Question: In New Orleans, if strolling past a neighborhood porch of an evening how do you greet people?
I've heard that if you're walking past a porch in a neighborhood of New Orleans in the evening it's polite to greet someone sitting there, even if they're a stranger. Is this true, and would you say 'Good evening' or 'Good night'?
Relation Questions:
Answer:
yes this is a must in southern louisiana! just wave politely and say good evening or how are you is just fine!
I think this applies to most southern towns. people are just friendlier.
There is not a strict protocol or some sort of cultural code for this in New Orleans. NOLA is not NY (where people ignore each other) but it is also not a small town where people always greet each other. We are somewhere in between.
All of the other answers indicating that a friendly greeting is appropriate are correct: Usually "Hello" or "Good evening". Good night is something you say when you are also saying goodbye or someone is headed to bed.
A friendly wave is OK, as is doing nothing. Doing nothing would be most appropriate if the person walking by might interrupt a conversation between people on the porch.
Yes, they will. Very friendly people down here and Some times they will say: How yall doing?
Usually a friendly good evening or a hello, enjoying the evening kind of thing is nice.
I'm from New Orleans. if we usually past a house I'll say "good evening how r u" and people usually speak even if they're a stranger.
Haha. Its not just in the evening or if youre walking past a house, you just greet people in general. Do you really have to ask us what to say? I mean youve told someone hello or asks how its going before, right? I think its so strange that people dont do this everywhere it just seems natural, friendly. When i go to other states and walk down a sidewalk or something and someone walks by i say hi or whats up, maybe a smirk or slight hand gesture. They tend to look at me like im fu<king crazy or just ignore me, like being polite perplexes them, yankees are so rude.
hooray for southern hospitality!
A smile, a wave, usual signs of salutation....
I was gonna joke and say "where u' at cap?" but that kind of hit too much on a yat joke...
Usually good evening or hello like others are saying
I think acknowledging people on a porch or the front yard is polite anywhere.
I learned this after living here about 6 mo.(to the best of my understanding) You make eye contact, if you don't know the person you nod. If you do know the person, you say a one or two word greeting (hello,good evening,how you doing?)and smile. BTW, here 'alright' actually means hello.
Yes, growing up we were taught to say Good evening or good night while passing someone on their porch.
Or be slapped for not having manners.
LOL