and from school every day and we always see the same parents walking to the same school , more than half look the other way rather than say 'hello' or don't even smile.

I tend to smile at most people I go past but there are loads who will just totally blank you, but I am not that bothered so I just keep doing it anyway. I think its a bit sad if everyone just ignores each other on the streets, especially when you see another mum with a baby/toddlers.

Steal a baby and wander round with that. I can't get anything done for oldies peeking into the pram every five mins.

My DH stopped for lunch while out with DD and a japanese couple walk past and both stroked her hand.

I kind of feel weird when people speak to me when I am out for a walk, I do respond thought but would never initiate.

I am really down at the moment and often when I am walking I am pretty upset so actually it is bloody hard to say hello because I am trying not to cry.

I'm a bit like that Everlong my face aches by the time I'm home.

Sometimes though, I like to get lost in my own thoughts. Its hard to wander lonely as a cloud when people keep gurning at you

I've never been blanked, city, country, beach... and mostly the hello's happen simultaneously.

Ooh I hate it when people don't smile! How hard is it to at least give a little grin, really?
DS is pretty good at getting people to be friendly though. 20 months old, cute blond and chubby and says hiya to everyone we pass. It always gets people to open up and start chatting, I love it :)

Vivi - bassetts are perhaps the one dog more comedic than a dachshund, but a bit on the large side for best effect.

Rag, even hoodie wearing 'yoofs' turn out to be able to not only smile but actually say something pleasant in the vicinity of a sausage dog. What look to be louts in footie shirts will shyly profess a desire to own a sausage dog in front of their mates.

Ha yes. A basset/dachsy cross would be the top trump of all dog-clowns.

YANBU I can't stand this sort of thing OP - that's just sheer bloody rudeness imo

I live in a village too everlong and most people still don't say hello to me if I meet them! I can smile like a loon to no avail...

My village is a weird place indeed

fluffydressinggown- Just read your reply and it made me feel a bit sad. Is it stuff that can be sorted ?

Talc DH has a theory that it is to do with your altitude. Something like once you are above 2000 feet you say hello to everyone but below that it is a judgement call.

I vividly remember walking into town with my Mum when I was small and her saying, "hello" to a man walking towards us- I asked her who he was and, having had "do not talk to strangers" drummed into me at school I was HORRIFIED when she said that she didn't know him! I get it now though I take great pleasure in saying "hello" to checkout staff in London supermarkets- they are treated with such contempt by the majority of customers that they usually do a double take.

I totally agree about the dog magnet. I don't think I've ever walked past anyone without them at least smiling at the dogs, and then at me. I've had people run across fields to talk to them - initially my MN radar thought the whole family was running over to tell me off for some unspecific canine infringement, but it turned out they just wanted to tell me they used to have hounds too and could they have a quick scritch under the ears...

You don't know their circumstances. I remember someone saying to me 'don't worry ,it might never happen! My husband had just died-can you get much worse?!

I'm like you Rinkan. I even smiled at someone on the tube recently.

We walk across a park to get to the bus stop as part of our school run.

We smile and say hello to random people we've seen before in the park (yes, usually people walking dogs - they seem to be on a similar schedule except I'm only walking DD )

We never say hello or smile at people on the pavements (and neither does anyone else) I'm in London, it's just not done - too many people I suppose.

We smile and say hello to people at the bus stop/on the bus who we've seen more than a couple of times.

exotic. I've only ever had it said to me when I'm actually perfectly happy, just miles away thinking about something else - its irritating enough then.

Some people find it really difficult. I try really hard, especially since we moved somewhere a bit less urban.

Some days though, I just can't do it. I know I look really rude. I'm not, though, people just scare me.

This is one of many problems I have always struggled with and I am now waiting for an assessment for Aspergers. I know people will still think I'm rude but at least I'll know why I struggle so much with these little things that other people can just do.

FWIW I do agree with your sentiment, it'd be lovely to be all neighbourly and to have a big sense of community in all types of town. But not everyone who walks on by or ignores you is rude. :)

it depends where you live

where do you live?

i wouldhave smiled at you but dh says i go OTT with some people and scare the,. Last time it was because I did an impression of her dogs. Dh said this was weird