13 Reasons Why the Person didn’t Answer your Greeting (Awkward)

Why do some people don’t acknowledge your existence when you greet them? Here are my 13 reasons why your greeting was unanswered.

  1. The person has a lot in his or her mind that day.

Do not be disheartened. Maybe the individual was just worried and already got lost in his or her own thoughts to be bothered with.

Possible issues they are considering:

sick family member

financial difficulties

stressful relationships

  1. The person saw you but it didn’t register in his/her mind.

The individual might be daydreaming at that time. You might see their eyes looking or even staring at you but their minds are in a faraway place like:

  • Last movie they saw and how cute the character was
  • Dreaming of eating something delicious
  • Winning the lottery and what to do with it

Photo by Alexander Solodukhin

woman thinking with a book
Yes, I guess it was the BUTLER who did it!
  1. The person has limited vision or hearing.

They may not see you from afar or even heard your greeting. Greet them at arms-length just to be sure.

I will not see you from a distance so forgive me in advance if I don’t greet back. My friend once told me I have a serious face. Please bear with me. I am a work in progress in having a cheerful face. *giggling*

  1. They are snobbish.

Some believe that they are better than the rest of humanity. They do not want to mingle with human beings they consider inferior.

Photo by Saúl Venegas

eyeglasses on the sand
I can’t find my eyeglasses!Someone said hi and I don’t know who it was!
  1. The person forgot who you are.

Ouch. Sometimes, you meet interesting people at parties and other social events. When you try to greet them at a random place, they might be deliberating in their minds where they met you. If they see you as a stranger, it might be a wake-up call to improve your social skills.

  1. The person just doesn’t like you.

You may encounter people who totally hate your guts. You are not doing anything wrong to them and yet every cell of their being is disgusted by your mere presence. Strolling in their space makes them cringe.

Photo by Bill Jones, Jr.

WHO ARE YOU?(brain working overtime)
  1. The person is shy.

Some individuals are anxious when meeting new people. What others take for granted like greeting someone, can be a huge deal for them. The chance to interact was lost because he/she was reluctant to respond.

  1. The individual was in a really awful mood.

Others may have a terrific poker face when angry. Some do not want people near them when they are furious because the closest person may become the poor victim of their wrath. They decided not to greet you.

Photo by Luke Braswell

woman in black
I am going to explode in 5…4…3…2… (seething inside)

 

  1. The person can’t think straight because of medication.

You are not in the mood to greet somebody when you feel numb, nauseous or dizzy. It is the last thing on your mind.

  1. Someone does not want to make a mistake.

Awkward moment: You said hello but realized the person was greeting somebody behind you.

Other people want to make sure they are the ones receiving the greeting not the ones near them. However, the opportunity was lost in a blink of an eye.

Photo by Eric Didier

woman looking
Did that man say hi to me or what?!Weird.

 

  1. The person just looks straight ahead.

They are not snooty. Some walk so fast, they don’t even have time to look left or right. The person was on a mission. You cannot bother him/her no matter what.

  1. The person’s height can affect their view.

I know someone who is 6’4 feet (193.04cm) in height and is a friendly guy. Sometimes he sees me and smiles, sometimes he doesn’t. My height is  5 feet (152.4cm)  so I usually get lost in a crowd of tall people.

One time I was in the shop and had to turn right in the corner but almost got my face flat on a guy’s broad chest. It was embarrassing for both of us because he had to dodge me. I could have bumped on him and landed on my bottom. *giggling again*

Photo by mauro mora

fast-paced crowd
I didn’t see you coming.

13.     Sad to say, maybe the reason is YOU.

Was your voice loud enough to be heard?

Where you too far to be recognized?

Do you tell every time each person your dramas in life?

Could the reason be your social skills? Do you stay near the walls every social event or continuously tap on your phone during parties? Your face can be forgotten in a gathering.

Does your body language show sadness, aloofness or even an arrogant aura?

Do you talk a lot to the point the listener is bored to death?

Sometimes, we need to focus on ourselves so we can have personal growth.

Photo by Andre Hunter

angry face
Ha! I bet my problem is worse than yours!

 

Give the man/woman the benefit of the doubt if they didn’t answer your gesture. Do not take it seriously. If they didn’t return your greeting and lovely smile, it’s okay. Yes, it might be awkward on your part but just keep smiling and saying hello to others. Friendships start that way.

I think that anybody that smiles automatically looks better. – Diane Lane

 

Photo by Vladislav Klapin

hello sign