Happier Abroad Forum Community

As soon as I came back to the US I found that I might ask somebody a question and they'll answer it but then they'll go back to talking to whomever it is they were talking to before with no cognizance that I am even still there. This Puritanical automated anti-stranger vibe is really depressing and unsatisfying. I am sick and tired of living in a place where nobody has any interest in other people at all. I generally see this with young people in their 20s because frankly the America they are growing up in is a really scary place full of Ebola, ISIS and a failing economy. People are taught to never interact with people anymore.

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I really don't mind a bit. Oftentimes, I just want to get my goals accomplished, punch that clock, put up that weight, get those groceries, and so on without being bothered by dumb conversations or women that I find unattractive. I am opening up to a degree though for personal development and economic opportunity. Being too shut off can lead us to passing up on or ignoring opportunities.

I have to respond, for this thread itself to be ignored would be real sad lol.

Some people don't even respond when you say "good morning". Or they will just give a brief newborn psycho smile without saying anything.


The "Ebola" part above is a bit of a stretch though.

Temprano26 wrote:As soon as I came back to the US I found that I might ask somebody a question and they'll answer it but then they'll go back to talking to whomever it is they were talking to before with no cognizance that I am even still there. This Puritanical automated anti-stranger vibe is really depressing and unsatisfying. I am sick and tired of living in a place where nobody has any interest in other people at all.People are taught to never interact with people anymore.

This is so true! Winston has talked about this many times and it's true, people in the US are very unfriendly and anti social. A lot of people in the US don't even know who their neighbors are!

Talking to strangers is considered "taboo." we truly do live in a soulless, unfriendly country.

Temprano26 wrote:As soon as I came back to the US I found that I might ask somebody a question and they'll answer it but then they'll go back to talking to whomever it is they were talking to before with no cognizance that I am even still there. This Puritanical automated anti-stranger vibe is really depressing and unsatisfying. I am sick and tired of living in a place where nobody has any interest in other people at all. I generally see this with young people in their 20s because frankly the America they are growing up in is a really scary place full of Ebola, ISIS and a failing economy. People are taught to never interact with people anymore.

Sad thing is people here nowadays don't even smile anymore everyoneis wrapped up and self absorbed in themselves. Just today I said "hello" to about 8 people got about 3 responses back from those 8. You can see that people are miserable here living life without a damn purpose except to consume. You can't even get eye contact with someone without there being a big issue.

Forerunner wrote:Sad thing is people here nowadays don't even smile anymore everyoneis wrapped up and self absorbed in themselves. Just today I said "hello" to about 8 people got about 3 responses back from those 8. You can see that people are miserable here living life without a damn purpose except to consume. You can't even get eye contact with someone without there being a big issue.

Yes, Americans don't like meeting new people and avoid even making eye contact with others!

It's worse in big cities, where people act like other people don't even exist. Living in a big city can be just as lonely as living out in the country!

I'm with Ghost on this one.

Back in college, and shortly thereafter, it used to bother me when I would say hello to others, and they wouldn't smile back or even look in my direction. But after having this happen time and time again, I just became numb to it, and I started not to care and I didn't even bother anymore. Now, when I'm in the US, I prefer to not interact with people when I'm out and about. If I have to, it's usually very brief and succinct. It's just a waste of energy, because I'll get nothing in return, and most of them can't be bothered to take their eyes off of their idiot-phones for two seconds anyway.

If you really think about it, most interaction among Americans today is fake,phony, and ultimately useless. I'd rather just go on my merry way than have to stop and talk about mundane BS like sports, weather, etc., all while having to wear a fake smile on my face while doing it. I don't like being fake, and I even hate it when waiters at restaurants give you fake smiles and pleasantries, acting like they're your new best friend, when in reality all they want is a generous tip.

Also, despite all the "social animals" rhetoric, I find that not interacting with others here doesn't bother me one bit. Of course, I have my wife and several old HS classmates to talk to, as well as a ton of people on the various forums I visit, including this one=) I also have the knowledge that when I'm in other countries, people are more real and they are able to handle more complex conversation topics, so I save my social energies for them.