Why are people so much more polite when strolling through the countryside

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

Like when I'm walking back from burying a dead body out in the woods and I come across somebody walking their dog why do they say 'good morning' and be really polite?

Whereas if I'd have walked passed the same person in a busy street and said 'hi' they'd probably spit in my face.

you humans are a funny lot.

― Ste (Fuzzy), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 15:40 (twenty-one years ago)

It's because you're covered in blood, Ste. Best to be nice.

― Matt (Matt), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 15:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Because it would be a pain to say 'good morning' to everyone in a busy street. And there's little chance of seeing them again.

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 15:44 (twenty-one years ago)

The best bit of Crocodile Dundee is when he arrives in New York and says G'DAY MATE to everyone on the street. Actually, it's not as good as when he says YOU THINK THAT'S A KNIFE? THIS IS A KNIFE! Terror must have something to do with it, yes.

― Madchen (Madchen), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 15:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Because they know there are lots of places to hide a body.

― Orbit (Orbit), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 15:48 (twenty-one years ago)

The best bit of Crocodile Dundee is the closing credits

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 15:48 (twenty-one years ago)

You sound very boring.

― Penelope_111 (Penelope_111), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 15:49 (twenty-one years ago)

yes

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 15:49 (twenty-one years ago)

Should we form a club?

― Penelope_111 (Penelope_111), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 15:50 (twenty-one years ago)

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 15:50 (twenty-one years ago)

stop it!

― Ste (Fuzzy), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 15:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Shame, I had some cool ideas I wanted to discuss with you.

― Penelope_111 (Penelope_111), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 15:51 (twenty-one years ago)

As long as you keep to your own goddamn deer stand, folks are as polite as can be.

― briania (briania), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 15:52 (twenty-one years ago)

sorry. I wasn't in the countryside.

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 15:54 (twenty-one years ago)

and croc dundee 1 was a fine film, btw.

okay i shouldnt have said 'busy' street, it makes no difference.

― Ste (Fuzzy), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 15:55 (twenty-one years ago)

They are afraid of bears. Or they are afraid of you and there would be no place to run and hide. So it might be better to be your best friend.

― youn, Wednesday, 24 November 2004 16:11 (twenty-one years ago)

3 reasons
a. you are both out in the contryside not working, which means you are either a rich idler with a pad out there or a city slicker on an extended stroll, either way both partys are feeling good about themselves and so more likely to say hello.
b you have both chosen the same area dfor said stroll, implying some unspoken kindredness between you.
c. You have both been luxuriating in isolation, feeling for once that your environs hold virtually limitless possibilitys, then all of a sudden your paths cross, and you are shaken from whatever fantasy or moment of glorying in nature in which you were luxuriating. This leaves you both vulnerable and slightly embarrased, thus you say helo in an attempt to remove the last vigils of your own little world.

― lukey (Lukey G), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 16:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Because it's awkward and rude not to acknowledge someone else's presence. In the city, you can get away with it because that guy behind you will acknowledge other people's presence for you .. or, someone will.

― dave225 (Dave225), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 17:12 (twenty-one years ago)

during the gigantic Denver blizzard of '03 I think it was, the first sunny day when the roads were clear enough to walk on/in, Mark and I went out for a long walk. We'd been indoors for something like 4 days straight at that point and it seemed like everyone we passed would hail us and be like HI!!! and HOWYADOIN!!! These people were mostly clearing snow from around their cars and it was clear that the sight of other people was a relief.

― sgs (sgs), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 17:17 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, basically the Blitz spirit never went away if you live in the countryside. Evey day you're just glad you've survived...

― Archel (Archel), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 17:24 (twenty-one years ago)

The countryside is better.

― jel -- (jel), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 17:38 (twenty-one years ago)

When I first bought a house in the countryside, I was freaked out by children saying hello to me as I walked by. I was convinced that they were doing it to take the piss. Then I realised that it's just what people do. I think it is that in the city, you're not pleased to see other people. They're taking up space on the street, they're pushing you, they're dealing drugs, they're getting ahead of you in the queue for the bus, they're asking stupid questions in shops. In the country, they're way off over there with their dog and you're just pleased to see them.

Also I say hello to people if I'm out walking alone because I like to look them straight in the face and get a reaction from them. I feel it might put them off attacking me.

― accentmonkey (accentmonkey), Thursday, 25 November 2004 11:45 (twenty-one years ago)

In a city, when you're surrounded by dozens of people, there's no time or no way to say hello to everyone - to make the effort would be futile. In the countryside, you tend to bump into people seldom, so each time is, in a tiny way, a special occasion, a human interaction, and as such it merits a greeting.

When walking in Austria, everyone but everyone who I encountered said (sp?) "Gruss Gott" to me, which I guess is some kind of blessing for one's journey. It made me happy.

― He's allergic to lettuce (Mark C), Thursday, 25 November 2004 11:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Gruss Gott is Austrian for Guten Tag.

― Madchen (Madchen), Thursday, 25 November 2004 13:24 (twenty-one years ago)

my own theory actually is that when in the countryside humans feel somewhat like visitors in an alien territory, so the urge to be more polite and respectful becomes u&k. We're sort of in awe at our unfamiliar surroundings and we suspect everyone else is feeling the same so we'd like to share our pleasantries.

So it's like a shortened version of "Wow, hi, just look at this place it's so beautiful isn't it, not like our cities which are just dull and grey and full of tossers. okay, bye now."

― Ste (Fuzzy), Thursday, 25 November 2004 13:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Maybe because you're not black, Asian or gay?

― Why Does Herr Dadaismus Run Amok? (Dada), Thursday, 25 November 2004 13:36 (twenty-one years ago)

This is certainly the case in the Uk, but on a recent trip to Sardinia I didn't find it the case. Granted, my Italian is not great and I didn't walk arounf saying 'Ciao!' to everyone I saw. However, I did make sure to catch their eye and smile in a 'hello' sort of way. Mayb ethey just thought I was a nutcase.

― Robin Goad (rgoad), Friday, 26 November 2004 11:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Have you not read Asterix in Corsica, dude??

― He's allergic to lettuce (Mark C), Friday, 26 November 2004 11:07 (twenty-one years ago)

Once when I was walking around my neighborhood a jogger said "Hey, how ya doin'? Absolutely MISERABLE?!?! GOOD TO HEAR!!!" without pausing for a response

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Friday, 26 November 2004 15:09 (twenty-one years ago)

what a dick.

― sgs (sgs), Friday, 26 November 2004 17:13 (twenty-one years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.