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?

Or a rapist. Or maybe have dementia.

Sounds to me like he could well be lonely so stands there for some human interaction - go on say hello back you never know where it might lead!!

Do you live in a city where everyone ignores each other? i say hello to every person i pass in my village … even if the guy is mentally ill its nice to be nice,put yourself in his shoes… what a sad world to ignore folk😘

Do you live in a city where everyone ignores each other? i say hello to every person i pass in my village … even if the guy is mentally ill its nice to be nice,put yourself in his shoes… what a sad world to ignore folk😘

During Covid, I would walk a route which went by an old man’s house. He would be sat outside on his own with a coffee and a paper. Always said hello. As time went on, I would stop and have a daily 10 minute chat at the gate and he would joke that he was wasting my hour of exercise. What is the harm in saying hello? I noticed a year later that his house was up for sale and he had sadly passed away. Never hurts to be polite and engage with people. I am a rather not be bothered type but always say hello to people.

Old chap next to my daughter used to do the same. He was lonely but luckily it was a friendly village and everyone spoke to him as they passed by. He died last year and I am so glad my daughter and her family were always kind to him, they miss him

I have a neighbour at the end of my road who is regularly outside her house, she says hello, I say it back and sometimes we will even make small talk or even chat.

It is very unusual not to say hello to someone. If it honestly bothers you that much perhaps you could do an online co op order to be delivered to your door... you would still have to say hello to the delivery driver though... it's called being friendly.

Nice! Saying hello isn’t getting involved. Maybe he’s just lonely.

He is probably lonely if he is standing there all day saying hello to everyone who walks past.
If you get weird vibes, take a different path.

‘are you unwell yourself’ is a bit cheeky and insulting.

Never forget that for some people, standing in the door and greeting everybody, hoping to get a friendly hello or a smile in return, is the only human contact they have all day. It could simply depend on yóu if today turned out to be a good day for that person. Saying hello doesn't mean you have to become his carer. So just say goodmorning, or good afternoon, or give a little wave. One day it could be you standing outside your door, waiting for the neighbours to go to the Co-Op.

I would say trust your instinct. If it doesn’t feel right, you are best to keep your distance. Can you walk on the other side of the road for example?
Saying hello to a man this persistent is going to encourage a dialogue and will only get more awkward. I find it very naive of people to say ‘just say hello back’.

We have an older gentleman who sits on his wall and says hello to everyone that walks by - that includes the 4 times I pass him every day dog walking. I just say hello or wave!! He has dementia it takes nothing out of my day to be nice.

A man says “hello” and you wonder if he’ll think you’re interested if you reply? Are you that irresistible? It’s rude to ignore him - he’s possibly lonely. Maybe walk a different way or go less often to the coop.

HELLO all MNetters.

I must be mentally ill, before you ask.

You don’t have to engage if you don’t want to.

Ignore, pretend to be on phone or
wear headphones.

He can say hello but he’s not entitled to your response.

Maybe he has dementia .
Either say hello /or don't or just nod and quickly run away lol and forget anout it it isn't that deep .

How sad. Perhaps he’s lonely. An elderly man, who I feel has the start of dementia, walks past my house a couple of times a day. We have the same conversation and I’m always friendly.

Dammit, I'm going to have to avoid this thread now there's a weirdo saying hello on it.

Why should a woman have to change her route or do less of what she wants to do because of a man’s unwanted behaviour?

He's probably lonely just say hello you will probably make his day.

In my old street we had a man like this only torrential rain and gale force wind stopped him standing outside. His wife had died in recent years and he couldn't bear to be alone in the house. We always said hello back and stopped for a chat.

There is a man near us who is always looking out his window and into the street, all the time. Some people find it creepy but he's actually a nice person and has called the police and emergency services a few times preventing break ins and possibly even a death.

As someone “mentally ill” a Hello can go a long way in his day, ur not getin ur self involved, i smile a lot at passing strangers might ask “u ok” does not mean i want them to know all my problems in life, a smile back can make me fee all is not bad in the world.

But I'm a female weirdo, so that's allowed.