When you meet your folks outside, do you say hi?
@lordwarwizard (35747)
Singapore
March 11, 2007 11:20am CST
This may sound like a strange question to you but I assure you it is not, as least for my case.
In my family, we don't really talk to one another unless we have to. Well, that's usually the case except for occasional discussions of interest that spring up. So if I meet someone on the streets or even at the doorstep, I always have a hard time reacting.
Should I say anything? What should I say? Must I acknowledge their "surprise appearance"?
Most of the time, I would just acknowledge with a subtle nod or tilt of my head, or wait for the other person to say something so that I can reply. What about you? Have you encountered such situations? What will you do?
24 people like this
68 responses
@charms88 (7538)
• Philippines
11 Mar 07
Wizarrrd, must you be snobbish...I am very friendly with my neighbors. Now, I'm doing this so they won't steal my bunny and turn him into fried bunny. Every morning, I will greet my neighbors when I saw them. A simple "good morning" will do. Sometimes, I will also talk with them. They have been my neighbors for 8 years now.
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
11 Mar 07
You won't believe the family living opposite me. Now, they are snobbish.
They would only reply GRUDGINGLY if I say hi to them. Most often that not, we can be closing our gates and doors together. It's like we may be back at the same time and we are just rushing to quickly close our respective doors.
I got so fed up with them that I can't be bothered to initiate greetings anymore. In fact I've met them on the street too and I just pretend I don't know them/did not see them. I think it's a mutual thing.
Neighborly affection is something Singapore is very lacking in - it's even acknowledged officially by our government.
1 person likes this
@charms88 (7538)
• Philippines
11 Mar 07
I once stayed at Taiwan for a month. And I honestly have to say, the people there are not hospitable and extremely rude. They will not greet you nor look at your direction. The people here in my country are an exception. We're known from all over the world as being hospitable.
2 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
11 Mar 07
I won't gainsay you on this - I have had chance to work with Filipinos and I found them to be exceptional friendly. ;-)
@perugu (5279)
• India
11 Mar 07
hi,friend,i am basically marketing person and i can tackle any situation and any strange person.More over our family also conduct frequent get to gethers and there are so many discussions.Is it right response,i am doubt,i am deviating.
@zen_flynx (106)
• Philippines
11 Mar 07
i am a marketing person myself! a student actually. but a have learned a lot of things because of marketing. in marketing standing out or being weird is a good thing because this garners attention. and attention is a big factor in marketing right?
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160663)
• United States
12 Mar 07
If they are not talkers, are they huggers? If so, by all means hug them, but do not make them uncomfortable and self conscious. For some families, that head nod can say so much, "I know you, I trust you, you know me, you are a part of me" I am sure each time you meet the circumstances are different. A smile is always in order. My son does not always talk. He does better now. It is funny, I got him to join myLot, and I feel like I know him better now than I have in years. Perhaps your family members would like to join.
2 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
12 Mar 07
It's like.. what is there to say or acknowledge? I know you are there, you know I am here, I don't need anything from you at the moment, likewise from your side.. so why bother to do more?
@trinidadvelasco (11401)
• Philippines
11 Mar 07
Yes, we talk. Polite questions like where are you going and then, I'd tell him/her where I am heading for and what will I be doing. That simple. Sometimes, if we are both done with what we are gunning to accomplish, we head for home together after dropping by for some groceries at the store.
3 people like this
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
11 Mar 07
Oh yes, anytime I meet my family no matter where or why we greet with hi, hello, long time no see, where have you been stranger. Also most all of my family are "huggers" so a hug follows emediatly after or often during the greeting.
This was funny, about month ago I had been sick for weeks but had to go to the store. While there at almost the same exact moment ran into a nephew I hadn't seen in a couple months and my daughter who was on her way to my house - all three of us were sick and had been to the doctor that day without knowing the other was going, the same doctor!
@ElicBxn (63594)
• United States
11 Mar 07
Well, since I live in a city far from most of my relatives if I were to see my brother/sister/mother I would greet them. I do get along well with my family - even tho my bro & I do have strained relations, not so strained that I wouldn't greet him.
Funny story - my sis called & asked for directions to a place. I was actually on my way there when she called, but I didn't know that she was ALSO on the way, with my MOM! She followed me into the parking lot & I helped her get mom in to close her account at that credit union.
Since my sis lives in another state I don't have a lot of chances of actually running into her. But once I was at work & a lady asked if I was at a certain store with my daughter. It turned out she had seen my sister & my brother's daughter at the store! My neice also lives in another state.
3 people like this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
12 Mar 07
No I have never encountered this problem before. The city is big and I don't live in the same area as my family and so I never meet them on the street, unless they are coming to see me or I am going to see them so to speak.
2 people like this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
12 Mar 07
My family is pretty close, so I'd say "yes". If I see my Mom, in-laws, siblings, neices, nephews, whatever, I'd stop and talk to them. I would definitely go out of my way to say hi to them at least. That's just the way we are.
@yanjiaren (9031)
•
11 Mar 07
I am a south european hot blooded fireball so they always get a whopping big smile fromme and sometimes a hug. This is a every greek customand we are extremely hugable people. So it'shugs all round lol. When i see My Chinese friends I bow my head or shake hands..Chinese have different customs so I respect their way of doing things. Mind you,it all depends how close i am tothem. All the older ladies Ilove to give them a big hugbut the men i shake their hand.
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
11 Mar 07
Actually, Chinese are the weird ones. I am a Chinese myself so I can't be blamed for being racist here. :P
The Europeans hug and shake. The Malays shake hands too. Thai have that nice greeting gestures.. well Chinese.. nothing much.
2 people like this
@jengrin (944)
• Philippines
12 Mar 07
Actually I have the same problems as yours. It's just that I'm afraid they won't acknowledge me if I was the one I start to make conversation!!! I just usually smile at them or sometimes say hi but I don't make any conversation unless they started it. I'm a little shy type of person that's why I don't usually start a conversation.
2 people like this
@zen_flynx (106)
• Philippines
11 Mar 07
this is kinda odd for me because i live in the Philippines, and here family comes first. in instances that i see a member of my family outside i would greet them, specially those that i have not seen for a while like cousins, aunties or uncles. even the people that i have only met once i would greet and even chat with for a while. you know you should greet people that you know. family, friend, or even just an acquaintance. maybe you should try it the Filipino way. we are always open for conversation even with people we don't even know. its a good way of increasing your clout. i recommend that you get close to your family first before anyone else. after all you might loose all the friends that you have, but your family will always be your family.
@runite0slash (29)
• United States
12 Mar 07
well most people just wanna do their own businesses and not have to pay attention to other people. if i know the person then yeah i am gonna say hi but if its my new neighbor who is really old and i think is creepy then no i am not gonna say hi.
2 people like this
@shinjiao (1457)
• China
15 May 07
Well,it's hard for me to imagine your hard time.
Absolutely,I do greet my family members when I encounter them.I will give them a great hug and say "Hi" loundly to them.If I encounter them on my way home,I will go home with my folks together.
@shinjiao (1457)
• China
15 May 07
My friend,to be honest,I think family members are the people who we should love and cherish.Even if they did something wrong to me,I won't hate them bacauset they are the closest people in my life.Please don't hate them.Maybe they are snobbish but at least they are your family members;no one can take their places.
1 person likes this
@lossforredwords (3620)
• Philippines
16 Apr 07
We have the same situation, I don't usually make any greetings whenever I meet my relatives outside the house or even at the doorstep.
BAck then, I go to school with my brother and sister and whenever we meet at corridors or at cafeteria we don't say hi or anything to each other, we are like complete strangers.
Even with my neighbors, I just ignore them unless they say hello first.
I just don't feel like talking to them..
1 person likes this
@tigerdragon (4297)
• Philippines
12 Mar 07
most young people like you have a hard time talking to your relatives inside and outside of your home especially if your friends are around because you are thinking what your peer group thinks of your relatives and feel awkward. it is more awkward you feel that way , wht you do is just simply greet them like you greet them in occasions in your home.be straightforward and be simple. don't complicate things. if you can't be sincere with your love ones then how can you show sincerity with your friends or even your girlfriend. please, do not get embarrassed. trust me i was once a young and i know how it feels and i have realized it.it is ok, go ahead.
@creematee (2810)
• United States
16 Apr 07
I live in a small community, so it's almost impossible NOT to say hello to someone you meet. I may not stop and give a full discussion, but a simple good morning/afternoon always seems to put a smile on someones face. My children have caught on, and beat me to the hi's now.
1 person likes this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
12 Mar 07
I can understand where you are coming from. Your choice of username reflects the role you pride yourself in playing already! ;-)
@Woodpigeon (3710)
• Ireland
16 Apr 07
My family is quite the opposite, none of us ever stop talking.
When I meet people on the street I always sop for a little chat. Even people I don't know, but see regulalrly get a smile and a nod.
1 person likes this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
16 Apr 07
If you like talking yourself, then you would be glad to be in this talkative family. :P
@castleghost (1304)
• United States
15 May 07
I try not to appear rude when I see them out in public. I will do a small wave of my hand or I will say hello. I try to atleast acknowledge their presence. There is one neighbor that doesn't always respond to anything I seem to do. I still make a point of saying hello when I see them just to show that I am the better person.
1 person likes this