I smiled and said hi\greeted them back.

for one thing this was always happening to me since as far back as i can remember. its not like i suddenly sprouted alters today who had their own friends and knew people I didnt. its been happening since before I was 5 so it was my normal.

two I was raised in a culture where a child was always polite and used their manners and when one gets greeted one greats back. even non DID people have strangers walking up to them to converse. example this morning coming out of church there was a family I did not know waved from the street and said good morning. i and other church goers who were not mentally disordered waved back and said good morning and we all stood around talking like old friends. sometimes as i watch the children that are being raised today I wonder where that common curtesy and manners have gone. it seems gone are the days when children are taught manners and the common curtesy of greetings and good byes to those around them. or maybe its just that my native american culture is more attentive to recognizing and passing along greeting.