[code177]

This seems like a very cynical article. On the behalf of everyone in Canada, the UK, and Australia, it's very common for people to reciprocate this sort of courtesy and genuinely mean it. In fact, I'd go as far to say that most people would be downright offended if you didn't reciprocate.

Similarly, most people go out of their way to thank transit drivers, and everyone holds doors. Perhaps an American could share some insight.

[protomyth]

Seems pretty cynical to me too, but I've lived in either North Dakota or Minnesota for a couple of decades. It takes so little effort to be nice and have a conversation with people. Who knows, you might make the teller laugh and get through their day easier.

[from the article] Does anyone who has ever said “have a good one” actually mean it?

Yep, I do mean it. I'm that sap. I wish you well and still sign all my e-mail "keep safe". I mean that too. The world can be an unforgiving place, no need for me to not help you along.

[StavrosK]

I am rather dismayed by the lack of interaction between people in my country (Greece). We don't talk to strangers at all, not even to say hi or hold a door open or anything. It's a cultural thing, people just don't think to talk to other people.

That's all I wanted to say, have a good day!

[coderdude]

It's like that in southern California. Most people out here act cold and just want to keep to their own. People rarely say hello to anyone they pass on the streets. Just keep your eyes pointed forward and maybe you won't have to interact with another person. The mean streets of Orange County.

[saryant]

That was the biggest difference I noticed when I moved from the Bay Area to Texas. Everyone says hello, everyone asks how you're doing. I grew up thinking no one was ever nice to a stranger. It was unnerving at first but frankly it's more pleasant this way.

And it's not just the south, been this way everywhere else I go in the middle of the country.

(Except on Houston's roads, of course. That's a different world entirely)

[Muzza]

Strange. A common complaint among Swedes is that we don't talk to strangers... like they (supposedly) do in Greece (or Spain or France).

[Xcelerate]

I live in Georgia. Everyone here is really friendly and means it.

[icebraining]

I'd find that extremely tiring.

[raintrees]

I do not. I live in a VERY small town in Northern Coastal California, US (area population 948). I like the fact that I have time to talk to Jessica, Connie, Crystal, Bonnie, or Shaina, all possible cashiers at the only local small store.

I like the fact that when a lady looked lost in the local hardware store, I asked if I might help her, and I felt that I had the time to explain that she needed a certain tool due to the materials she was working with and help her find it.

I have plenty of time to run my service business, write code for fun, and yet also make sure my chickens are fed on time, the cherries got picked, etc.

Instead of tiring, I find it energizing, and I am more towards introvert than center on the introvert/extrovert scale.

[robryan]

We absolutely have this at checkout in Australia, I go for self checkout whenever possible because of it. Most people working at checkout just don't care at all and just give out the minimum fake courtesies that their employer forces upon them.