Kylie's comment about kids not smiling back is too true - my co-worker loved kids and he keeps trying to play with them in bakeries, grocery stores, etc, and they just sort of stare and/or recoil in horror. I remember one time when we were down South and we were eating by a river. Some kids were fishing nearby so he offered them a cookie - they all ran away and he just couldn't understand it. He was like "What kid runs away from a cookie??" It's almost the same thing with animals - here in Bretagne, most country dogs aren't treated very well, and he keeps trying to pet them, but every time he puts his hand near him, they cower down, thinking he's going to hit them. Most of them just don't get any affection - it's really sad.

Coucou! I completely agree that it's a big city thing. New Yorkers are not any more liable to smile and say hi than Parisians are (it's more likely to be "what are you lookin' at?"). Even in Troyes people don't smile and say hello, but here in Tiny Town we're obligated to say hello to people we pass when walking around the park or whatever. When I used to sit on my front stoop for a smoke while reading a book, people would say hello to me whether I acknowledged them first or not!

Many many months later...

I'm from San Francisco, but have been in NYC for a few years now and I think that it's a climate thing, in regards to the smiles. SF is a big city and yet people are more friendly and smiley than people in NYC. But I think the main reason is a form of self-protection because big cities tend to draw more freaks in and who wants to get into a conversation with some freaky person??? Also, the weather is usually extreme, things are dirty, places are cramped and people have to be really intentional about finding something to smile about. In SF the weather is mild, the culture is laid back, the beach, mountains, skiing, wine country, pot farms...all of it is so close by and there is always something to be happy about :) But I do think Americans are easily roped into conversations with strangers and if someone see's you struggling with a map or something, New Yorkers will always jump in and try to offer help. It's really a surprise and it's something I don't even experience in California!