# The obligatory greeting **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 20, 2004, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-obligatory-greeting/256051 "2004-07-20T19:08:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Morelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Morelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morelin)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-obligatory-greeting/256051/41 "2004-07-22T00:00:24Z")
> [@The\_Llama](#): > > I wonder if the feelings on this are a regional thing. Around here (New York tri state area) most people I know hate it. Not in the sense that they want to kill anyone or even that they take it home, but just in that one-more-thing-to-annoy-you-during-your-shopping-experience. However, any time, IRL, that I’ve expressed this feeling to anyone from the south or west, they seem to look at you like, "oh my, why WOULDN’T you want people to say hi. I had to work with a Marylander who said he hated NYC because there were too many people to say “hi” to each one. He was baffled by my attitude of “I don’t want you to say hi, I just want to get where I’m going, and unless you’re on fire, don’t bother me.” > Anywho, people who think that you’re anti-social because you don’t want to say hello to every single person you come in contact with won’t understand why it’s such an annoyance to have to deal with fake greeters. _grin_ Well, I’m from NY and I have been working retail in the South for three years now. When I go shopping, leave me the hell alone. Don’t greet me, don’t ask if I need help, don’t try to upsell to me. That’s how I feel, and it makes work real interesting. Because I’m told to greet everyone and treat them how I would like to be treated. To me, those are 2 totally different things. To Southerners, it’s one and the same. They are friendly and nice and it irritates me no end. Fortunately I have no temper, so I just smile at them (without looking in their direction) and move on. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-obligatory-greeting/256051/42 "2004-07-22T02:09:17Z")
And then, today, I went shopping and couldn’t find what I was looking for, and there was no one around to help me! Look, I just want the workers to psychically KNOW if I want them to help me or ignore me, as my mood warrants. Is that so much to ask??! ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2004, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-obligatory-greeting/256051/43 "2004-07-22T10:05:29Z")
It could be worse, folks. Thanks to some unpleasant stuff that happened to me when I was younger, I’m inclined to be a bit creeped out by men of retirement age on up. That’s why going to WalMart and having a white-haired man I don’t know come up and give me a nice, big, friendly greeting sets off danger signals. I’m not rude, unless you count ignoring them, and I recognize my attitude for the somewhat unwarranted prejudice it is, but still, it’s not pleasant. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by **Racinchikki** _ > The employees of my store got letters in our mailboxes today informing us that if we do not greet every customer in the store within 30 seconds of their entry we will be written up. We were given a list of approved phrases, which include “Hi,” “Hello,” “How are you today?” and “Good (morning/afternoon/evening).” We were also given a list of things we are NOT allowed to say to the customer, including “How can I help you today?” and “What can I do for you?” What’s boggling my mind is what you’re _not_ allowed to say to the customer. I’m having a hard time imagining banning something useful. Can I slip in a side rant? Among my duties at work is answering the phone. It’s a small office, and I tend to have a great deal to do. As a result, when someone calls the office trying to sell us something, I really don’t have time to chit-chat about how my day’s going. Please, if you’re trying to sell me something and I tell you I’m extremely busy, come to the point and tell me who you are and what you’re selling. Not only will I appreciate my boss not asking me why I’m wasting time on the call, I’ll be much more likely to think favorably of your company. CJ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-obligatory-greeting/256051.md?page=2)