I think we've all been recipients of a random, "Hi!" and were caught off guard. But I like 'em.

From time to time I'm in the mood to issue out random greetings, but the mood is usually dampened by people's negative responses. "Has she mistaken me for a friend?" or "Is she whacked?" it looks like they're thinking. So for the most part I've given up on issuing public happiness.

We just moved to a really, REALLY small town. Everyone waves to each other as they're driving down the country roads. Old people in their front yards wave at us as we drive by. Having been numbed all these years by city life and seeing 1,000 new faces every single day, I'm still trying to get past the who-the-hell-is-that? mentality.

When it all comes down to it, a stranger is just someone you haven't met. We all want to be loved and smiled at. I like random "Hellos" and warm smiles. I'm just learning how to warm up to them.

If you were driving by and yelled Hi to me, my reaction would be the same "Who the hell was that?".  However, walking down the street in these parts, and not sayng Hi to people you pass is considered rude.  Everyone does it and it is a normal thing.  Seeing your other locals, with the exception of West Texas (never been there except to pop in and out of El Paso), I can see why you think Portland is the friendliest.  Portland is friendly, but the friendliest place I have ever seen is SW Virginia.

Well, as much as I think it's weird when you do it sometimes, I know you mean well, and I know you are trying to put a smile on a person's face...So maybe they might initally say "What the hell?", but maybe some will realize that your intentions are good.

---We just moved to a really, REALLY small town. Everyone waves to each other as they're driving down the country roads. Old people in their front yards wave at us as we drive by. Having been numbed all these years by city life and seeing 1,000 new faces every single day, I'm still trying to get past the who-the-hell-is-that? mentality.---

That was the same thing I went through. I think the only thing bad about a small town is everyone would know your business. Not too many secrets in a real small town.

---When it all comes down to it, a stranger is just someone you haven't met. We all want to be loved and smiled at.---

Very nice way to look at things. oh btw.. Hello Angela.

--- Portland is friendly, but the friendliest place I have ever seen is SW Virginia.---

I never been to SW Virginia. But I have always wanted to visit ever since I seen that bumper sticker "Virginia is for Lovers".

---Well, as much as I think it's weird when you do it sometimes---

Don't lie ... you think it's weird EVERYTIME.

Yeah, I think its weird. Didn't your mama ever tell you..."Don't talk to strangers?"

Seriously, I don't really say hi to people I don't know. In my experience when I say hello to a man I don't know it almost always is taken as an invitation to chat..or whatever.

If some guy was leaning out his car window yelling hellos, well I'd probably steer clear. And I def would point my kids in the other direction.

I'm a big city girl at heart and like you, I look for motive when a stranger seems overly, well, strange..hahaha, or nice as the case may be.

I bet you do raise some eyebrows.

My street smart alarm was going off in my head. I was so sure some of those nice people were up to something and they had me as their target.

I don't know why, but that made me laugh.

I dont like strangers saying hi from a car coz it seems like they're just makin fun of the puzzled look on my face.

But I try to say hi to people in the streets as much as possible. I also wave and say thank you to cars that let me cross the street, and they wave back and smile and it's nice

---Seriously, I don't really say hi to people I don't know. In my experience when I say hello to a man I don't know it almost always is taken as an invitation to chat..or whatever.---

I never thought of that. I bet some guys WOULD think of it as a invitation to chat. Or worse an invitation to 'whatever".

---If some guy was leaning out his car window yelling hellos, well I'd probably steer clear. And I def would point my kids in the other direction.---

Too funny.

---I bet you do raise some eyebrows.---

Oh I know I do. My mother thinks I'm crazy. And one time my GF actually ducked down in the seat to hide.

---I don't know why, but that made me laugh.---

I can still vividly remember back to that time. I kept looking around seeing if these people were real or if I was in some kind of Twilight Zone episode or some skit for Candid Camera.

Maybe I just need to stop watching so much TV.

---I also wave and say thank you to cars that let me cross the street, and they wave back and smile and it's nice.---

Let's see you're an attractive young woman .. hmmm .. I wonder why they let YOU cross the street. Oh and they smile and wave back when you smile at them .. hmmm ... I'm baffled again.

Let a guy cross the street and see all the drivers picture a target on his back.

Oh Chris you are too funny! I couldn't help laughing as I read this! Imagine the look of a stranger probably thinking you must be some nut! !

I can understand saying "hello" while you're on foot and passing someone and saying it to be polite, but while you're driving? I would look at you stranger while mumbling "hi"!!


It's nice of you to want to put a smile on someone's face though but you're right, people will think you have an ulterior motive, especially since you're driving! Just don't say it to a young woman or a child while in your car, ok?! !


I do say hello a lot to people I don't know, if I'm passing them and they have a look of interest in their eyes, or if I have my youngest daughter with me and she's being particularly friendly herself, which can be engaging to others, at least to some people anyway! And especially if I'm walking alone and there's a stranger, male, just to let him know "I see you, you're safe, and I'm safe and will be able to identify you if you try anything!"!

---Oh Chris you are too funny! I couldn't help laughing as I read this! Imagine the look of a stranger probably thinking you must be some nut!---

One time Rose and I went to a college football bowl game. One of the university's band was practicing in a parking lot and as we passed them I honked my horn and waved to the band. Rose ducked down in her seat.

---I do say hello a lot to people I don't know, if I'm passing them and they have a look of interest in their eyes, or if I have my youngest daughter with me and she's being particularly friendly herself, which can be engaging to others, at least to some people anyway!---

Oh being with children is something completely different. I never get as nearly as many strange looks when I have my niece with me. I only get the strange look from my niece.