Talking to strangers

[susansaucepan]

Do you say hello as you pass strangers?

I will almost always say hello, nod or smile if I catch someone's eye on the street, work corridors etc, even if I don't know them. It feels a bit rude to just rush past someone. I am not sure why I bother, especially as the greeting is not always reciprocated which can be awkward.

My DH has mentioned that my DD “talks to every stranger” they walk past during the school run. He is right in that she does tend to say hello to most people and will happily engage anyone in conversation given the opportunity.

My DH is a quiet man and finds this uncomfortable and tries to use the old “stranger danger” rethoric to encourage the kids to not talk to strangers.

What are your thoughts?

Christ no. Saying hi to someone at work, yes. But people in the street?! Absolutely not.

Of course, I talk to strangers all of the time. But I'm scottish and we are a friendly bunch.

Yep. Every day on my morning walk I say good morning to people. You can usually get the vibe for who'll say it back. Most people do, only a few torn faced gits don't!

Of course, I talk to strangers all of the time. But I'm a Londoner and we are a friendly bunch.

Christ no. Okay, maybe very rarely but only in exceptional circumstances.

In a busy street, no - you'd be doing it a the time. On a quieter street, or on a walking trail, of course. My DP finds it bizarre how many total strangers start conversations with me....I like talking to strangers, and clearly it shows somehow!

I do yes, I also say goodnight to people who I pass on my way home from the pub.

I don't tend to randomly say just "hello" to people I'm passing in the street (as a PP said, on a busy street you'd be doing it nonstop) but I will quite happily have conversations with strangers - say in a carpark, or in a shop, or if someone offers a compliment, or their dog has a sniff at me. I like it, this city (in regional Australia) is a very friendly place ime.

I say hello to and interact with strangers quite a lot. I've never really considered that other people might not. It seems that a few people are quite horrified by the idea.

No I don't. I don't enjoy it and it doesn't feel rude, just neutral. I just want to get to where I'm going and get on with my day. It feels entitled when strangers say hello to me when passing and put social pressure on me to respond, when I often simply want to be alone with my thoughts or focus on the people I'm with.

I say hello, give a nod, chat to shop assistants, will have a conversation with a pensioner on the bus. I’ll engage with tourists, talk to school mums, chat to neighbours, help someone out, ask a cafe owner about their place. My child is the same, he approaches everyone young & old. Normal for us!

It depends and would only be if its quiet and not where there are lots of people. You can usually judge people wanting to hide away with their posture and lack of eye contact.

On a solo walking trip up Ben Nevis it amazed me how many people walking in opposite direction didn't want to acknowledge the presence of another human, probably the only one around for half a mile.

Same in the kitchen at work, yes I work for a huge organisation and frequently bump into folk I don't know but why some won't even say hello when you're tripping over each other at the communal fridge amazes me.

(Excluding my neighbour, definitely ignore him regardless of circumstances, he's a total prick).

I do sometimes but no just because I want to say hello does not mean I have to have one back

And sure children say hello to people but not everyone will or has to say hello back it is unfair and rude to expect it then judge them if you, general sense, have decided they are wrong as they are not doing what you think they should

Absolutely yes.. another Londoner here!

I used to always smile. I got sick of the looks I get years ago though. "Goth" in a "chavvy" area, so instead of smiling away and seeing smirks, people actually laughing and/or nudging each other, I just don’t bother looking at faces any more. I do fully engage with staff members anywhere I go though and they've always turned out to be lovely.
I’m too old for this shit now. Definitely born in the wrong place

Absolutely not on the street no. Footpaths and bridleways near my area, yes there is a bit of a convention of saying hello or acknowledging as you pass each other.

OP there was a recent research article about the impact that speaking to a stranger has psychologically upon the 2 people involved and how it impacts the local community and wider society.

I work in mental health and having a connection, however brief, with someone is good for our wellbeing.

This might sound a bit mad, but I love the idea that because of this there will be people who might otherwise have no one to say goodnight to them being able to go to bed having heard it

When I was growing up in the countryside I’d say hi to anyone, in London these days, it’s rare, more common if they have a nice dog.

Yea, most of the time.

It may depend on

1; where you're from and
2; where you now live.

For me
1; it's a yes, always
2; depends on the vibe

I do say hello / morning when walking to the bus stop (very quiet road) and I reply to a child if waved at, said hello bye to me. I don't do it to young women as that would be viewed as weird coming from a male in late 50s.

It depends on where you are & time of the day I think. I’m a Londoner so obviously wouldn’t say hello to everyone on the high street but completely normal to say hello to a neighbour you don’t know on a early morning walk or in the park walking dogs. I like a community though.

Is this a serious post?

I'm actually a little lost for words, it's a Hello FFS

It depends where you live really. I'm in a city, and it's just not done at all, everyone avoids eye contact in the street/supermarket/whatever.

Just 7 miles away, my DM lives in a quaint village with nice walks. EVERYONE TALKS TO YOU At the very least you have to smile and say 'Morning' to everyone you walk past. I basically have to have two personas, one avoidant-city, one friendly-village and hope I don't get them mixed up...