Are people just plain rude?

[jessica]

When I lived in San Francisco, we never knew our neighbors. They couldn't care less for us nor could we give a rat's behind about them. Typical city behavior.

We live in the suburbs now in a new community, so we got a chance to meet our neighbors and we know them by name. So much nicer!!

[fallensaviour]

Exactly, the South is a lot more friendlier and polite. Down here, everyone calls their elders by their first name (and Ms or Mr before it). I teach my daughters to say, "Hi Ms Sue!", etc. People up North call everyone by their last names. In the South, if you tell a complete stranger hello and smile, 99% of the time, you will get it returned.

Strange up here in Canada,which I guess is pretty far north compared to you guys..LOL
I was taught and as well teach my children to never address elders by their first name until you are told it is okay by the person.It is a sign of pure disrespect.They are to be addressed as Example ...Mr Kirk not as Mr James,unless Mr Kirk say please call me James.Then in that case the Mr is dropped altogether and the Person becomes just James.

[wolfie]

People are very suspicious in the world today. If someone you do not know comes up to you in the street and smiles at you and says hi i would assume i was about to be mugged and take evasive action.

[Mego Milk]

Keep saying hello.

don't change brother!

[Mikey]

I was always taught to call everyone "sir" or "mam"

It stuck in my head so much, I call kids half my age "sir" when I first meet them.

Times are changing though .......

I always used to call my aunts and uncles, aunt --- or uncle ---

Today, MY nephews just call me Mikey

[toys2cool]

I live in what was voted the rudest city in the nation " Miami" you might get the finger every 2 seconds while you're driving but people usually say hello and smile

[Earth 2 Chris]

It's not just young folks. I'm 33, and I usually at least nod or half-smile at people when I pass them here at work. If it's someone I know, I always speak. There is a guy here who is fairly high up the food chain who never speaks to anyone. He could bump into, you knock you down, and leave you laying in the hall without ever saying as much as "sorry". He's in his late 50s easy.

Chris

[Joe90]

They were probably brought up to fear strangers and subconsciously as an adult they still avoid all contact with strangers even if it's just a friendly "hey" nod from somebody.

I'd say, yeah, fear. Saying "hi" to a stranger like getting eye-contact in an elevator, or talking to a stranger on the bus: it's just not done. I live in a medium sized city -- 3/4 of a million people -- but we are lucky to have lots of green space. If I'm walking down in the River Valley by myself, people do not get eye contact with me, much less say hello. However, if I bring my dogs with me it's a completely different story. My dogs are big, hairy, and one of them is extremely sociable. He sends out these vibes ahead of himelf -- these vibes hit people and they are seized by an uncontrollable urge to smile. I am not perceived to be a threat when I'm with them. I will smile and say "hi" to complete strangers, and they'll say "hi" right back. (remember, they're already smiling.)

[Adam West]

I live in what was voted the rudest city in the nation " Miami" you might get the finger every 2 seconds while you're driving but people usually say hello and smile

They probably smile and say hello as your getting the finger.

[BlackKnight]

They probably smile and say hello as your getting the finger.

... I thought that was New York ,.. & they call you a MF'er while they are doing it.

[megoscott]

I found people on the street in New York to be nicer than San Francisco, generally. This town has a funky attitude. Nobody likes each other. Oakland is nicer. Parts of it anyway.

At work---there are people I've known for years that I don't know by name and who I've given up even nodding at. You feel like such a dork when you say hello and they don't respond at all.

[MegoGeekJr]

Its all the same here. (even though I'm a kid)

the kids at my school are way worse! They say the darnest things to you. They are *** holes! And the teachers don't do anything about it ! It makes me ANGRY!!!!!!!!!

[Adam West]

Here in the Mid-Atlantic where I have always lived, you always addressed your elders with Mr., Ms., or Mrs. and then their last name.

In fact, I found it quite difficult to transition from calling my now in-laws from Mr. and Mrs. to their first names. BTW, they are the type of people who would really not want me calling them mom and dad since they are not my parents and I would feel equally uncomfortable.

I have heard neighborhood kids refer to me both by my first and last name proceeded by Mr. I really don't have a problem either way but given the preference, I'd prefer to be called by my last name.

Just last night, I was helping out with my youngest son's soccer team (yes, I have been sucked into it again) and although I have not volunteered for anything other than helping out with drills now and then, the coach (who I just met for the first time) introduced me as Coach Brian without asking me how I would like to be addressed. Again, not a real big deal to me that I would make an issue of it but I would rather be called by my last name. I wouldn't expect any of my kids to call any of their teachers Mr. or Mrs. First Name and I see myself in a teaching capacity when I am coaching.

[theantiquetiger]

Strange up here in Canada,which I guess is pretty far north compared to you guys..LOL
I was taught and as well teach my children to never address elders by their first name until you are told it is okay by the person.It is a sign of pure disrespect.They are to be addressed as Example ...Mr Kirk not as Mr James,unless Mr Kirk say please call me James.Then in that case the Mr is dropped altogether and the Person becomes just James.

Down here, you do not call an elder by his/her first name unless it is preceeded by Mr or Ms. I believe it stems back to slave times, where the slaves called their owners this way, (i.e. "Ms Scarlett").

We do not address people by their last name (unless in a professional setting). I introduce my daughters to people I know as Mr Bob, Ms Ann (etc), not Mr Smith or Ms Smith. I call them Bob and Ann, but kids down here say it with the title.

Even my boss, we call Mr Jim, not Mr Beckwith, in a passing greeting(unless in a professional setting, i.e. meeting).

In fact, I found it quite difficult to transition from calling my now in-laws from Mr. and Mrs. to their first names. BTW, they are the type of people who would really not want me calling them mom and dad since they are not my parents and I would feel equally uncomfortable.

I call my in-laws Ms Helen and Mr Lowell and my wife addresses my parents the same. My mother addresses my mother in law by Ms Helen and vise versa, but my mother calls my father in law just by Lowell. I think it stems from older women do not address men by their title, just first name.

My two daughters address their teachers as Ms Ann, etc. Now this is in a pre-school setting. We do address our K thru 12th grade teachers by Ms/Mr (last name). As for coaches, a coach at school is addressed as Coach (last name), but a non-school team, he/she is usually addressed as Coach Steve (or just Coach).

[Adam West]

That's interesting. Nobody at any company I have ever worked for refers to anyone by anything except their first name unless they don't know you and you are just meeting them.

I could never imagine referring to my boss as Mr. Paul. That would just be odd to me and to him....he's younger than me.