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But it is weird to just stare at people, you have to also smile and say 'hi' or 'hello'. then again, that might vie into the range of basic human hospitability

• hugh_ 17y ago
  Level of acknowledgement of strangers is a function of population density. In a big city you can't possibly acknowledge everybody you pass, so you acknowledge nobody. There's one exception: people who go for walks early in the morning are often keen to greet one another; partly because you might be the first person they've seen today, and partly because early risers are somewhat of a secret sub-society within the city. Combine the "small town" thing with the "early morning" thing and you've got trouble, though. In a small town in Maine at six in the morning I encountered a guy who thought it was incredibly rude that I wouldn't stop and discuss (a) the weather and (b) where I was from as I walked past his house. Sorry dude, there's four million people in my home town, can't chat with all of 'em.