Is it rude not to say hi to people?

Question

Like when you think you should, like if someone comes with close range... For example... I was sitting at the beach today... No one was there but me... Then this elderly woman walks down the steps right Infront of me... I always question if I should say hi or not... I don't know what's the right thing to do so I always feel awkward... I jus avoid eye contact and look down at my shoes and ignore her... Then she says hi to me so I say hi back... But is it rude for me to not say hi first and act like she doesn't exist?

zeitgeist057 · Accepted Answer

Generally speaking, the fewer people there are in the area/scenario, the ruder it is to ignore the other people.

Examples:

1. a) A crowded restaurant or shopping center. Everyone is there with their own friends/family/etc. There is no expectation for you to come in the restaurant and go say hi to everyone. It may even be considered rude/inappropriate if you did so.
b) Compare to a practically empty, small bar. You walk in and there are just two people there, the bartender and one patron drinking. They both look at you as you come in. In this scenario, it is more rude to not greet them both.

2. a) A busy street, with people walking everywhere, more than 20 people on every block. No one expects you to say hi to them, and it may be seen as a c solicitation for money, a come on/flirt/approach, or sus as another solicitation (like the mall workers who act like your friend to sell you stuff).
b) Come to a more or less empty sidewalk, you can walk for a couple blocks without passing anyone. Now there is someone walking your way. They make eye contact as you approach each other; it is appropriate to greet them.

Notice in both examples, in addition to the population density, eye contact is another important social clue. A smile is another. It is fine for you to smile as well, and be friendly, it may be good for you to work on your feelings of awkwardness.

Sonorous · Accepted Answer

Many things can fall under the category of being "rude." It's to where if anyone does anything socially that someone else doesn't like, no matter who's more in the wrong or right, they can be considered "rude."

So if someone were to make a big deal out of me not saying something as trivial as a "hi," I'd tell them that now I don't want to say it even more. And that would be based on the reasoning that they aren't really entitled to privileges like that. It's the reason it's not law.

And if they called me rude, I'd say that of course anyone can be perceived as rude if the criteria (standards by which actions are judged) they create are very broad & especially misguided (not staying accurate to reality) due to bias.

Oh but if it was a battle I didn't want to get into, I'd say that it's not my intention to be rude. I just don't care for talking to strangers or formalities in general.

Paris13 · Accepted Answer

It depends on You. Not everyone says Hi, Especially now since Covid. Masking made it Easy to Just smile Inside the mask. No Matter what you Look Like----We are All Humans. xx

pleasestopthis · Accepted Answer

I don't think so, I'm not interested in talking to strangers and I just like to be on my own

DannyUk2017 · Answer

Really Depends...20-25years ago saying Hi to a opposite Sex wouldn't have been a Problem/Issue. Contrarly would have been appreciated because looked/sounded lile a Well Educated Person/Guy/Girl.
But with all the Internet, Media,, Devices these days..
Saying Hi to someone is like : "this guy is looking for hookup/sex", "otherwise he wouldn't greet me", that's how it plays these days, Sadly.
So in my case living in London"bussy af", i see lots of Gorgeous women out there, daily... but i rather keep to myself and my "phone games", as no one will judge me there, even if i look at something, is On Line, not face 2 face, so its SAFER that way... no one will give me BAD looks in return...

DonkeyDan · Answer

I often say hi or good morning to people if I am passing them in the street especially if they are senior to me. If they are around my age or a little younger, at the very least I will smile of nod to them in acknowledgment to them. I I'm sitting somewhere and someone comes to my space I will normally acknowledge they again with a hi, hello, or other similar salutation. It's just polite and it puts a smile on people's faces to be acknowledged.

hahahmm · Answer

To me it's rude because I grew up in a place where it's normal to greet strangers & I live in a place like that now too. If you grew up in Manhattan you won't say hello to strangers & you won't think it's rude.

But let's say a person who grew up like that comes to a place where politeness is normal: they have a choice to be seen as rude or to not be,

llElectrifyll · Answer

If they are just a stranger walking on the street and they pass by me, i don't care.

If they are a stranger walking on the street, they STARE at me, then pass without saying hi or some sort of greeting, it'd be quite rude.

If they are a stranger in the same room as i am without any sort of greetings, that's also rude.

J2ohhhhh · Answer

Cus she is older than you and a female, has the right to decide if ahe wants any sort of interaction, If she looked at you could smile and say hi. But if she doesn't you shouldn't initiate any length of a conversation. If she still says hi, she might think that you're not familiar with these norms but still wants to say hi. Not every old people talks your ears off, sometimes they just walk by and say hi. Just learn what I wrote and won't be awkward.

litty · Answer

No because for strangers you might be saying hi to the wrong person as in who is
- looking to steal from you.
- wanting to sell you on something (unless you want to buy)
- looking to hurt you (serial killers, rapists, sex traffickers)

But if you want to pay someone a compliment, a hi and a smile is a good way to start.

Fuentes · Answer

I dont always say hi & people have been offended & i sometimes walk around I don't know nobody lol i i use to piss girls off at work years ago " he thinks he's so great" all over a HI man y'all can say hi to me stop trippin llol

Diodoro · Answer

It's rude to go out of your way to not acknowledge someone who is intending to do so with you. But you don't have to say hi per se to not be rude. Eye contact with a head nod in passing is sufficient.

serious · Answer

Well it is not rude if you don't say hi first. However, if you don't respond when someone says hi to you then yes it can be seen as rude.

Nomina · Answer

In my country, yes. You walk past someone, if you lock eyes, saying hi or some kind of amile is just the polite thing to do.

doopayo · Answer

Yes. If an elderly lady was around I’d just be friendly and say hi, I don’t think it’s rude if you didn’t but maybe a little. It depends

Rachelspiks · Answer

If you don't know the person you're under no obligation to say anything to them.

Pyrofox · Answer

I'd say its not rude it more depends sometimes just a polite nod and just some sort of appreciation of another is enough.

exitseven · Answer

Where we go on vacation everybody you meet on the street will say hi. It is irritating after a while. My wife likes it. I usually say hi back but will not say it first.

ChiPaPa · Answer

Nah, man. If they say hi, say it back, if they don't you're golden

Dinosaursandanime65 · Answer

It’s only rude if they say hi and you don’t say hi back

Flower7 · Answer

It’s only rude not to say hi if you know the person. For strangers, it doesn’t really matter.

MCheetah · Answer

Unless they're co-workers or friends, no, it's not rude. F*ck people.

Just_call_me_Levi · Answer

When you make eye contact with someone, it's polite to greet them, or at least nod...

FýrdracaDócincel · Answer

Yes. But I still don't do it.

Is it rude not to say hi to people?

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