Page 1 of Do you say hello to strangers?

Some deep thoughts at my desk, as I am bored at my work today.....

When I worked in inner London contracts, everyone were strangers, and as an outgoing builder I used to occasionally say hello, morning, to strangers and got nothing back, because most in the city are robotic ignoramuses and walk on without a blink. Also some may actually be afraid to comment.

Now this is interesting and wonder if most of the UK is now like this, as in towns you usually get no return greetings, and they may think you mad. Yet if you go off the beaten track everyone says hello, for example , countryside walks, bicycle tracks and canal walks, and tourist areas.

Just interested in everyone's opinions, as I know in Australia we all greet each other, strangers and all.

Maybe Australians are more outgoing due to better weather and being more of a 'glass half full of lager' type of happy people, rather than 'glass half empty' types we get here in depressing UK.

So what do you think, are we a sad lot here, not willing to communicate or  acknowledge our fellow human beings 

Maybe those that live on a small friendly island (hint hint Rob) might see things differently?

I've lived in London my whole life, which is why I'm gonna move as soon as I can. I'm sick of being growled at by bad tempered, unhappy with their life city dwellers. Not that I haven't experienced the same thing elsewhere, for example Cornwall. ("you from that there London?")

I remember a friend moved down here from up north, and he said he found it odd when waiting at a bus stop down here, if you start talking to the person next to you they look at you like you're mad, but where he was from it was normal.

I don't normally speak to strangers, but if I'm with the girls on the way to the park, and we cross paths with a dog walker, they will often say "good morning", so I say "morning" back. That can then get awkward, as the girls will ask if I know than person, and will want to know why I spoke to them, I guess we tell them not to talk to strangers.

If I said "morning" to everyone I walked by on the way to my office from the car I wouldn't shut up!

edit: London's a different beast altogether, I lived there for a while, and the stereotype image is true, the tube is strictly, don't make eye contact or talk to people ;)



https://admars32.wordpress.com/

This item was edited on Thursday, 27th April 2017, 11:33

Quote:
Pat-w QUOTE....("you from that there London?")
He he, that is the sort of comment you get in Cornwall.

Well I also lived in London for a long while, Lived in the North East of London doing major construction in the inner city, but moved out to the countryside as my work load started to move outwards too, and now cover from Cornwall to the Norfork Broads, including in outer London. Moved to Essex upsizing.

Quote:
Admars QUOTE...and we cross paths with a dog walker, they will often say "good morning"Yeh, good point, I missed that one out, because you are right if walking our little Yorkie, gives me mutual things to talk about with another dog walker.

This item was edited on Thursday, 27th April 2017, 15:33

Yes, us dog walkers are the worst for saying good morning to strangers, we do it to most people we bump into. :)

It's definitely a city thing, there are so many people in London if you started saying hello to them you'd never reach your destination. Because of that people get used to not doing it, so when they leave the area and it happens to them, often they aren't sure how to respond.


Editor
MYREVIEWER.COM

My Flickr Photostream

Bloody Aussies wanting to know how I am.
None of their bl**din business. 

Snaps

---

My new Flash Fiction blog. All my own work
500ish

---

I am not young enough to know everything.

There is also 'individual space' to consider.

In the city people are at close quarters, and in the country usually spaced well apart.

In fact it is funny, as if I close in on my country neighbours, they tend to slowly back further away, to a four foot distance at least.

When I first got this reaction, I thought I had BO or something 

Now used to it, But country folk like their individual space.

Quote:
Bloody Aussies wanting to know how I am.
None of their bl**din business.
He He, You would not go down well in Oz, and be referred to as a whinging pom.

But within days there, with some sun, sand and sea, plus some amber nectar down you round the barbie,  you would be getting right into the banter. like the rest of us, and warmly accepted  

Just start with "G'day mate", and you will fit right in.

Quote:
bandicoot says...
"He He, You would not go down well in Oz, and be referred to as a whinging pom.
"
I'll have you know I have drunk in the Earls Court Road and not been accused of whinging once.

The sun sea and sand would be very welcome and if Barbie's up for it so am I.
The offer still stands, I'll carry your bags when you go. Hell I'll even pay me ten pounds just for old times sake.


Snaps

---

My new Flash Fiction blog. All my own work
500ish

---

I am not young enough to know everything.

Yeh, ten pounds back in the 60's for a one way luxury cruise to sunny Oz. Well that's was what was on the brochure.

Though my father who worked on the boats for a while, said in the 70's, that some immigrants never made the dream, and went back to the UK steerage class, so poor, that they even had no teeth left in their mouths.

Its just down to how hard you work and fate intervening as well, if you can make it somewhere.

Woh, that was a bit too profound, he he.