BS: Do people say hello where you live ?

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: PoppaGator
Date: 05 Mar 06 - 01:21 PM

Despite being a "major" (if not an especially large) city, New Orleans has always been a pretty friendly place, where acquaintances and even strangers normally exchange nods and greetings on the street: the simple "Hey" and "Where y'at" are both in common usage, and more polite "Good Mornings" and "Good Evenings" are still pretty popular among older folks. (When I first arrived here in 1969, the old-fashioned French usage of saying "Good Evening" anytime after 12 noon was still common enough, especially by older black ladies; I found this kinda perplexing on bright sunny afternoons when I had just gotten of bed after a late night!)

During our recent exile in the New Jersey/New York area, it was a bit of a shock to see how strongly most strangers strive to avoid eye contact with each other. My kids, who had lived all their lives in the Crescent City, were especially aware and taken aback. I think the determination to ignore each other is stronger in small-town New Jersey than in the big city itself, surprisingly enough ~ New Yorkers are not really as unfriendly as advertised, and seem more ready to recognize each other's existence than do the suburbanites.

Eye contact and greetings between individuals of different races seems to be especially verboten in the Northeast. Black and white folks are visibly much more comfortable with each other in southeast Louisiana (and, probably, throuhgout the South) than in the urban/suburban northeast.

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: skarpi
Date: 05 Mar 06 - 06:40 AM

Halló hvernig hefur þú það?

Halló all I have heard here at the navy base " how are you keeping "
but we here in Iceland we say " good morning " og " good evening "
or we say " Sælar " to a girl or a woman and " Sæll " to a boy
or a man .Both meanings are " Halló or hi " .

Glasgow and Edinborg "borg " means city in Icelandic are old city´s
and Glasgow was in 1993 when I was there a " dirty old town " the house´s
where dirty and so where the streets, I hope it´s has change through out the years.

well all have to go but as we say goodbye in Icelandic
Verið þið sæl og blessuð it means " may you be happy and blessed "
all best Skarpi Iceland.

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: ard mhacha
Date: 05 Mar 06 - 06:14 AM

Dianavan, "Hiya keeping", as spoken in the north of Ireland, is usually a greeting to someone who has had a bereavement or is recovering from sickness, it is still in vogue here.

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: GUEST,dianavan
Date: 04 Mar 06 - 10:41 PM

Of all the greetings, I find, "How are you keeping?", the most interesting. I've heard "How ya keepin'" in parts of Washington State but I always wonder what you are supposed to be keeping. I think it means something like, "Are you keeping in good health these days?"

I also find that a nod of the head seems to be the most common greeting. It almost seems like an unspoken, universal greeting. I wonder if there is any culture that would consider it rude.

In Vancouver, its a nod to others in the community and sometimes hi or hello.

If you know them, its usually a hug and a kiss.

I love it when I'm out walking and children wave from their yards and porches and call-out hi.

This is a great thread, Cha Cha.

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: Mooh
Date: 04 Mar 06 - 07:45 AM

Hello,

Yup, folks say hello, open doors for others, shovel their neighbour's walk, and lots of other acts of decency and kindness. (Or they don't because they haven't figured things out...yet.)

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 03 Mar 06 - 06:06 PM

Arnie As a fellow biker it's great to see the fellowship among us few. I had a friend once on the back, when we stopped he said, I didn't realise you knew so many people who drive bikes, not one of them passed you !

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: Arnie
Date: 03 Mar 06 - 12:15 PM

As a biker, whenever I pass another biker it's customary to nod your head - taking hands off to wave could have disastrous consequences!! It's considered really rude to fail to nod, even if two or three bikes are passing and you end up doing a good impression of a nodding donkey. Unfortunately, some modern scooters look a bit like bikes, and it would be anathema to nod to a scooter rider so you have to wait till the last minute in some cases, just to be sure it is a fellow biker!! Talk about snobbery.... Anyway, when I was being dragged up in Yorkshire, the standard greeting was Eyup! Or even, How's thee laikin??

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: Gedpipes
Date: 03 Mar 06 - 09:19 AM

Hello everybody.
Blue skies
Ged

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: ard mhacha
Date: 02 Mar 06 - 12:32 PM

The massive influx of foreign nationals in Ireland, mostly eastern europeans, are completely confused when I smile and wish them well, I would like to know if this is a no-no in this part of Europe, the Chinese are more forthcoming , it is always a smile and a hello.

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 02 Mar 06 - 09:50 AM

When I go on my local walks with flat 'at & stick, I exchange "Hellos" with folk I pass. No so when shopping in town. Some cultures (including Greece, I understand) the stranger, not the local should make the first greeting.

RtS

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: GUEST,Cats
Date: 02 Mar 06 - 06:35 AM

We live in a small hamlet on Bidmin Moor in Cornwall. There are only 8 houses and farms in the hamlet and we all know each other and say hellom or stop for a chat. When we wassiled our new apple trees this year, the whole village came. It's bliss.

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: mg
Date: 02 Mar 06 - 01:49 AM

They do this very serious nod thing here and it is a very nice solution to various situations...as a woman you don't want to be too encouraging to strange men at times...but you don't want to pretend youdon't see them..so the message is hello i see you and i wish you well but that is it for now... mg

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: GUEST,Vlad Dracul
Date: 01 Mar 06 - 06:33 PM

Do people say "hello" where I live?

No. They usually gasp, grimace, and show the sign of the cross. Sometimes they just shriek and run away. If there are large numbers of them, they hurl curses and wave torches at me. Courtesy is a thing of the past around here.

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 01 Mar 06 - 06:20 PM

It's not hard to be civil to a stranger in the street. I find it's the older generation that respect this more than the youth of today. When I was growing up we were always told to refer to neighbours as, Mr. or Mrs. I would of got hammered if I said hello and called them by their first name. Sadly respect is another thing that is dying.

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: MARINER
Date: 01 Mar 06 - 05:20 PM

Here in the South East of Ireland it's usual to be greeted by a "how's she cuttin'? or "how's she goin'? by those you know or" Good Day "or "Howya" from a stranger. I met an English visitor last year who was astonished that drivers on country roads always waved to each other on meeting.

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: number 6
Date: 01 Mar 06 - 11:29 AM

"Also everyone knows everyone else's business !"

We live in the old part of Saint john ... the city proper ... in our neighbourhood you will find doctors, politicians, house painters,lawyers, small time drug pushers, welfare recepients, common labourers, artists all living in amongst one another ... one's business is respected as one's business ... it's the person that matters, what you do is irrelevant ... this community structure and character is unique and is what I find very indearing about this town. The one reason I would never leave it.

sIx

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: C-flat
Date: 01 Mar 06 - 11:07 AM

I was out cycling with my young daughter recently, a relatively new pastime to us both, when she commented to me how strange it was that people we passed on the cycle paths, all, without fail, exchanged a greeting whereas on other parts of our journey we would pass in silence.
Is there something about cycle paths that bring the best out of people?
Perhaps we need more of them!

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: GUEST,DB
Date: 01 Mar 06 - 10:33 AM

The suburb of South Manchester (UK), in which I live, has always had a villagey atmosphere but, with huge rises in house prices in recent years, it has become a bit more 'gentrified', with a consequent reduction in neighbourliness. Still, I'm sure that there are a lot worse places to live and on a routine walk to the shops I usually meet someone I know and we stop for a chat. My Mum and Dad both died recently but when they were still alive they loved coming up here because they reckoned that people were friendlier than where they lived.
My immediate neighbours are great - although we're not in and out of each others houses, as people used to do in the old days. A couple of years ago some people moved in up the road who never seem to speak to anyone - in fact I have often said "good morning/afternoon/evening etc." to them and they deliberately look away and ignore me! Personally, I can't understand people like this.

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 01 Mar 06 - 09:47 AM

Here in Ireland there are still many small parochial societies where everyone knows everyone. Here where I live the neirbours could tell you if a stranger was in the area. Greetings go from, What about ya to Are ya well ? Also everyone knows everyone else's business !

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 01 Mar 06 - 09:34 AM

yup, pretty much say hello to people where I live. Most people are friendly, but friendlier in the village in the town it depends what kind of day everyone is having.

But on the whole yes... But I'll speak to pretty much anyone, and love talking to strangers, best place for chatting to strangers is on the bus or train. Met a lovely old lady a few weeks ago on the train, could have chattered to her for hours. She was really interesting.

(I live in South Wales)... we do the one finger wag around the country lanes by me - most people are polite except the odd few who try to bully their way around the lanes and won't budge or move over. But they are far and few apart.

E>W>I>S

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: Rapparee
Date: 01 Mar 06 - 09:16 AM

One day I wore evening clothes to work (yeah, yeah, I know) -- black tie, so it wasn't all THAT much of a deliberate gaff. I went out to get some lunch, and on the way back I stopped, gold-headed cane at my side, and tipped my hat to two passing older ladies (who I knew).

They didn't recognize me, but BOY! were they impressed at the gentlemanly manners! Then one of them did recognize me and the whole deal was off....

The polite thing out here (and in other rural areas of the West) when you drive into someone's farm or ranch is to wait by your vehicle until they come out and invite you in. Gives 'em a chance to tidy up the place before a visitor arrives.

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: David C. Carter
Date: 01 Mar 06 - 08:53 AM

We spend a lot of time in northen Brittany,and it's as Julian says.Brittany has much more of a sense of community than a lot of other places in France.Also,they don't consider themselves as being "French".They've got their own flag,and make their own "Whisky"....I like the flag!From Brussels to Bruges!No,I shouldn't think too many people would go around greeting each other.We don't get too many smiles in and around Paris either.

David

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 01 Mar 06 - 08:31 AM

Relating to another thread on the go, which is about motorhomes, I find it funny how motorhomers wave to each other, they even do it abroad, and not just Brit to Brit but Brits waving at Frenchmen, [with more than 2 fingers!] What has the EEC done to us?
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: MMario
Date: 01 Mar 06 - 08:21 AM

and welcome to you Julian - tho' you may have been lurking a while (it's hard to tell) I see you've just started posting here.

Stop in on one of the Tavern threads or elsewhere and tell us something about yourself.

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: julian morbihan
Date: 01 Mar 06 - 08:16 AM

I'm now living in southern Brittany, not only do they stop to say hallo but its obligatory for 4 kisses on the cheeks (with member of opposite sex) or a handshake.

Calling in to see a neighbour, the first thing is "do you want white or red wine?"!

Just saying hallo is just too ordinary....

Everyone is so friendly, it makes life worthwhile.

Cheers

Julian

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: Gervase
Date: 01 Mar 06 - 05:39 AM

Here it's bore da rather than good morning, but everyone does it. We also do Bee-dubya-ell's finger wave when driving - but only to other Land Rovers for some reason. It's now become a habit, so I find myself waggling at total strangers in landies in England. they probably think I'm some sort of insane sheep-shagger as a result.

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: ard mhacha
Date: 01 Mar 06 - 05:04 AM

In Ireland it`s still the friendly nod of the head and "good morning" or "hiya doing",or a weather report, and Little Hawk, "how are you keepng", is a common form of greeting in the north of Ireland.

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: jimmyt
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 10:59 PM

The midwest where I am originally from, (Ohio) is a particularly friendly area I think. When I moved to Georgia, the first hundred times I had someone say "hey" to me I wondered, "Hey, what?" But that, my friends, is the greeting in this region of the south. I kinda like it,I guess. People are generally friendly here also, and I do think the more open a person is with others the more likely they are to opening up to you as well. It didn't seem to work too well on a train from Brussels to Bruges though! Everyone I smiled at looked at me like I was a nutcase.

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: Bobert
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 10:31 PM

Everybody real friendly here in Pine Grove holler... Might of fact, maybe too friendly...

The guys all call each other "Honey" and there's way more physical contact than you find in the city...

I haven't quite gotten to callin' another guy "Honey" as yet but I'm close...

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 10:21 PM

Only if they want to get laid.

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: KT
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 09:20 PM

Come up here, Jacqui. We'll get you lots of practice!

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: Kaleea
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 08:28 PM

more like, "hi."

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: Beer
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 07:02 PM

Leftydee I like your observation. That is exactly the case where I live which is an hour from Montreal. I'll go to the town where I presently live (1 mile away)for an item and end up staying hours talking to people I meet. And I still tip my hat to any lady I meet.
Beer

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: suzi
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 06:26 PM

I agree with LTS...I smile, say hello...and usually always get a response, even though i can tell that some people are taken by surprise...but reply all the same..
Its a very interesting world we live in...

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: Rasener
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 05:17 PM

Its really friendly in Market Rasen, and even people who live in Rhodesia just off the M1 talk to me at times :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: Joybell
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 04:53 PM

In our nearby little town everyone speaks to everyone else. We usually add a bit about the weather and maybe, for those of us out-of-towners, about the state of our water tanks.
We also do the finger-off-the-steering-wheel wave - men and women. Neighbours do a full wave at each other while driving. One local farmer waves with both hands like a Gospel singer. An elderly lady does a open-and-close fist wave, like a flashing-light mime. I'm perfecting the wiggly-fingers, twinkle-twinkle-little-star wave myself.
When I was growing up in Melbourne people said "Good morning", "Good afternoon" or "Good evening" in a very proper way. Men tipped their hats. Women nodded. Sounds like something out of an old, old, old movie.
Cheers, Joy

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: Zany Mouse
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 04:02 PM

It's very friendly here on the Yorkshire/Nottinghamshire border. A far cry from our time in Harrow, London and home counties. I can't decide if the difference is going from urban to rural or South to North.

Rhiannon

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: fat B****rd
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 03:56 PM

Or even greeting.

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: fat B****rd
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 03:55 PM

Here in Newton Aycliffe and North East England in general "Aurite" is a favoured geeting among passers by.

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: Helen
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 03:37 PM

I was standing in the area near the door on a crowded train in Sydney one day, and a young man, who appeared developmentally disabled so his manner was like a boy of about 8, was trying to talk to people. I was the only one who responded and everyone was looking at me as if I were crazy. The safety/security thing, I know.

After working in the public library for nearly 20 years I have had enough dealings with people with different disabilities, including psychiatric, to be close to the mark on picking developmental from psychiatric, so he didn't pose a threat as far as I could see, but being open, friendly and chatty on a suburban train in Sydney is pretty scary to a lot of Sydneyites.

From what the man was saying he was from the country and had used his free train pass to come to Sydney for the day on the "red rattler" - a country term for the old wooden train carriages which were still operating then. I was only on the train for a couple of stops so I guess he just got ignored again when I got off.

Helen

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: Cluin
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 03:18 PM

Yep, people are friendly here and in most places I've been (except in bigger cities like Toronto where a lot of folks just keep their heads down, but you'll always find exceptions). I find you get what you put out. If you're friendly, folks respond in a like manner. Homo Sapiens is essentially a social animal.

Cha Cha, I loved Glasgow when I was there. Stayed with friends in Barrhead for several weeks a couple years ago and got into Glasgow several times. Folks were always friendly I found. Lots couldn't place my accent though; they knew I wasn't a Yank, but not many had guessed Canuck. Maybe they were more used to the southern Ontario accent...

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: MBSLynne
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 03:16 PM

I don't really wait to find out cos I always smile at people, say hello or start conversations, to anyone anywhere. Most people respond in friendly manner though. I've had some fascinating conversations with total strangers......

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: Bill D
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 03:00 PM

When I hear a phrase like "How are you keeping?", I wonder if it is not a rough translation from an origin in another language.

Germans say "Wie gehts?", which is close, but not 'quite' "How is it going?"...and I wonder if it is not the origin.

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: Rapparee
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 02:38 PM

Out here in Idaho everyone says "Howdy". They might not like you, but they greet you.

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: jacqui.c
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 02:34 PM

I was originally from London and people did not normally greet each other there unless they were known to each other. If you were greeted by a stranger one would treat the person with caution, just in case they were on day release from the local mental institution (think Jasper Carrott's 'loony on the bus').

Living in Scarborough, Maine, I am having to learn to drop the reserved ways I was raised in. If I'm walking the dog passersby always say hello and in supermarket queues the cashier or another shopper is likely to start a conversation. Whilst it is nice to have this it is a bit difficult to relax the reserve built up over so many years, but maybe one day I'll get to be the same.

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: leftydee
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 01:23 PM

Here's my observation. The more urban the setting, the less likely you are to share conversation. I work in the city, live in the suburbs and have a second home in the country. In the city people rarely make eye contact and when speaking to strangers, are very guarded. At home, in the 'burbs, folks are much more likely to say hello on the street and share a little small talk. In the small town where I relax, going to the hardware store can be a half day event due to the friendliness on the street. I've gone to buy some nails and wound up in the cafe sharing thoughts and coffee with acquaintences for hours.

It's a function of security , I think. The safer and more relaxed we are, the more open we are to others.

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 01:21 PM

They have an odd expression in the Orillia area...

"How are you keeping?"

It means: "How are you?"

I have no idea why they say that. I think it's weird.

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: Don Firth
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 01:10 PM

Seattle. Generally pretty friendly place. Downtown, where it can be a bit crowded and people are busy and often in a hurry, not too much casual interchange. In neighborhoods, when two strangers pass each other, there is generally a "good morning" or at least a nod and smile. Going down the street, I rarely pass someone without some form of greeting, or acknowleding a greeting from them. Nice. Friendly.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: Megan L
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 01:03 PM

"Aye aye min" or "whit like beuy" are standard, the postman reads your letters for you if your hands are wet and if we cough at the top of hillside road it's a huricane by the time it gets up the back road.

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: David C. Carter
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 12:57 PM

Very cold weather can make your teeth chatter.If two people pass on the street,perhaps this could be mistaken as a form of greeting,I suppose!

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: Grab
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 12:55 PM

Does anyone remember Bill Bryson's TV version of "Notes from a small island" and the "Malham Wave"? Same thing as BWL describes, except done in Yorkshire (and usually by farmers driving Landies).

Shop-owners are professionally courteous, but don't expect them to remember you unless you've done something particularly distinctive.

I personally try not to chat too much to our neighbours. They're nice enough but mostly they're thick as two short planks, and one woman in particular is *very* hard to shake off once she's started talking.

Graham.

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 12:55 PM

Well, perhaps I shall avoid Glasgow.... (smile) It sounds like being trapped in the 1500's or something.

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: Bill D
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 12:48 PM

The general trend is, the larger and more complex the urban area, the more careful people are about interacting with strangers, unless there is a specific reason in relatively 'safe' circumstances.

There are good reasons for this behavior.

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 12:42 PM

People here always talk to each when it snows..a very Canadian trait I think. Many of us are required to shovel our own walks so we get lots of sympathy from passersby. Bad weather seems to make people more inclined to chat, dosen't it?

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 12:08 PM

Well LH it's the land of the religious bigot, where even a Jew will be required to support either Rangers (Protestant) or Celtic (Catholic) football teams, and be shrewd enough to pick the right one according to who is asking the question, or he could get a kicking.
Sad but true!
I live in a village where everybody says hello.
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 12:00 PM

I live in London and no-one says hello in passing unless they know you. My parents live in Lochcarron in the North West of Scotland. It's a small village and everyone stops and says hello!

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 12:00 PM

Yes, they do and I love it. In fact the local greeting is howsgwine, all one word. However, they also say have a nice day and are afraid to say Merry Christmas.

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: GUEST,Cha Cha
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 11:59 AM

Little Hawk, I take it you have never been to Glasgow !!

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 11:47 AM

What if you're not either of those religions? Or both? What if you're non-denominational?

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: GUEST,Cha Cha
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 11:44 AM

I am glad to see you live in friendly places, generally. To add a bit of info about my town; you might speak to somebody one day , and for the next couple of weeks they'll say hello. Then you don't see them for, say two weeks. Next thing they ignore you again !

I have never worked out if there is a set deadline for ignoring you again. 2 weeks ? 3 weeks ?

They are ok people, right enough. They don't give you any hassle, which I suppose is more important. In Glasgow they might be friendly, but they might also end up giving you a "dooing" 'cos you are not the same religion as them. Sad, but true !

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: number 6
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 11:34 AM

Here in Saint John you do ... it would be considered bad manners if you didn't greet a passerby with at least a 'hello' ... coming from Upper Canada (specifically Toronto) where a greeting immediately puts you unders suspicion of being a wacko I find Saint John very special.

sIx

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: LilyFestre
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 11:31 AM

I live in the wilds of North Central, Pennsylvania. It's very common for people to say hello or hey! Also, out on the backroads, drivers wave as they pass by one another. Not waving is considered rude and unfriendly. Chances are you will be pegged as a flatlander (not a good thing) if you don't wave. My husband says hello and extends his hand for a handshake when greeting a friend...even if he has seen same person yesterday.

Michelle

PS. Mmario, when I moved to New England, it took me about a year to figure out the hello system up there...I thought there was something wrong with me....it is a much more reserved hello to be sure!

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 11:29 AM

When I moved from the city to the country about fifteen years ago I was introduced to the index-finger-off-the-steering-wheel-wave that all male drivers around here give to each other. It's not an enthusiastic wave, just the driver's equivalent of a head nod or cursory "Hi". After years of mostly suburban and city driving it seemed odd at first to be casually greeted by other drivers, but it didn't take long to find myself responding to and, soon, initializing the wave. If someone doesn't signal back it's a sure sign that he isn't from around here. Oddly, the wave is seldom given to or received from female drivers and there's probably a truckload of stuff a sociologist could read into that, but I'm not gonna go there.

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 11:26 AM

Some do. Some don't.

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: Helen
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 11:15 AM

In Newcastle, on the east coast of Oz, people are generally friendly. Our city and the neighbouring city combine to a population of half a million (big for Oz), but its atmosphere is of friendly country town.

Of course, this isn't everyone, but generally if you are waiting to cross the street, or in a queue it is likely you will find yourself greeting other people or be caught up in a short but friendly conversation.

The inner city suburb where I live is a very friendly community - very neighbourly, with a lot of older people who have lived here most of their lives. It's obvious the yuppies moving here from snootier suburbs haven't adjusted yet to that community atmosphere, because they don't even say hello to the people next door most of the time - unless they have a complaint. Their eyes slide away from other people's as they pass by. Poor unfortunates. They don't get the benefits of neighbourliness and a friendly community.

When I worked across the harbour in a small suburb on a peninsula - not far in miles, but far away in the sense of insular community - there was definitely a lot of people there who had an "us and them" attitude to newcomers. Many were friendly, but many treated newcomers as outsiders.

When my hubby & I were on holiday a couple of years ago we stayed at a very small town which is a couple of hours south of Sydney. We went for a walk in the late afternoon and said hello to a local woman walking her dog, and then hello again as we met her again around the other side of the block. It was funny, though, when we walked towards a couple, probably from Sydney, who were walking towards us. They looked everywhere but at us, even when we said hello. The differences between them, and the local woman were so obvious.

Helen

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 10:52 AM

I say hello to people I know, I talk to total strangers in queues, at bus stops or the supermarket, hell, I talk to myself a lot of the time!

Supermarkets are best for getting replies from passers by, bank queues are the worst.

I think I need to have my medication checked a little more often.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 10:48 AM

It seems peculiar but in the early morning or late nights people you pass nearly always say good morning or good night.

eric

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: Peace
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 10:48 AM

Yes. But not when they're leaving. Then they say goodbye.

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: Alaska Mike
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 10:44 AM

Alaskans are very outgoing and friendly for the most part. We live in a harsh and sometimes deadly environment up here and most residents keep a watchful eye out for someone who might need help. Consequently, it would be difficult to walk down the street in any town in Alaska and not have people make eye contact, say hello, and maybe even start a conversation. Millions of tourists come to Alaska each year to enjoy the winter carnivals, the summer fishing, and the year round beauty of the scenery. Alaskans know that the money these visitors bring to our state is what provides jobs and decent living to a large part of our population. So most of us really do go out of our way to say hello and make them welcome.

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: MMario
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 10:44 AM

when I was growing up (in a small, rural, New England town) a finger wave or slight nod of the head was considered an effusive greeting. It took a good while for me to become accustomed after moving to having people greet me verbally and expect verbal greetings

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: GUEST,crazy little woman
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 10:41 AM

People in Kansas City often say hello or exchange a smile on the street. Not everyone.

As a white female, I have noticed that black males often say "How ya doing?" as we approach one another. I always say "Fine" and smile back. (I don't think they do this with white males.)

Two weeks ago I was in New York City. New Yorkers seem to have loosened up some, even exchanging the occasional smile on the subway.

Subject: RE: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: Janie
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 10:40 AM

Where I live, in a small village in North Carolina, most people speak as they pass or wait together in line, whether they are total strangers or not. When one walks into the grocery or a convenience store it is likely that the clerks will say hello.

Janie

Subject: BS: Do people say hello where you live ?
From: GUEST,Cha Cha
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 10:33 AM

I am from Glasgow. I fully recognise the limitations of the place, e.g. if you are on a night out you have to be careful in case someone starts to ask " what are you looking at?" and a fight follows.

We are , however, a friendly people and if you are waiting at a bus stop with a wee woman beside you you will probably find it difficult NOT to get into a conversation with her.

I live in Spain, however. In this town ( some / lots of ) folk that I have known for nearly 15 years will do just about anything to avoid eye contact with you so they don't have to say "Hello".

I noticed the difference today, when some British tourists that I had seen in one street said hello to me in the next street. The locals would never do that.

So what's it like where you live ?