17-7-2011

I live very close to a campsite, in quite a scenic location. So that means everyday there are lots of strangers walking along the roads around my house. Today like most other days I brought my dog for a walk. No matter what, I always try to say hi or hello to the people I meet, whether I know them or not. I’m always amazed by their reactions. Some will look away instantly and outright ignore my greeting. I can only assume that they’ve realized, yes I am a teenager and as such I’m clearly going to mug them. Others will return the greeting but their eyes glare at me, warning me not to pursue any further conversation. The rest all try, with varying degrees of success, to mask their surprise at the greeting. They then reply in kind before promptly walking past.

It’s kind of horrible to think that we as a society are terrified of talking to strangers. How long before we start to favor isolation over any form of communication?