say hello

Why is it that people find it so difficult to just say hello?
To find the key to a civil society, look into your own heart.
This week business leaders were told about progress fighting crime, homelessness and street disorder in pursuit of the ideal "a civil society."
But the biggest obstacle to that utopia walks the city's sidewalks, queues up at the coffee shops, waits for the spin cycle to finish at the laundromat.
I'm talking about you.
Yes, you were walking past on the sidewalk without a smile or even a nod, eyes forward.
Yes, you were standing in line if not for coffee, looking uptight and weirdly scared when the person next to you says something friendly.
Yes, you waiting for your clothes to dry, shooting furtive glances at other customers, but never saying a word.
Yes, you who will be hosting the world for tourism in less than two years. Are you going to roll out the welcome mat or yank it inside and slam the door?
Y'all aren't very friendly.
In fact you're downright cold.
Others-- all the way friendlier than us.
Even Thais is cheerier, for Chris sakes, and the people there have been living in trouble waters for 30 months.
I've never been to a place where the ambient level of human interaction is as low as us.
This chill self-perpetuates, slapping down newcomers who dare try and melt the ice.
When a smile is ignored, when a casual comment draws a scowl, when a morning greeting brings an appraising stare, you begin to understand that, here, these things just aren't done.
What's wrong with you people?
I've struggled to find answers. Is it all the pot making people anti-social and paranoid? Unlikely. There are folks who are standoffish, too.
Is it the dreary, soggy rain? Nope, you're clammy even in unpredictable weather. Is it fear of attack? Probably not, given the friendlier attitudes in truly dangerous cities.
I'm at a loss for an explanation. But I'm not giving up yet. I see potential for improvement.
You're polite. You hold doors and generally let people change lanes on the road.
You say please and thank- you. But without the capacity for friendly, human engagement with people you don't know, politeness is a meaningless mask.
Often we lose sight of the importance of everyday engagement.
The civility of our city is measured in large part by the quality of our interactions with the people we live here with.
Please just say hi.