For some Common Courtesy is not so Common

I never understood how someone you know can walk past you almost brushing your shoulder and not acknowledge you. I’m not talking about when you are in a crowd. Here is a scenario: you are walking down the corridor of a building. Some you know (well) is approaching and just as you meet they turn away so as not to have to speak. Or maybe they drop their eyes to the floor so as not to engage yours. But on other days, given the same scenario, they may say hello or give a nod of acknowledgement.

All of my life I have never understood this phenomenon. A simple greeting is not dfficult and does not commit you to anything. I can remember as a child walking down the street in a small city in upstate New York and passing someone and trying my hardest to say hello. I was always baffled why some people chose not to respond or act like you are not even there. Very wierd – and it hurts.

Then there is the inevitable self examination: Do I look funny?; are they afraid of me?; are my pants unzipped?; maybe I’m walking funny; did I do something wrong?; maybe they don’t like black people; maybe they are from the south and speaking to someone black is taboo; maybe I’m imagining that I was just snubbed; maybe it isn’t normal to want to say hello to everyone you pass just because you are both members of the human race; maybe they don’t like one of my brothers and they know I’m related to him; maybe I said something I shouldn’t have; maybe I’m just not worthy; maybe they can’t talk; maybe they can’t nod; maybe they can’t smile; maybe there is something preoccupying their thoughts; maybe they didn’t notice my efforts to exchange a friendly greeting; maybe I’m wierd; maybe I’m ugly and they don’t greet ugly people; maybe it’s just me!

But I’ll keep trying to just be friendly, human, and real.