Strangers Insisting On Greeting You

This isn't a new thing for me and I'm sure you are all familiar with it too, but as it happened to me yesterday it brought this phenomenon to mind again.
I was going to post a letter, walking along the path, minding my own business. A woman passed me and as she did so said, "Good afternoon."
I didn't reply. Why should I ? It isn't a good afternoon. As usual it's a terrible afternoon and I don't want to exist. Even if I had a great life, why should I reply and what gives anyone the right to go around talking to people they don't know ?
Even when I have been feeling alright in my existence and I may have replied in the distant past, I have always felt it's an intrusion.

What is the intention of these people ? Why do they do it ?
It's a concept I have never understood.
I feel, "I don't know you, so how dare you talk to me and invade my life ?"

What are your thoughts on this sort of thing and how do you deal with it ?

I was taught its good manners to greet.

When someone says good morning to me, and its not good, I just reply with "morning" and a courteous nod.

Its quite common here for strangers to greet each other, I do it all the time, never imagined it could be seen as an intrusion.

I agree.

I feel sorry for all your losses...I cant even imagine what that would be like..

Please could I have more information to help me understand ?

Those who are ok with this sort of thing must be seeing it in a totally different way to someone in my state of mind does.

If they say it is 'good manners' to do this, please elaborate on what is behind it ?
To simplify, I would like to ask what do you hope to achieve by saying hello to a total stranger as you pass them ?

I don't hope to achieve anything, I'm simply being nice by smiling at someone and saying "Good day"....

I've been doing it all my life that I don't even give it a thought, no motive behind it.

I even greet the homeless man I pass every Wednesday morning on my way to work, I don't seem to be ruining his day, he always smiles and says good morning to me too.

Tbh, I agree with you. I don't really get the point.. perhaps because I have problems doing that myself.. I always feel shy and embarassed :/

However, these people are clearly just trying to be nice. So I'd just reply and move on if that bothers you that much..

tbh---whatever works for you...

It's a habit to me but I think it's also a connection or acknowledgement of another human being even for a brief moment. It's probably habit for most folks but some truly are wishing you well. I've often thought about people and what their last interaction was with another human before they killed themselves. Would someone reaching out with a smile and a warm good morning or how are you have made a difference? Maybe or maybe not but it doesn't hurt. Just my own opinion.

It's interesting that so far the responses indicate that there doesn't appear to be a motive or 'goal' behind this, as if it's something people 'just do'.

I see that like myself, one other (MickeyCheeky) has questioned it and like me, doesn't feel the need to do it.

It's so difficult for me to understand. Perhaps this is made much worse right now in my severely depressed state.

I see it mentioned that it's people just being nice but in my gloomy world, the nicest thing people could do is leave me alone.

We do things as a result of our thoughts and feelings, so can anyone that does greet strangers elaborate on their feelings in any way, though, please ?

I would address one if I was lost or had an emergency, for example, so I could end the following sentence in this way:-

I ask a stranger for directions because....I am lost and I feel worried that I will never find my destination.

Similarly, please could others complete this sentence for me:-

I say hello to a stranger passing me because....

I say hello to strangers because I want to pass on a smile and good vibes and maybe lighten their day a little. As I already mentioned, what if you were the last person between that person and oblivion? I've been there.

If you don't like it don't do it. That's perfectly alright and your prerogative. Best wishes....

It's their culture, the way they were educated or tr
ained. It is just that

I say hello to an stranger because i was taught to do so and i have incorporated it as a habit

Perhaps the "greeters" just need a friendly reply to help them get through the day

Honestly, I don't get it either. I just greet out of reflex. It's a manner-type thing, but I usually don't mean to.

To acknowledge them.

I think it is a very different state of mind. I don't mind it myself, to be honest. I have social anxiety, so it does make me a tad anxious. At the same time, I feel the occasional interaction does make me feel acknowledged.

Maybe that's just because I'm home alone all day with a baby, and I crave adult interaction. A simple smile and "How are you?" might be all the interaction I get in a day until my fiance gets home.