To ask why people say, 'nice to see you'....?

[mariposa1998]

.....when it's just meaningless waffle and they might not even care/didn't want to see you?

I know that it's politeness and a pleasantry, but I just find it insincere and silly. I'd rather just say bye. Maybe I'm just projecting?

It's annoying. There's no need to be unkind or rude - in fact I hate rude people - but I also think there's no need to pretend to like/value someone when you don't.

He's a multimillionaire so maybe he just doesn't like talking to benefits scum like me. Haha! His wife is really nice though. He's probably scared I'll ask to borrow a fiver. 🤣

I just think that turn of phrase when you clearly mean the opposite is quite comedic though.

You can be polite without saying 'nice to see you' if you don't mean it! Many people manage it....

I also find it funny....they might as well say, 'hope I never see your face again!' 😂

To see you, nice

You're right, in professional and hospitality contexts. But in the world outside of that, for people we know, there's no need to be insincere I think. Even though I know 'it was nice to see you' is just a pleasantry, a meaningless nicety, I still don't like hearing it said when I very much doubt it was meant 😂

I say it as I make my excuses. I can be a smooth operator when needed!

I think you're right about the insincerity, but it doesn't really matter, does it? Half of what most people say is pointless anyway.

Yeah, same. I also do not say, "we should do this again" unless I mean it.

It's a social nicety. But you can hear if people are sincere.

I think I may have caught a bit of sun to the head as it’s making me think of Catherine Tates foul mouthed Grandma and can just visualise her saying after seeing a friend ‘It was nice to see ya’ darling’. Then as soon as she’s out earshot turning to her long suffering nephew before letting rip with her infamous line ‘What a fucking liberty! 😅

Good for you if you genuinely mean it, that's the right time to say it!! But I have a hunch that some people say it when, like one poster says above, you really think the opposite and just want to excuse yourself from the person.

In my teens and 20s people used to say don't ask Nautilus a question if you don't want the real answer. Every question was met with blunt truth and no euphemism ( I still struggle with polite euphemistic talk). So if it wasn't nice to see them I wouldn't say that. If they didn't look good, I wouldn't say that. If I wasn't well I wouldn't say am good thanks. Am still learning in my late 40s. Small talk is crazy . Requires so much thought

Exactly you're hitting the nail on the head here, you're making excuses not to talk to someone....which is why I hate is an expression so much (when it isn't genuinely meant) 😅

Well I think it says more about you OP that you are convinced that most people are not pleased to see you
And therefore they must be being insincere.
I am quite old and have met thousands of people.
It would quite a taxing mental exercise to identify in my mind those whom I reckon were insincere in this.
I think there is a reciprocity generally in goodwill and generosity.

I think it's a way to terminate a conversation before it's even started. You might say it at the end of a chat. But by saying it straight away it's like... 'Nice to SEE you (very briefly) but I don't want to have to TALK to you..'

Yes exactly!! 😂

"Nice to see you...."

(2 minutes later, the person is out of ear shot) "oh not f@cking her again" 😂

First thing that I thought of when I saw the title of this thread.

We must be of a vintage!

Yes exactly. I hate it though....People should just say, 'right, well I have to be getting on..."

😁

I don't think this about most people who see me! Just the odd one

It's clearly light-hearted. And she's right that people often categorically do not mean it. I wouldn't say it except after a long and fun meet up with a friend where we'd chatted and laughed for hours. To say it to your next door neighbour as a way to get out of brief small talk is definitely insincere.

No of course I'd never ask anyone if they meant it. We can sort of extrapolate for ourselves whether someone meant it or not!

Well, you say it because it made you happy seeing that person. I only say it if I mean it. Otherwise I say have a good evening/other random politeness. I hope I haven't offended anyone..

It doesn't really boost anyone's ego though, when they know it's an excuse to avoid you 😂

Also, it's more something that people say after a conversation, not the moment you first see someone.

Are you channelling the spirit of Bruce Forsyth?

Gosh it must be hard work carrying that much cynicism around with you OP. I rarely see people and think “oh God, not fucking her again” and I rarely assume that they are thinking this of me! I like talking to people and I am good at saying a quick hello and moving on if I am in a hurry.