Why would someone not say hello back to you when walking past them?

[Anonymous]

[FunkyMonkee]

Maybe they're from Pittsburgh. 95% of the time, when I'm in Pittsburgh and say hi to total strangers, they either ignore the fuck out of me or look at me like I just told them I wanted to rape their dog! Any other city I've been to, they have NO PROBLEM saying hello back to you, smiling at you or even starting up a conversation with you like you were old pals!

[WindAtMyBack]

Are they from another country? In some cultures people barely acknowledge each other's existence.

They could also be very shy or socially awkward. For some people the act of saying hi to someone they pass is a major ordeal.

[DishLady]

Because they’re preoccupied (the world isn’t all about you) or because they just don’t want to.

[ICanSmellTheCosmos]

In my experience, urbanites appreciate the gesture much less than ruralites.

Dudes do a thing here where you're supposed to weakly nod your head when meeting eyes with another man. Funny thing is, in rural Puerto Rico, the men have the exact same acknowledgement that we do. lol.

[TommyMountainFigure]

It could be all manner of reasons, from being so busy they were not paying attention, to being deaf, to deliberately doing it.
If you know it's deliberate, you could shout something like 'OI, mush! Turn your hearing aid UP!

[SotiCoto]

Because they don't want to acknowledge your existence? Your greeting is an imposition and the easiest way to deal with the situation is not to acknowledge it.
Nobody is obligated to reciprocate your desire to pester them.

[exitseven]

Some people think it is creepy. There is a guy at work that is like that. I think he has Aspergers syndrome

[ProbablyClueless]

Where I live, that's actually a cultural thing. But in most places, people who don't respond are just lost in their own little worlds.

[DryGermanGuy]

„He doesn’t speak Engrish!“
- Uncle Benny, Lethal Weapon 4

[Rafrenc]

Either there being polite to have peace in life or they see you often and like you or just feel they should conversate or greet you

[genericname85]

maybe they were minding their business and not paying attention.

[Loner111]

Women do it to men all the time... If ur a woman, ask urself why u would do that to men?

[LunarEclipse433]

Because people are self centered caring only about themselves.

[Anonymous]

Didn't hear you, thought you were talking to someone else, cat got their tongue.

[abc3643]

Have you been watching Seinfeld?

[Anonymous]

well it works both ways. Why didn’t u

[Asker]

Read the question again.

[Opinion Owner]

Well are u both close friends?

[Asker]

No I'm talking about a random stranger. I said hello and they just looked at me and said nothing.

[Opinion Owner]

Weird. Weird af. Why should they. U are a stranger. Don’t remember the childhood rule? Don’t talk to strangers. I would only say hello back to some acquaintance

[Asker]

Because it is good manners. If i came into a restaurant I would expect people to say hello to me

[Opinion Owner]

They are waiters , it’s their job

[Asker]

You come across as very antisocial. How do you meet new people if you never say hello to them when they say hello to you?

[Opinion Owner]

If they are no way connected with me , I wouldn’t care

[Opinion Owner]

Or if they needed something they could ask simply. Telling hi aimlessly seems dumb

[AngryCarl]

Trying to avoid you.