u/musashi-swanson

With the risk of sounding like a total hick… and it’s also possible my personal experiences don’t amount to the true character of this wonderful state…

I moved to this amazing, beautiful state about 13 years ago. Absolutely love it! But I have to admit, my poor little country boy feelings get hurt because most of the time I wave, people pretend to ignore it. What’s up with that?! I was told, well the farmers have their big important rigs to not crash, so they have to keep both hands engaged. Fair point! But drivers of regular old cars and trucks ignore me ALL the time. Even when I am a pedestrian in another small town or rural environment, people literally pretend they can’t hear or see me wave or say good morning.

Literally, my own cousin in law refused to wave back because they said (later) they couldn’t tell it was me. Yeah, the sun was in their face and they probably couldn’t recognize me, but obviously I was a person. And I was obviously waving and saying hi.

Another woman walked by and my daughter and I commented on her sweet looking dog… the dog heard it! Ears up, happy face on, but the human just kept her nose to the sky and ignored us both.

I tried interacting with numerous people this holiday weekend, and it was all the same. Look away, pretend you can’t hear, get on with your life . Ok?

I’m going to say it. It’s rude and insulting, if a passerby waves and you just ignore it.

I love New York state. The fishing, the camping, the four seasons, the calm winds, the short drives to civilization. This is all wonderful! But let’s still
be friendly! There is no reason to give the cold
shoulder to (admittedly, bumpkins like me from Wyoming). Lean into your real, legitimate country roots and be polite! You never know when you are going to need a friend.