How often do you say "hi" to stangers when walking around?

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

23. I spent a lot of my youth in Europe and my mother is French

and the custom was not to address strangers in a familiar manner. My father was American, of Irish descent, but had also lived in Europe and, although quite gregarious with people he knew, would generally not address strangers. In America, I even find it strange when telephone solicitors call and address me by my first name without ever having introduced themselves. When I've worked in offices, I've also found it unusual for everyone to use first names, even when addressing the boss. In France, this would not be done. On occasion, I've noted in public places such as at a bus stop or lunch counter, for example, that perfect strangers will begin speaking to me in familiar terms without introducing themselves, as if they've known me all their lives and then depart without so much as a 'good-bye'. I've wondered if this tendency to treat strangers with instant familiarity may not stem from the way the country was founded, with strangers having to quickly pull together on the frontier in order to survive. It may not be limited to the United States, either. I speak Spanish and I find it extremely strange when Latin Americans address perfect strangers in the familiar form "tu" and advertisers even incorporate this usage in their ads. In France or Spain, the "tu" form is still only used between friends or family members and the formal "vous" or "usted" is used when addressing others, as a sign of respect.