Croatian Woman Asks: Why Have People Stopped Saying Hello?

A simple question on Croatian Reddit has sparked a debate over whether basic courtesy is disappearing: why have people stopped greeting one another?

The anonymous poster on the r/askcroatia subreddit said colleagues, especially younger ones, and acquaintances encountered on the street increasingly fail to say even “bok,” or hello. Other users said they had noticed similar situations, while some reported no such change and said they still regularly greet colleagues, neighbors and acquaintances.

The comments also challenged the idea that younger people are chiefly responsible. One user said the opposite was true, arguing that people in their 30s and older more often ignored younger people. “I have noticed it, but quite the opposite, not among young people but among people in their middle age, meaning 30+ and onward... they have no respect for those younger than them, they most often just walk past you with their heads down,” the user wrote.

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Even cows in a meadow say 'moo' when they pass one another.

Participants offered several explanations, including poor upbringing, general indifference, social alienation, social media and a culture of deliberately appearing uninterested. Some said people increasingly keep to themselves and may view even a basic attempt at conversation as an intrusion into personal space.

The discussion also revived older etiquette rules. Traditionally, a younger person greets an older person first, while in a workplace a lower-ranking employee greets a supervisor first. Those rules are less formal today, but many participants still regarded a greeting as a basic sign of courtesy and respect.

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I have noticed it, but quite the opposite, not among young people but among people in their middle age, meaning 30+ and onward... they have no respect for those younger than them, they most often just walk past you with their heads down.