Do you say hello to strangers?

Archeron

So if you are walking down the street or corridor, and you make eye contact with someone, even for a moment, do you look the other way, or give the other person a passing "howya"?

I've taken to making a point of saying hello to most everyone I make eye contact with, and its incredible that pretty much everyone says hello back.
Of course, should I see what looks like a serial killer staring at me, or perhaps the cold dead eyes of a vampire/werewolf/chugger, I will look the other way, but for the most part, I reckon we all like to say hello, even if we have no idea who we're saying hello to. I suppose this also applies to when you beep your horn at strangers, and they just automatically start waving

So what do you do? Do you think strangers who say hello to you for no good reason should be shot? Or do you try to greet everyone you see with a smile and a nod (or at least a snuffly "hows it going" thanks to your summer cold)?

Latchy

I tend to say hello mainly to people and strangers in my area but somtimes say hello and talk to complete strangers at bus stops etc. I think it's ok as long as your not staring and you have a smile on your face while doing so .

KTRIC

I've started to. Living in Bavaria and strangers tend to say "Hallo" or "Gruss Got" a lot here, its considered really rude not to reply.

Pisses me off no end though, I'm an anti-social guy :mad:

Zillah

Sounds rather time consuming.

dr.bollocko

I say hello the naughty way.

GhostInTheRuins

Yeah, I usually give a nod or a single syllabol greeting.

Seeing as you mentioned chuggers, there's nothing worse than walking down the road and realising you've made eye contact with one. "Look away, look away!"

supertramp

When I lived in the country I used to, and also waved at passing cars.
When I came to Dublin I didn't. Because if I waved at one, why not the next, and I would be waving every second..

twanda

In the town I live in, everyone used to say hello to each other when passing on the street - and this went for the younger generation aswell.
Now nobody does it anymore. I often wonder how that change came about..

Mostly I smile. I have a smiling addiction.
It gives the impression that I am less inclined to bite.
I love stranger conversations, I have a host of acquaintances who I discuss deep and meaningly things in the ailse of tesco at 2-3 am in the morning.
I meet them in passing.

SoupyNorman

Big difference between saying hello to a stranger in rural areas versus urbanites.

The difference being a possible knife in the face...

Futurecrook

Moonbaby wrote: »

Mostly I smile. I have a smiling addiction.
It gives the impression that I am less inclined to bite.

Haha, yea. I generally just smile at people rather than going for a full hello. as the poll says, I'm very selective with my hellos.

dsmythy

Depending on various factors i might give a grunt, an "alright", a "hey", a nod, or a raise of the eyebrows. The odd time i punch people too.

arybvtcw0eolkf

I do it all the time.

Its funny actually because a Polish friend was asking me recently why Irish people do this.

I asked her was it not the custom in Poland too, she looked at me like I had two heads!.

I think Ireland is great in this regard.

Oh 'HELLO EVERYONE ON BOARDS.ie' :P

brianthebard

bravestarr082 wrote: »

Big difference between saying hello to a stranger in rural areas versus urbanites.

The difference being a possible knife in the face...

everyone from the countries so innocent,its great.

Pompey Magnus

If I pass someone I vaguely recognise I would raise my eyebrows in acknowledgement and give a kind of half smile. If I don't recognise them at all I will usually not acknowledge them unless in a corridor in which case a nod will suffice.

If I was on a street there is no chance of me saying hello to a stranger, if a person I didn't recognise said hello to me on a street I would be stressed for about half an hour trying to think why they said hello to me...do I know them but have just forgotten their face? Have I been rude in walking on when I should stop and have a chat with this person who seems to know me? Is my fly undone? Are they mad?

So please don't say hello to me on the street if you don't know me, it will stress me out.

Helix

if i make eye contact ill say hello, and if im going for a stroll and theres not many people out ill say hello to anyone i pass

PrivateEye

A nod, a 'howareya' when I'm walking the dog etc.
No harm in it.

I'd agree about the gap between rural folk and the Dubs in particular when it comes to this kind of stuff. I wouldn't be dishing out a huge amount of 'hellos' on Grafton Street say :rolleyes:

Trinity

I'm a cautious half smiler and only say hello if someone says it to me first. I put it down to my fear of rejection

Limerick people always say hello.

Loopy

Sometimes to amuse myself if Im out walking I say hello to really dodgy looking scummers, the look you get is priceless - they want to kill you but always say 'howya' back..

dr.bollocko

Moonbaby wrote: »

Limerick people always say hello.

The ole southhill handshake is popular too.

Red Hand

latchyco wrote: »

I tend to say hello mainly to people and strangers in my area but somtimes say hello and talk to complete strangers at bus stops etc. I think it's ok as long as your not staring and you have a smile on your face while doing so .

Yep, me too. I say hello every so often to random people....but not like on busy streets with 100s walking by.

Mairt wrote: »

I do it all the time.

Its funny actually because a Polish friend was asking me recently why Irish people do this.

I asked her was it not the custom in Poland too, she looked at me like I had two heads!.

I think Ireland is great in this regard.

Oh 'HELLO EVERYONE ON BOARDS.ie' :P

How's she cuttin'?

shenanigans1982

I tend to walk with my head down to avoid having to say hello. I also keep my i-pod earphones in my ears to avoid ppl bothering me at bus stops even if I am not listening to anything. Although if its a girl and I notice her smiling or looking I will say hello.

Red Hand

shenanigans1982 wrote: »

I tend to walk with my head down to avoid having to say hello. I also keep my i-pod earphones in my ears to avoid ppl bothering me at bus stops even if I am not listening to anything. Although if its a girl and I notice her smiling or looking I will say hello.

The US Army has a wide selection of sensory deprivation equipment in the Guantanomo Bay camp. Right up your alley, sir.:)

Latchy

I said Hello to ringo starr once on an Amsterdam street (seriously ) and he said hello back

GirlInterrupted

I always say hello to fellow dog walkers and they always say hello back.

Generally speaking I also greet the elderly, usually a 'good morning' or 'good evening' etc. I find that the older generation appreciate it.

People my own age are definitely less likely to say hello without dogs or bikes
in common...........:(

I think in your local area it contributes to a sense of community, but in the city centre, I would certainly be a lot less inclined.

PrivateEye

I always say hello to fellow dog walkers and they always say hello back

I walk my dog at the same time more or less every day, and pass the same people walking their dogs a few times a week. In two or three years we've gone no further than 'howareya' or 'lovely day sure' but even at that we've a bit of a bond. Great club, the dog walkers.

Older people do appreciate it, for sure. Again you'll often pass the same people when out and about here, so it is remembered no doubt.

Like latchyco, I'd sometimes talk to strangers at bus stops. 11PM, waiting for the 66/25/whatever else home- a quick chat at the bus stop does no harm. 'People are just people'

shenanigans1982

PrivateEye wrote: »

Like latchyco, I'd sometimes talk to strangers at bus stops. 11PM, waiting for the 66/25/whatever else home- a quick chat at the bus stop does no harm. 'People are just people'

Thats the first rule of bus stop self defense, rule number two is to skulk in the shadows and hope any passing scumbags notice the other people before you.

genericgoon

I'm usually wrapped up in my own thoughts so I often completly miss people giving me greetings.

a-k-47

i gave the oul one finger off the steering wheel driving by one of my new neighbours after making eye contact, fuker didnt budge.

ByrdsFan

If eye contact is made, ill greet them with a good morning/afternoon. I haved been meeting the exact same people on my evening walk for the past 3 years, we always greet & in some cases stop for a small chit-chat...even thou I dont know their name & they dont know mine!:D

eVeNtInE

This post has been deleted.

metaoblivia

It depends. If I'm walking down the street in a crowded city, no. That would be unreasonable. But if I'm walking to lunch in my office building or getting the mail, I'll smile and say hello to whomever passes by.

KnifeWRENCH

If a stranger says hello to me, I'll say hello back but I'll try not have a conversation. I think talking to strangers is...stange.
So I never say hello to a stranger unless they say it first. And even then I feel uncomfortable doing it.

Captain Darling

It goes to the eye contact thing for me too, if i make direct eye contact with someone, i'll nod or say howya!!:)

hussey

When ever I went hiking or walking everyone I passed started to say hello (or a nod and smile)

so I started to do it too. It is nice and friendly

Tar.Aldarion

NOody does it here, apart from in the country, one thing I notice in paris is that loads do it.

WooPeeA

bravestarr082 wrote: »

Big difference between saying hello to a stranger in rural areas versus urbanites.

The difference being a possible knife in the face...

My gosh where are you from? :eek:

Crumble Froo

wouldnt do it in crowded streets or anything, but yeah, when passing someone in ireland, would almost always say 'hi' or at least nod my head and acknowledge them.

apparently that's not so common in new zealand. i get really really weird looks for doing it tehre, and most people kinda give me a wider berth.

R0ot

I've always said hello to strangers except when i'm walking down a huge busy street then its just dumb!

greatgoal

in my home town,a quick nod of the head and a hows it goin is acceptable,but in bigger cities i suppose its better to keep to yourself,unless you meet someone you know.

Cathkins

When I was living in a bigger city I was so used to keeping my head down and getting through the crowd that when confronted with a smile and hello I'd get quite flustered! But being back in my home-town it happens all the time so that's cool - it's always nice to get a hello can cheer up anyone!

zuutroy

lol, Belgians dont even say hello to people they know.

Jemmy

If i catch someone eye walking past ill always say hello!

Dord

Nope, only to people I know. Although in work I usually say hello to anyone I walk past even though I might not know them well or at all.

North&South

I say hello to strangers... I also smile at shop asistants & wave at drivers too!
I'm quite happy sitting behind tractors trundling along at 20k.....
I like the fact that I have time for people now, because when I come back home I LOVE the fact that I only have hubby to chat to... or the family if I want to pick up the phone.

A lifetime of town living means that I now appreciate other humans....

But I still prefer dogs!

_feedback_

Like most here, I'd say hello to somebody in a quiet setting if we caught eye contact.

If I get as much as eye contact or smile with/from somebody in a city/busy street, I move the other way as I presume they will try to sell me something or try to convince me to sign my life away to Concern or GOAL.

Sherifu

Only if we're forced to have some kind of interaction, holding doors open/footpath is too narrow etc.

Epic Tissue

Sherifu wrote: »

Only if we're forced to have some kind of interaction, holding doors open/footpath is too narrow etc.

Same here..

PurpleBerry

I do, I bound up to shop assistants with a big smile and say "hello". A lot of them scowl in return. I was in a pharmacy recently and the assistant was smiling, until I smiled at her. Maybe I freak people out. I'm not expecting the people to be all smiley when they're probably halfway through a shift and they're bored/tired/whatever but I did think that if I smiled at you, you'd smile back. Maybe I smell. Yeah, taht could be it, I freak people out and I smell.

One Saturday I decided to pay attention to who smiled back at me and who didn't. I only got one shop assistant who returned my "hello", and it was the lovely lady in Aldi.

I was recently in the Dunnes on Camden Street. The security guard followed me around like a bad smell and then the girl behind the counter scowled at me. I dunno. I won't be going back there again though. I only ended up buying something because I thought if I walked out of the store the security man would think "yep, she must've taken something" and stopped me. It was a bottle of nail vernish for a manuicure but it turned out to be too lilac. Maybe I should return it, that might be fun!

Joseph Kuhr

I used to but no more. I take it personally when they scowl or blatantly look the other way so I save myself the grief. But if they initiate it then I will return it.