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?

I'd nod to colleagues in a corridor, yes of course, and I'd smile at strangers in the street in my local area if they happened to catch my eye but I probably wouldn't start talking to them. I do start up conversations at bus stops or waiting in a queue but obviously would stop if nobody is interested or seems hostile to the idea. I wouldn't smile at every stranger I see walking through a busy city street though.

Yeah in my neighbourhood nod a good morning.

On the tube, not so much...

When out walking my dog I do. Just a "morning!" normally but if I've seen them more than once I might day something about the weather. If its a fellow dog walker might have a little chat with them.

In a City or shopping centre or wherever - probably not.

For example the road to the nearest bus stop is in a secluded wooded area, why would I engage with a much younger woman, it might frighten or panic her.

Entitled? Social pressure? Christonabike! 🙄

I'd feel far less at risk in that situation if you smiled, said "hello", than if you didn't speak at all.

I generally do say hello when walking my dog, but if just on my own I do look at people walking past and will smile back if they smile at me, or say hello if they say hello to me.

No never. I’m in my own zone most of the time and barely notice other people in passing.

Im a Londoner born and bred now living out in the sticks but it’s very rare even out here that people say hello to randoms

Everyone says hello around here, and you'd be considered really rude if you didn't respond or at least didn't smile and nod.

I bumped into a lady at the start of a dog walk a few weeks ago - we ended up chatting for the full hour while the dogs' played. It was actually really nice!

Christ, who are you to decide what’s relevant and what isn’t in a conversation?

I bet you’re fun at parties.

I agree with you Northernsouloldies, I see exactly what you mean.

Aye me too

Totally rude not to say hello as you pass someone and strike up chats frequently.

I really have heard it all now. It feels entitled when someone you don't know says hello to you. I really despair for society.

That's a very unusual village then imo, other than London I've never lived anywhere that people didnt say hello in passing

Living in a city not as a general rule. Walking down the coast with dog walkers then yes, a good morning/afternoon and a nod.

In Glasgow though, random people talking to you especially at bus stops isn't unusual but less than it used to be.

Fair enough Margaret, but I remember an instance when a young woman that a knew from the bus stop thought a car was following her, she asked for my help, the guy couldn't get up the road at speed due to snow so that said to me something that was explainable to me was scary for that young woman.

I live in a rural N Yorkshire village, and it would be considered rude not to acknowledge anyone you walked past, and even ruder to not day hello to their dog!
Saying that, I was walking for an hour and only saw two other people!

This. Everyone shut up inside their own little bubble. It's very sad.

Think you're on the wrong site misogynist. Get back to reddit.

In my place of work its a rule you acknowledge someone if you make eye contact, if you know them or not. So doing it all day at work becomes a habit outside of work. I dont go out my way to make small talk but if i catch someones eye the minimum is a smile.

But a random man comes on a woman's forum and starts swearing at women who disagree with his oh so manly opinion 😂

Its on the outskirts of a commuter town just outside M25 so mostly exiled Londoners and a few remaining locals who just look upon us all with suspicion. So probably still most have the London attitude of keeping themselves to themselves

On a dog walk or in my village, yes. Walking along the street in a town or city, definitely not! You'd be saying hello every second!

In our village, yes

on a rural walk, yes

Definitely not in a town or city!!