Old-ish man on the route to the Co-op who keeps saying hello

[RogueFemale]

I moved house last week and already have noticed this man. He lives on the short (7m) walking route to the local Co-Op. He's maybe mid 60s, tall, heavy build. He is always standing outside his front door, and he loudly says hello every time I go past. I ignore him.

I'm 60 and am used to being invisible.

So it's not a leering hello. I also thought maybe it was accidental he was standing outside before, or something, and just a cheery 'local' hello.

But I went past twice today (to Co-Op) and he was there both times, hello-ing, and I'm finding it quite weird, that he's always standing outside his front door.

I'm going to be going to the local Co-Op a lot, so what do I do?

AIBU to continue to ignore him and just doggedly go past for years pretending he's not there?

There was an elderly gentleman near us years ago who always asked people the time - very politely. I taught my teen DS to smile and answer him pleasantly. He probably had a form of dementia or might just have been lonely, but he did not appear remotely threatening.

i walk my dog every day say hello to everyone i pass, 99 percent smile and say hello. no problems sometimes a comment about the weather, say hello you dont have to marry him only joking

Ffs, just say hello.
He might be lonely. Saying hello to strangers might be the only human interaction he gets. Don't be such a miserable bag.

So because he has a penis he must be a creep who’s desiring you?

You know this isn’t normal right?

Is this a reverse?

I doubt it.

How long are you spending in the Co op that means you know he stands outside all day?!

There's an old woman at the end of our street, she always tries to catch my eye as I go to the shops and says 'Hello'.
I usually hurry past to avoid contact as she wants shopping or something, but sometimes I'll say 'I'll be round on Sunday mum. Get back indoors'.

Yes but I fear we don’t have the same definition.

You seem to think idiot is a synonym for friendly or happy

I think it’s a synonym for stupid or illogical people. Or miserable people FURIOUS that others aren’t miserable like them

If this is genuinely how you feel and it dictates your life, you need to seek professional help and explore why.
Being suspicious of a person saying hello from their doorstep is not normal.

Mentally ill people still deserve manners.

He might have a cognitive disability - also deserving of some courtesy and civility.

A cheery smile as you briskly walk on costs nothing. I find your post a bit odd.

Is there another route or can you cross to the other side if you want to avoid him?

😂

Then, @JimmyGiraffe, your suspicion was wrong.

I think the man is perhaps mentally ill, maybe dementia.

He's probably telling his mates as we speak "There's this old-ish lady who keeps traipsing past my house to and from the co-op all day. Can't be to browse the extensive stock, so I reckon she might be up to no good. I say hello to keep on her right side. Dont want any bother at my age, and you can't be too careful these days..."

This thread is the gift that keeps on giving.

My favourite part is the bonkers replies about other people posters know like it’s relevant.

“You should worry OP. I used to know a man who set kittens on fire. He used to say hello as well”

Some people must be suspicious of their own shadows.

Oh, is it going to be an immigration thread? Cool, we haven’t had one of those for a while. 🙄

You’d hate me as when I’m walking around I say hello to everyone and smile at everyone. I think this is what is wrong with the world tbh we are too scared to talk to people. Perhaps you are the only person he will see all day. Unless he shows any scary behaviours I don’t see the issue.’

What normal person diagnoses a mental illness on the basis of someone standing in their own property .
You could save the NHS a fortune .You could do home visits and determine their exact psychological or psychiatric condition and perform a full risk analysis the minute they say a single word .
Don't come to a Norfolk village OP , people lurk around their gates speaking to passers by, all the time.

And never ever get a dog , the unwanted hellos will blow your mind .

That would be an excellent plot twist

Thats the huge danger someone like the OP can be to a vulnerable person...the safeguarding risk and the harm caused by trying to build community around their prejudice and baseless judgements

I repeat, do you know any blokes who stand outside their house for hours?

So you think he’s got dementia but instead of saying hello, you write a thread about how much of a cunt he is for standing on his own doorstep saying hello? You’re a real peach, OP.

It's not his "desires", he is saying hello ffs. You already said it wasn't a creepy hello.

You say you wouldn't ignore a woman doing the same thing, so you are happy to cater to women's "desires"?

You aren't special , he probably says hello to everybody because he is a bit lonely or a bit odd. I hope people are as grim to you when you are eventually the odd bod, because you sound half way there already .