Are You Normal?

Curious how others might perceive your situation? Submit your story today and find out what others think...

Home > All Categories > Observations

Pissed when people ignore hellos
82% Normal
27 Comments

I don't know if this is common everywhere, but I often find that in my town people don't return friendly greetings. If they simply didn't hear or something, it would be understandable.

I'm talking about when you're passing someone in the Wal-Mart parking lot or at the entrance of a convenience store and say "Hello" or "Good evening" while smiling and the person just ignores you. They don't look at you. You know they heard you. They don't do anything to acknowledge that you did anything. They just pretend it never happened and keep right on going. It pisses me off when people are like that.

If I had to sum it up in a couple short sentences as an explanation aimed at these people, it would be: Look, I don't know who you are but I'm trying to be friendly to you and pretend I give a sh*t that you exist. The least you could do is acknowledge me.
Do you think it's normal?
Does this story fit one of these flags? If so, click it! [Best Of] [Funny] [Interesting] [Weird][Lame] [Off Topic] [Innapropriate]
Comments (27)
buriedalive (16071)
2008-10-21 16:07:13
aye, I know how you feel, and it's normal to be pissed off IMO. that sort of thing happens in a lot of towns and cities. it's like people are wary of you just for bein polite.
people do tend to be friendly in the country though, you should try goin to more rural areas sometime to gauge the difference.
Reply
gono666 (16993)
2008-10-21 18:27:54
I have reach the point where I only greet people if I am greeted. fuck that people it pisses me of to.
Reply
cabinet70 (4440)
2008-10-21 20:05:38
Yes it happens everywhere some people are just ignorant
Reply
P00LTOY (15451)
2008-10-21 20:56:01
in nyc if you say hello to someone they think you are going to try to rob them or hit them up for money.

but anywhere else, yeah, that does piss me off.
Reply
EccentricWeird (3314)
2008-10-22 17:19:10
Nobody gives a shit about strangers. Leave us poor busy people alone so we can touch ourselves when we think no-one's watching.
Reply
shitshitshit (15970)
2008-11-09 13:39:55
Well, the best soulution here would be to try and not say hello to strangers. Unless, it bothers you to not say hi. If that is the case, if you smile and say a friendly hello, and they don't respond, just say to yourself, "well, in that case i am a better person than them and they are shit not to say hi back". Or, maybe they just did not her eyou, say, if they were talking on the phone or texting, or seem to be distracted by something else, try not to take it so personally and just shrug it off your shoulder. Don't sweat it.
:)
Reply
JonnyLeBleu (17577)
2008-11-11 03:14:01
most people are just ignorant, but some like me are to awkward, i cant answer a hello...
Reply
GreyScale (18039)
2008-11-27 21:16:34
I had this problem when I moved from the south to the north. D:

Northerners don't like to say hello to strangers.
Reply
Loveybabe1213 (18078)
2008-12-10 09:21:11
@: P00LTOY
That is not true for all of NYC! I live there and I have never even heard of that.
Reply
silvermoon (19180)
2009-01-26 18:24:34
yes that can be quite irritating, but sometimes I'm unable to say hi to someone (I'll be talking be talking to someone or on the phone) but I try to make up for it by showing a smile or nodding or sumthing all I'm saying is remember to be aware that some people are trying... just not that activily... :P
Reply
sydnerxx (20380)
2009-02-23 09:12:31
well if you don't know the person they might feel kinda awkward that someone they don't know is saying hi to them, but to ignore it, yes that's rude. if someone say good morning to me or something i would say morning back. but i wouldn't be the type of person to say hi to a stranger :P
Reply
icepeople (20848)
2009-03-28 10:21:53
I feel the same way. I take it very personal. It's as if I'm not worthy of this person presence. It's very offensive.
Reply
fandanshindin (22735)
2009-05-06 18:16:50
poster: maybe the person doesnt like you. i'd still wave though
Reply
insertcreativeusername (22284)
2009-05-11 20:02:35
you need to go to arkansas where most people treat you with some goddamn respect.
Reply
babyyboyy (23417)
2009-05-25 11:42:35
i smile at alot of people but i dont usually speak unless they do to me.
Reply
RoadRunner (24340)
2009-06-25 04:49:40
Maybe you are those trying to make a difference or you just grew up thinking that people in your town are like that.

It's a shame but there are only a few places in the world where people say hello to each other.

I think it has to do with capitalism. People have just bcome disinterested in each other and have become very materialistic ans shallow and superficial.

People have been brainwahsed into thinking that people are worth more or less because of what they have not intelectually or emotionally. Bbu because of their matrial possesions.

Saying hello to each other is a thing of the past in some towns and some people even think it's starnge now, and if someone speaks to them, then they must be crazy or something.

It's kinda sad if you think about it...
Reply
hotchickie81 (24721)
2009-06-29 08:33:54
That is a pet peeve of mine, for sure! Used to happen to me every day when I lived in Alberta. I eventually got used to people not being friendly. When I moved back home, it took me a while to get used to the good old friendly ways of teh people here. frig i missed this place!
Reply
Dammitkortni (26037)
2009-07-24 20:19:22
The newest trend seems to be the ablility to not care.

Ignoring hellos is extremely rude...
Reply
slimjimsucka (26120)
2009-07-26 12:45:48
ou must be form the north east. i dont know why but when i go visit my family in the south i gradually let my guard down and start being friendlier to strangers but when i am home i always second guess why the sudden interest in me like an idiot. i guess the north is more dangerous than the south
Reply
Vortexjobe (26132)
2009-07-26 22:30:39
Some people are just scared to be friendly, or in a bad mood. It pisses me the fuck off tho, so I feel ya. NORMAL
Reply
ThirtyCharactersisastretch (26704)
2009-08-07 02:49:52
Carry around as big a sign as you can fit in your bag/pocket/whatever with HELLO written on it. Whenever you say hello and someone ignores you, walk up to them, tap them on the shoulder, pull out your sign and wave at them. If they do not respond, you may hit them with your sign. You may want to watch out for people who are blind and deaf though.
Reply
Intoxicality (28132)
2009-09-05 18:29:17
I usually reply with a hello or a smile, it is rude to not acknowledge somebody. I tend to say hello and continue quite quickly, as there are a lot of "strange" people around in my city, especially in the evening.
Reply
OT3P_Wolf (29288)
2009-10-10 10:52:00
It makes me sad... I then feel like the ppl ignoring me hate me, even if they're strangers...
Reply
WetBrownStain (27172)
2009-10-13 05:52:54
Hello! You better respond now!
Reply
chunkybongo (18981)
2009-10-27 18:49:53
I tend not to say hello to people as they pass me, but I do make eye contact and if greeted I will return the greeting or even say "hi" in return. It's just that over the years while growing up I was made to feel so stupid so many times as I was ignored by the 'cooler' people that I stopped trying to be friendly to anybody. I figured they could all go fuck themselves, but I do leave the door open for people to greet me. It's usually younger people in their teens and twenties who ignore me when passing, but all I do is look at them as if I were looking at a bird or a squirrel, so there's no harm done to either one of us. I sure don't say 'hi' to the pretentious little bastards
Reply
technobanana (31072)
2009-11-11 12:45:46
hate people that do that !
Reply
TRAILCHARGER (31252)
2009-11-14 15:12:35
I have a great way of dealing with thiswhich makes people feel guilty or makes them think I am crazy so I always get a kick out of it. I always say "hello how ya doing" and if a person ignores me I just finish the conversation right in front of them by saying their part, "not too bad and yourself". I always get great reactions and lots of tails between their legs, especially in crowded situations.
Reply