Maybe it's a northern thing, or a New England trait. But it seems like there are no more friendly people around. Let me rephrase that. It seems like there are less friendly people around. Saying hi to someone often results in a look of pure shock and disgust. As if speaking with your mouth was taboo in public. It's the worst with teenagers. They don't remember how things were pre-internet. I've seen text messages that were longer than one of my college finals. And I think to myself "wouldn't that be easier to just say out loud?" We have become humans that do everything humanly possible to avoid speaking. I haven't pinpointed the exact reason but maybe in these modern and tumultuous times, people are just afraid to be excused of some sort of offense against some group or individual. Personally, I find that most people are not like this. The only individuals that take offense to minor slights are either publicity hounds or the mentally insane. But I repeat myself. When I go out in public, I don't mind talking to people on a one to one basis. You never know who you'll meet. Whenever I travel, which unfortunately is not too often, I have noticed that people are definitely more friendly and talkative away from the northeast. I've never been to the deep south but from what I understand, the citizenry of that area are accommodating, friendly and always willing to share their home and their food with guests. We need more of this. Neighbors should help neighbors. Family should help family. And the help should come without any expectation of a reward. We do it because we are all in this together, a sentiment lost on the young ones in society. Over the winter I helped my neighbor clear off his driveway. His snowblower had crapped out and doing it with a shovel alone would have taken until the summer. So I went over with my Ego snow blower and cleared it off. No expectation of a reward. I did it because he has helped me when I didn't have a snowblower. Looking out for each other like that fosters a feeling of community. And if we have that sense, it is more likely that we'll invest more in our neighborhood. We'll watch out for the widow down the street. We'll provide for the single mom who is having trouble affording groceries. It's often the people who have the least that are willing to help. As they know what it's like to have nothing. I think it was my father who instilled this personality trait in me. He would often go from neighbor to neighbor clearing their driveways. We had a lot of older people in our neighborhood and many of them could not afford a regular plow contractor and were much too old to do it on their own. The only expectation for a reward is that there will be someone there to assist us when we need it. It's a bit like a natural social security, but done without any government involvement (which is probably why it actually works.) Nowadays no one comes to your home to introduce themselves when a new family arrives on your street. The only people who do this are pedophiles that are required by law to do it. Not my idea of an introduction. I still think that Americans are great people and are there for each other. I don't think racism or sexism is a major concern. We've grown past that, it's only kept alive for ratings and grifting. But that's another story. When you're out in the real world, watch people. And introduce yourself, talk to someone who looks lonely, and above all just be a good person.
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