Unfriendly

All the lonely people, where do they all come from?All the lonely people, where do they all belong? (Beatles Lyrics)

Now... I want you to replace the word "lonely" with "unfriendly".

All the unfriendly people, where do they all come from? All the unfriendly people, where do they all belong?

Recently I have been noticing a trend. I've been noticing that way, way too many of the people I come across on a regular basis are completely unfriendly. Example: Being in a group situation with a bunch of people you don't really know and having them ignore you when you speak. All of them. They remain only interested in each other. Forget that this girl knows no one and is just trying to not feel "lonely".

Where does this behavior come from? What's up with people? I don't get it. Went to Old City recently. My friend and I were standing out on a corner while I smoked a cigarette (or two). A woman came barreling out of the corner restaurant. She was also lighting a smoke up and I could see her looking at us from the corner of her eye. So I did what I thought was natural. I said "hello". She was taken aback and relieved all at once. "You two are the only friendly people I've met in a long time." Because I said hello? I know she wasn't lying... but why wouldn't I say hello? Why wouldn't we strike up a conversation about the man she was taking a break from inside. He's the "one" but his parents are a problem. They're born again Christians who have an issue with her Catholicism. She needed to vent, glad we could give her ears to listen by.

I just don't get it. I told my therapist I think unfriendliness comes mostly from fear. Fear takes on many, many forms after all. It's safe in a world where you know what and who you are dealing with. But, after a while... how interesting can it really be?