Are people in a better mood on a sunny day after rain or snow?
By The Horse
@TheHorse (218881)
Walnut Creek, California
January 20, 2016 10:10pm CST
The San Francisco Bay Area, once the home of the hippy movement, the Summer of Love, and the Grateful Dead, is now known for the grumpiness of its people. My students from the Midwest and South lament that people rarely make eye contact here and sometimes look at them with disgust if they say hello while passing on the sidewalk.
Even I, the friendliest Midwesterner in history, have noticed that people look straight ahead, or at their cell phones, while walking on the sidewalk. Men often give me the "I'm a gang banger and might mug you" look if I say hello to them, and women often give me the "You are obviously a rapist/murderer" look of I do the same. One the roads, cutting people off is common, and waving thanks for a kind traffic gesture is unheard of.
But today was different.
It was sunny and warm, after several days of rain. Guys were waving thanks when I let them go first during a "four way stop dilemma." The gals at Big Five Sporting Goods and my Mexican restaurant were laughing at my jokes and treating me as if I was a cross between Chris Rock, Tom Cruise and a young Kevin Costner. People on the hiking trails were smiling and saying hello as my kid client and I passed them.
I thought for a minute that I was back in Iowa.
Do you think people get into a better mood when the sun is shining after a few days of rain or snow?
19 people like this
20 responses
@LadyDuck (471541)
• Switzerland
21 Jan 16
@TheHorse Yes, I would call this "mutual fear". In Italy you find friendly people in the small communities, but people in the big cities do not want to have close contact with the others. Here in Switzerland there is less crime, people are more relaxed and then more friendly.
1 person likes this
@much2say (55614)
• Los Angeles, California
21 Jan 16
That's very possible! People can get in a foul mood during unwanted weather, but when the sun comes out it's like they can breathe again. But actually I prefer lots of rain!
I have a friend from the Bay Area and she tells me that the people down here (in Los Angeles) aren't too friendly! So perhaps we are grumpier!
2 people like this
@much2say (55614)
• Los Angeles, California
21 Jan 16
@TheHorse I love Santa Barbara - always so beautiful there! I actually met a lady at our Trader Joes who said she lived in Santa Barbara all her life and now she's trying to get a home out here. I asked her why would she move from a place that a lot of people would love to live. She said yah, yah, it's beautiful and all - but claimed she wanted a change - she felt it was more diverse out here - culturally and spiritually. She seemed happy to be here, so perhaps our lack of rain and plenty of sunshine did put her in a most happy disposition.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
21 Jan 16
OH yes that is definitely the truth. You can see people are much happier and friendlier when the sun shines unless it is in the middle of a heatwave.
3 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
21 Jan 16
You probably see more sun than we do in Australia than in the UK so you should always be happy! Take @Asylum he continuously has to go abroad to get the sun and his dose of Vit D as it is so rare up North where he lives. He tends to be abroad more than he is in this country so it is proof that the sun makes you happier!
3 people like this
@TheHorse (218881)
• Walnut Creek, California
21 Jan 16
@garymarsh6 When I lived in Seattle, I didn't see the sun for many months. My next stop was Santa Barbara, which was perfect for me at the time.
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
21 Jan 16
@garymarsh6 Oh come on Gary, it is so long since I had a holiday that I expected my passport to be withdrawn due to lack of use.
3 people like this
@celticeagle (166992)
• Boise, Idaho
21 Jan 16
The sun gives us vitamin d3 and can seem to up our moods. It's a definite good thing. And with the sun shining there is an absence of that confined feeling that makes me feel gloomy after a while.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (166992)
• Boise, Idaho
21 Jan 16
@TheHorse ....It's a relief. It's like breaking out of a dark and gloomy jungle into a beautiful meadow.
@infatuatedbby (94914)
• United States
21 Jan 16
Yes, I think people are in a much better mood when the sun is out (after a few days or rain or gloominess, probably snow too!)
It is rare to see people acknowledge each other or simply say hi or smile now a days without judgement.
2 people like this
@LeaPea2417 (37355)
• Toccoa, Georgia
22 Jan 16
I am always happier when the sun is shinning especially on Spring or Autumn day.
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
21 Jan 16
I'm the same as you when it comes to disposition @TheHorse ; snow, rain or shine but I do think you're right about the majority. It must be the sun's ability to boost people's Vitamin :D
2 people like this
@cherriefic (10399)
• Philippines
22 Jan 16
The sunny day can uplft anyone's mood. Maybe those people are just waiting for these kind of days.
1 person likes this
@navthunder (12)
• Page, Arizona
21 Jan 16
Oh yea it puts you in a giving mood. It does me
1 person likes this
@cmoneyspinner (9219)
• Austin, Texas
18 Apr 16
If the sun shines bright, rain or snow, before or after, it puts me in a good mood.
@KristenH (33386)
• Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
23 Jan 16
Hard to say. I don't blame if they don't want to be snowbound and trapped by the storm.
@carexing25 (1822)
• Philippines
22 Jan 16
rainy days feels lonely.. people are happier during sunny days, i think
1 person likes this