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From: dyer@wivax.UUCP (Stephen Dyer)
Newsgroups: net.singles
Subject: Re: Boston
Message-ID: <19727@wivax.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 11-Jul-84 23:31:06 EDT
Article-I.D.: wivax.19727
Posted: Wed Jul 11 23:31:06 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 12-Jul-84 07:38:00 EDT
References: <2368@hplabsb.UUCP>
Organization: Wang Institute, Tyngsboro, Ma.  01879
Lines: 16

Yup, as a life-long Bostonian, I understand *FULLY* what you mean.
A stranger who would confront strangers by saying "hello" (without
having some followup reason, like asking directions, etc.) will
certainly get weird stares, if not downright antipathy.

On some level, I can say "Gee, isn't that too bad", but I would be
pretty disconcerted if someone approached me this way.  I think it
has to do with the local sense of propriety in social interactions.
In Boston (and much of New England) one doesn't gratuitously
acknowledge people on the street.


-- 
/Steve Dyer
decvax!bbncca!sdyer
sdyer@bbncca.ARPA