Why wouldn't you answer a "Good morning", "good afternoon" or "good evening"?

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 06 Jan 2015 08:38:19 -0500

Good morning RP members, why is it that a lot of soldiers are not able to answer a simple Good Morning? At first, I thought that it was, maybe, a rank thing like "oh, he's just a private" but, I've seen me getting no response from people with my same rank. How big could be your rush to not answer back? How much do you hate what you do to not be able to be nice with people? Is this a general thing or just where I'm stationed?

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 6 at 2015 8:49 AM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 06 Jan 2015 08:49:34 -0500

Good morning, SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member. We're on the same post! Did you slide into work today like most of the rest of us?

I agree with you that returning a greeting is a common courtesy. Maybe people are deep in thought, going too fast, or just plain rude. I haven't experienced what you describe very much. Once in a while my greeting won't be returned, but normally people do at least "speak" (as they say).

Response by SFC A.M. Drake made Jan 6 at 2015 8:55 AM

SFC A.M. Drake — Tue, 06 Jan 2015 08:55:01 -0500

Good morning! Now to answer your question not all people come from your upbringing. Not all people had a home life or was never introduced to that of good morning, evening whatever. So don't worry about it or get ruffled up. Welcome to the real world! Just remember you can't make a grown adult say or do anything that they don't want to. Now go in peace young grasshopper!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 6 at 2015 9:26 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 06 Jan 2015 09:26:37 -0500

Good morning SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member. You an invisibility cloak, too? Awesome!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 6 at 2015 9:57 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 06 Jan 2015 09:57:08 -0500

This may be the reason, well it could happen:

Sgt. Ernie Savage: Good morning, Sergeant Major.
Sergeant Major Basil Plumley: How do you know what kind of goddamn day it is?

Sergeant Ernie Savage: Beautiful morning, Sergeant!
Sergeant Major Basil Plumley: What are you a f******g weatherman now?

Response by SSG Trevor S. made Jan 6 at 2015 9:58 AM

SSG Trevor S. — Tue, 06 Jan 2015 09:58:25 -0500

Some people may be grumpy, but for the most part they most likely were raised in a city where greeting everyone walking by was impractical. It isn't an insult, more likely just a culture shock that you are greeting them without reason.

Response by SGT Edward Thomas made Jan 6 at 2015 10:06 AM

SGT Edward Thomas — Tue, 06 Jan 2015 10:06:05 -0500

Even though you may do PT in the early morning I hope this doesn't shock you but not all NCOs are morning people until they've had the coffee (pot). For years until I was an NCO I was always returned with: What's good about it? Or morning or unh grunt grumble. I have been a morning person for the last 30 years so it is not an insult. Just drive on soldier drive
On.

Response by CSM David Heidke made Jan 6 at 2015 10:11 AM

CSM David Heidke — Tue, 06 Jan 2015 10:11:39 -0500

When I was a Drill Sergeant, I did an AT at Fort Leonard Wood. It was the first time I was "on the trail."

The full timers had had a bad experience with the Reservists in the last rotation which resulted in some of the full timers getting in trouble. Suffice it to say, they didn't like us. It wasn't all of them.

One Sergeant First Class, really hated us. And she was the acting 1SG for a few days. She came in one morning, and one of my Reserve colleagues said good morning. She ignored him, and one of the full timers said the same thing, she then turned around smiling and said good morning to him.

I lit her up! Told her she was rude in front of her team and told her that I would be happy to get back to my civilian life where at least people have the common courtesy to return a "good morning."

She cleared the room and tried to give me her mind, I had none of it. She threatened a bad evaluation, and I told her that my chain of command had already been briefed on her behavior and I was not worried about it. She was a huge jerk, and I told her in no uncertain terms that I thought she was amazingly unprofessional. Some of her colleagues thanked me for calling her out.

That's how I feel about not returning a greeting of the day. I don't care who you are, have some common decency and say it back.

Even SGM Plumley responded.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 6 at 2015 1:53 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 06 Jan 2015 13:53:38 -0500

Afternoon, PFC Ortiz. I agree it is rude to not at least acknowledge the greeting. I can tell you my response is different bc (before coffee) and after that miracle drug caffeine has entered my system.

Response by SSG Kevin McCulley made Jan 9 at 2015 6:59 PM

SSG Kevin McCulley — Fri, 09 Jan 2015 18:59:24 -0500

It varies duty station to duty station and unit culture to unit culture. When I was an AIT instructor I went a bit overboard with them. It was a joint assignment so, due to there being Marines, everyone tended to render proper greeting of the day to NCOs. I gave overly motivated replies because I wanted the joes to feel good for doing the right thing. The greeting of the day to and among NCOs is actually the same thing saluting with officers. It is spelled out in regulations just as clearly and, like so many other things, it just isn't enforced. Doing it among your peers is just good manners.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 10 at 2015 7:35 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 10 Jan 2015 07:35:55 -0500

There is no good reason SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member

Maybe the other person did not hear which could be a reason. That is what I would like to believe as I know sometimes I talk low. At least I hope that is the case.

I make an effort to give the greeting of the day or at least a "hello."

I sometimes wonder if Soldiers are intimidated by rank. It should not be fear as long as it is respected. All Leaders should be approachable.

Many people walk with their head down. The next time you are in public try this experiment; observe how many people will not look you in the eye or are looking down instead of straight with their head up. Do not count those who cannot let the electronic device go though.

Response by SN Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 10 at 2015 2:57 PM

SN Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 10 Jan 2015 14:57:32 -0500

I don't know about anyone else, I'm usually not a morning person, until I have my first cup of coffee I just don't want to talk to anyone. If its later and out of courtesy, I usually give a smile and a good morning.

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 10 at 2015 10:18 PM

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 10 Jan 2015 22:18:56 -0500

Living in the DC area I see this all the time. People are so full of themselves that they can't render a basic good morning or afternoon. I make it a point at work to say good morning to everyone on the elevator. I think it pisses some off but common decency people!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 10 at 2015 10:32 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 10 Jan 2015 22:32:10 -0500

People tend to keep to themselves. Unless you are aquanted with them.

Response by SPC(P) Jay Heenan made Jan 10 at 2015 11:01 PM

SPC(P) Jay Heenan — Sat, 10 Jan 2015 23:01:49 -0500

Good Evening!!! Are you kidding me, I will travel out of my way to say 'good morning', 'good afternoon', etc. to about almost anyone...

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 11 at 2015 1:57 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 11 Jan 2015 01:57:51 -0500

I'm not much into the greeting of the day. But I always try to at least say hello sir/ma'am/sgt/sgm.

Response by SGT Charles Vernier made Jan 11 at 2015 2:17 AM

SGT Charles Vernier — Sun, 11 Jan 2015 02:17:05 -0500

Buenos Dias from Los Lunas, NM.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 11 at 2015 2:28 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 11 Jan 2015 02:28:06 -0500

Good morning. I like it when people are polite too. Good morning should be returned. Explain why people don't, misses the point they should say something back.

Response by SFC Ian Lumgair made Jan 11 at 2015 10:24 AM

SFC Ian Lumgair — Sun, 11 Jan 2015 10:24:58 -0500

Here is s funny story that fits in with this. I was TDY at Ft Huachuca, I had just completed an AM PT session with my class. I observed two some what older gentlemen in PTs completing their run. As I passed them I said good morning to the first Gentlemen and saluted and gave the greeting of the day to the second. the second returned the greeting and saluted. but said "Hang on how did you know that I was an officer"? the first gentlemen being curious approached interested in the conversation. "Yes, how did you know that", he said (they where both in PT that had no indication of rank). "permission to speak candidly" g
"go ahead" "Well Sir you can tell by the way you are running that you are in a great deal of pain, and SNCO would have the common sense to stop". With that gentlemen no 1 erupted in laughter. Gentlemen no 2 saluted me saying "move out Sergeant" I responded with "All the way Sir!" I heard as I moved away. "Its your fault, we have smart ass NCOs like that".

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 11 at 2015 10:34 AM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 11 Jan 2015 10:34:32 -0500

I scuff people up all the live-long-day about this. I'm not the type of person who get's their knickers in a twist if someone isn't paying attention and honestly doesn't look at me as they are going about their way. Now...if you look at me...especially in our footprint and you look away, I will get in your grill and start a conversation with you just for the sake of reminding you that your job is to render the proper customs and courtesies. I keep my head on a swivel. Not looking for Joe...I'm looking for COL's because it's my job to render the proper courtesies to them. I think it gets to entitlement. People think we are all equal, which is true....but some pigs are more equal than others. You'd best square yourself away before you run into a CSM who is having a bad day.