It’s baffling but pleasant, like travelling back to the 50s. There is a cul-de-sac near me that seems to have adopted its own universal “hello” convention that runs against the wider community norm. ![]() Quieter suburbs or streets may have specific rules. Town centres are like cities, except for parks: larger ones don’t carry the same weight of social obligation as country paths, but smaller ones might don’t get caught out. A smile is inadequate and will send the Neighbourhood Watch WhatsApp group wild. Generally, if there are three shops or fewer, or it’s a place where a stranger would be instantly identified, offer a cheery: “Morning!” or similar. I think it’s about 500, but when I raised the topic on Instagram, someone told me “country people do it” in Devizes, England (population: 19,472), while in Marlborough, England (population: 9,129), they don’t clearly, Wiltshire has its own rules. Country footpaths are easy: say hello and add something like: “Lovely day”, or: “Not much further!” I have the manners of a snapping turtle, but even I get huffy if someone breaches this social contract.īelow a certain population threshold, greeting becomes obligatory everywhere. ![]() If you are not in a city centre, you need to get granular. Basically, if a stranger has something that instantly makes you want to approach them, then greeting is permitted. This is not an exhaustive list: something like an outrageously excellent coat, a miniature horse or a ferret in a backpack would also qualify. ![]() These include the dual dog exemption (if you are both walking dogs, a nod, a smile or a brief vocal greeting is a polite necessity) and the single dog or shoulder parrot exemption (if a passerby is accompanied by one of these, you may greet them effusively). First, are you in a city centre? If so, do not greet unless an exemption applies. In the few seconds before you cross paths with someone, you must ask yourself a series of questions.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |