people do not say hello

Ill tell it from the other perspective. I’m the one who gets greeted, not me doing the greeting. At times I might not sound as polite, not because I hate you or I’m stuck-up (although I might be), but because I didn’t expect to be greeted. Many times I’m caught off-guard. Further, I have trouble summoning up names in an instant, so even if I know you well, I may not give the best greetings because of that.

It’s possible that people who don’t greet you back have a similar response.

 

I don’t think it’s you. Society is changing.

When I first started road bicycling in the ‘80’s, bicyclists all waved at each other. We’d stop if we saw another bicyclist with a flat and offer help. Nowadays most people riding ignore waves and ignore other bicyclist repairing flats. I wave at people nowadays and 90% of the time it’s ignored. I get a flat and no one makes a courtesy stop. I’ll make the courtesy stop but people don’t want any help.

As far as going to the gym in the 80’s, I remember strangers asking me if I’d spot for them while bench pressing. At the gym now, no one wants to be approached. No one wants anyone talking to them.

Society now is all about their multimedia devices. They can’t be bothered with the people right in front of them.

 

Interesting.

There was one time last year a woman at the gym I didn’t know greeted me as she walked out and I came in. I was so surprised, it’s very rare for a woman to say anything to a guy at my gym, I didn’t know what to say. I blurted out something just to say something but I think it sounded rude when I thought about it later. I blurted out “Bye” in a tone that I’m afraid sounded negative even though I didn’t mean for it to be.

 

In Brazil it's custom to say hello to others. You'll need to greet and greet back strangers (practically) everywhere, or else you'll (sort of) be seen as impolite/unfriendly for not having acknowledged their existence ~

 

Do you make eye contact before you say "Hello"?

 

Society is not the same anymore . . .

Social media killed everything . . .

The Truth . . .

 

The fact that others don't say hello to you if you speak to them, just means they are bigger PMO addicts than you are!

 

This still happens in places in the Midwest USA. People that don’t know each other will start conversations and sound like they’ve known each other for awhile. People are friendlier and seem happier. On the East Coast and West Coast people are not as out going and more apt to be assholes.

I’m a West Coaster. I’m bitter, angry, broken, and hate the world. I plan on moving to the Midwest someday so I can become a nice person.

 

LOL
I love the literal translation of bloody!
Dude, you are posting in Italian.

 

I've noticed this too. every time I find myself in the midwest I'm always surprised at how friendly and warm the people are. I got lost in downtown Chicago last summer and had literal strangers come up to me and show me where to go, and I didn't even ask them. some cool people up there

 

As a Midwesterner, Chicago probably has the least nice people in it, but good that you got help when you were there. Outside of Chicago they have a reputation for not being very nice

 

Yeah, this can be annoying. I mean, I'm a very friendly person, but that doesnt mean I'm always in the mood to strike up a conversation with a stranger. Especially somewhere like a gym, where people are busy.

I used to go out to write a lot, and it was really surprising to me how many guys would walk up to my table, while I'm clearly super focused, typing away, with headphones on, and expect me to start having a conversation with them. It's like dude... I'm busy.

 

Attractive women do get tired of men trying to talk to them. That is totally understandable.

 

I’ve had similar experiences in Chicago. Total strangers coming up to me without asking and helping me. I was totally lost about how to use the transit kiosks once and another passenger on the kiosk next to me just came up without being asked and started explaining it to me. That’s never going to happen here in the SF Bay Area.

 

I live in Minnesota and strangers don't really start conversations with each other.

 

they might be intimidated by you