to find people rude and bloody unfriendly

[uptherear]

Perhaps its me and I am odd.

We moved area (few hundred miles) and i findsuch a difference in the people here.

It keeps coming up and today again i was left feeling like some odd bod.

In park and there are lots of folk with kids. At climbing tower Im waiting for my DD2 to get on when some Dad followinv his toddler up says 'i'm going to have to follow him up'. So I smiled/laughed and said 'no need to make excuses, on you get, have fun'!
No reply, no chat. Honestly if kid hadn't been up frame Im sure he'd have run. I was with DH and other dc btw, not hanging round looking lonely!!

Five mins later a 2/3 year old is hanging off s climbing frame at least 4 ft from groundand no obvious person with him, so i lift him down. Woman appears beside me, torn faced and says 'he is fine, i was watching him'.
Honestly is this where society is at or is it maybe a regional thing. I remember small talk wiyh dtrangers at the park and a general feeling of friendliness.
Aibu and should i just shut up and mind my own business?

[Sparklingbrook]

Oh no Dame. You obviously didn't bump into me or Norks.

[SconeInSixtySeconds]

One of the reasons I am so thrilled to be back in the Uk from Australia is because it is so much easier to chat to people you don't know!

I'm in a neighbouring county to Sparkling, perhaps that has something to do with it?

[WMDinthekitchen]

OP, what you describe might well happen here - and we are in the far north, not the supposedly unfriendly south.

[DameFanny]

Well obviously Norks! Sodding Inkberrow

[DameFanny]

Sparkling even

[Sparklingbrook]

Dame. Don't think I have ever been to Inkberrow.

[madmomma]

Oh I can't bloody stand it when people won't have a little chitchat. It makes the world go round. YANBU. Nothing worse than being left hanging by some miserable bugger when you were trying to brighten their day with a little exchange. Even worse when they won't raise a smile for a baby or toddler who's beaming at them. Miserable, cold wasters!

[VBisme]

I moved from Manchester to the Cotswolds and people are MUCH friendlier here.

[Saski]

I hate to see people shot down in an attempt to make pleasant chit chat. Hope it makes you feel better that you've got right on your side and they're assholes.

[Ivehadbetterdays]

I live in the South, where I was told people are more friendly. Some are, some aren't.

The other day I took DD to Tesco. She always has a go on the ride before we go in. There were two older girls already sat on it when we got there, but the ride wasn't moving, but I told DD she would have to wait. The two girls jumped out, so I looked at their Mum, and asked "Are they not going on?" ( just wanted to check before DD jumped on) and she looked at me like I was a piece of shit who had just asked her if she wanted to eat me, and abruptly said "no!" DD got on the ride, and she then said "I NEVER left my children on those rides" in an equality snotty tone. I had my back to her, so turned round to tell her to lighten up, and that I was only asking a question (thought I was being polite?) but she had vanished. miserable bitch

OTOH have met some nice people at the local park, some Grandparents in particular who were lovely, and also at soft play of all places

[FlatsInDagenham]

We in West Yorkshire are luvly. Come and live 'ere.

[NorksAreMessy]

I always eat there sparkling. My friend runs the cafe and she has won proper awards and everything.
Come back and visit damefanny, we are nice really

[Sparklingbrook]

Their scrambled eggs on toast are the best I have ever tasted Norks. DH has the fab chocolate cake given half a chance. Fab place.

[uptherear]

Ah Im so glad its not just me.

Being chatty and friendly costs nothing. Don't understand these cold snotty types who just don't want to interact at all.

Maybe it was an off day. I won't give up. More effort for me to stop talking than to just carry on being me!!

[BreconBeBuggered]

I knew you were going to say you'd moved from Glasgow, OP.
Not that I have a shameless West Coast bias or anything.

[DameFanny]

Sparkling - don't ever bother

[itsakindarabbit]

I am quite chatty and friendly - my dh is fairly introverted and just wants to go about his business undisturbed. I think thats hisnperrogative.

Although i am outgoing and like meeting new people i have found in recent years thst people i meet out and about who want to chat just want to do a monologue qbout themselves/their lives. I dont know when this started happening - this endless droning about oneself to any available audiece - but i am more hesitant about chatting to new people because of it.

That said, op, you sound great and good fun and not at all a me me me type.

[ElectricMonk]

I've spent the past few years shifting between the South and the Midlands, and I've experienced similar problems many times - I don't think you ever stop missing the atmosphere of the friendlier place, but you do stop being confused and disappointed by the more insular place after a while (and become slightly misanthropic). If it makes you feel any better, do bear in mind that some of the people you meet (like me) will just be taken aback by the fact that you are speaking to them and will probably be kicking themselves inside by the time they've offended you :).

I wish I could settle somewhere near Birmingham permanently, the people are generally just reserved enough that my general dreamy/zoned-out state goes unnoticed, but still friendly enough that asking for help or buying things is a nice experience...

[LittleFrieda]

Are you English?

[GrowSomeCress]

YANBU, people in general are ruder

[Goldmandra]

Everyone come to Worcestershire. We are all lovely/chatty/friendly.

Too right!

We moved here some years ago but for a while still lived half the week in B'ham because of my job. I had to remember to smile, nod and greet people I passed in the street in the new place while still avoiding eye contact with those in B'ham lest they decided I was a lunatic and called the police!

I got it wrong both ways round a few times and left people either feeling snubbed or looking at me like I was a loon!

[redandwhitesprinkles]

From the ne now in London. I talk to everyone and most respond. Maybe I am known as some local northern nutter. Hey ho!