Why are people so strange?

There have been times where I meet a nice person to talk to. I then remember that person's face and our conversation. Therefore I think I have gained someon's friendship or can at least say hi to you next time. Has anyone had the experience where...

you meet someone as a possible friend and you talk a lot then you see them walking by another time and they completely ignore you? (I don't know you attitude?)I don't understand what makes people behave this way. Do you? What is that all about. Someone help and explain to me why the American culture is like this?

I'm not American, but sometimes I have what might be the opposite problem. I see someone I think I might recognise, I smile at them, they smile back and then I can't remember if I really met them once or if I'm imagining it. So I'm shy (in public places - shopping centres, for example) of speaking to people I think I might recognise, in case I make a fool of myself with someone I've never met. Is it possible that the people you meet have the same embarassing problem of poor recollection of faces combined with acute shyness?

Floss. Yes I think they are embarrassed by the facts they may not recollect. But in the workplace sometimes? I don't get it my husband thinks it's due to temporary drunkness or some drug problem. We don't know why.LOL

Dear mamk,
This is not just specific to North America...this happens across the board. Like stated most of the time they do not remember who you are and if you met. Other times is they do but cannot remember the circumstances you met under or your name. In other countries you do not speak until spoken to and you can see where this can be a dilemma when you are meeting new people. So when you do meet someone the first time always say your name...Hi my name is ...and it is nice to meet you. It will be easier for them to remember who you are.
Sue...good luck

I'm an American from the South. I try to smile at people whenever I make eye contact. Most people smile back. The ones I've found that usually don't are the ones that I know who have decided they're too good for me. I don't worry about them.

I think lots of people don't acknowledge others because they are either shy or too busy to stop and talk.

The various places I've lived have had different answers to the problem. In Cumbria (the remote north of England) everyone said 'hello' to everyone else in the villages, regardless of how little they knew them, or even if they were seeing them for the first time. Even the teenagers smiled and said 'hello' to me the first time I turned up! I loved that.

In France you greet everyone in the shop or space you walk into - the doctor's, the post office, the hair dresser etc. You just give a general 'bonjour' to everyone as you go in. I like that too. BUT YOU DON'T SMILE! It's taking me ages to get used to that - it's not a sign of unfriendliness, it's just a cultural difference. I think maybe we Brits smile more because we don't make physical contact when we greet people (the French either kiss or shake hands all the time). So, as we aren't touching the people we greet, we put all our welcome into our facial expressions.

I don't know if this helps, but it does add to the information you're gathering.

It's Just life huni, get over it, I'm 17 and I've realised it. People wana be like that let them... their lose!

It can get you down but just move away from that, Dont let it get you down

Aswell there might be good reasons why a person has ignored somebody??
Who knows!

Thanks to you all. I am 37 and I know how to greet people. It's just in Old Mexico where I am originally from you greet people on the bus or anywhere and there is always a friendly ambiance. I just don't get why in the workplace people you run across more than once just don't interract like I would say is proper. Yes people are busy or just have an attitude. It isn't something I have to just get over. It was just something I was curious about. No need to tell me to get over it huni. It was just a thought. No I don't take these people seriously. My brother visited Australia and there the people were just as friendly and talkative.