Do you wave at the next door neighbors that you really do not know?

[goodtype]

On my street we have a dozen homes but no-one really knows each other. There has been some efforts to get people together in some type of block party but the RSVP's do not get returned. I have attempted to make some small talk to the neighbors but usually just get a cold stare- or a one word answer.

Though when I drive by the neighbors who are outside I usually get a wave. Why should I wave back- I do not know them??? Do they wave because they feel guilty of not making an effort to meet and know me and my husband? Is it an opening to try to reconnect after my last effort at communication? Why all this waving and no real attempt to communicate?

 

[Beth76]

Yes, I wave to all my neighbors even though our relationship doesn't extend beyond friendly neighborly chit-chat on the few occasions that I do see them outside.

 

[pozey]

Why should I wave back- I do not know them???

I don't want to sound mean here, but do you HAVE to know someone personally to wave at them?
A wave is simply a non-verbal way to say Hi.

Do they wave because they feel guilty of not making an effort to meet and know me and my husband? Is it an opening to try to reconnect after my last effort at communication? Why all this waving and no real attempt to communicate?

Well, maybe it is because you don't wave back at them, they think you don't like them, and therefore that is the reason that they have made no attempt to communicate?

 

[Mrs.Toad]

Yea, everyone waves at everyone on our street. Some are good friends, some I barely know, but they all get a wave.

 

[chesirechik]

We all sort of a wave at each other, but no one is super friendly, which is fine with me.

 

[OK!]

I don't wave at the people who live right by me (long story) but I always wave at the neighbors I pass on my parents' street, which is the street where I grew up.

 

[Planogirl]

I wave even though people around here keep to themselves. I'd want them to recognize me in case of emergency if nothing else.

 

[Bob Slydell]

I know all my neighbors

 

[WhoopyPie]

We wave, we say hello. But it doesn't extend beyond that. My next door neighbors on the one side, we never see. On the other side they're selling their house which has been for sale since we brought ours. They were nice to us till they realized we had looked at their house also but didn't buy it.

Most of the families on our street have been there only a year or so and no one speaks.

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

It would be rude not to wave back.

 

[Chuck S]

We only really "know" the people next door. We have a chit-chat relationship with the folks across the street. Other than that, we really don't know our neighbors at all, but we all wave.

Heck, when you drive a few miles out in the country it isn't uncommon for total strangers to exchange a wave when their cars just go past one another (Yes, a real wave, not the "other" kind of unfriendly single finger wave you see in big cities )

 

[Cindy's Mom]

I wave at any neighbor that is out on the block.....why not? What does it hurt? This is where you live, I would have to me uncomfortable where I live. OP mentioned that you initiated block parties, well things needs to start somewhere and a wave is a perfect place to start.

 

[Scutapipig]

Neighbors or strangers, my son will wave no matter where we are. He's 10 years old.

He waves while at the bus stop and just about everyone who drives by waves back. The fireman will even occassionally run the siren for him when they go by on the way to their weekly meeting.

He waves driving down the road and at stop lights, and I have yet to see someone ignore him and not wave back with a smile on their face.

I think this world needs more wavers and more smilers.

 

[Missy1961]

Maybe they know that you've Googled them & found out all their secrets!

 

[lovemygoofy]

Maybe they know that you've Googled them & found out all their secrets!

LOL I was going to say Google them and then they would be known

In the south we waive at everyone whether we've seen you before or know you or not

 

[DVC Sadie]

Why not wave? What does it possibly hurt? Waving at someone only means hello and acknowledging their existence. Good grief, it doesn't cost anything.

Here, where we live everyone waves whether they are in the car or outside in their yard doing yardwork.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Your threads remind me of someone who used to post here...

 

[Pam]

Heck, when you drive a few miles out in the country it isn't uncommon for total strangers to exchange a wave when their cars just go past one another (Yes, a real wave, not the "other" kind of unfriendly single finger wave you see in big cities )

That's what we do! We are really friendly folks out here in the country!!

 

[ducklite]

Yea, everyone waves at everyone on our street. Some are good friends, some I barely know, but they all get a wave.

SOunds like my neighborhood. Some I do'nt even know their names, but I still wave. After all, we are neighbors, and just because I don't know them doesn't mean I wouldn't liek to meet them at some point.

What cracks me up though are the "Looky-Loo's" who come through the neighborhood on Sunday for open houses and drive around waving at everyone like they are long lost friends.

Anne

 

[Feralpeg]

I wave and say hi to total strangers on a regular basis. I can't even tell you how many times I must have said hi yesterday while at DTD. I didn't know any of the people, but it is just the friendly thing to do. It's like smiling. It takes so little effort and can be so worthwhile.