I grew up in smaller towns. Generally you would acknowlege people as you passed. Having lived in Vancouver for almost 20 years, I was weaned off of this. Now if a stranger greets me or smiles at me I assume that either something strange is about to go down (mugging?) or the person is a bit off (drunk,....).

Living in the city has meant a few changes:
- there is no meal called "supper"
- dinner is in the evening, not at noon
- you can wear shoes into people's houses
- men can carry umbrellas
- don't drop in on people
- the doors are always locked, even when we are home

>That reminds me of the old rule to always smile in greeting when you meet or pass someone on the street. Can't imagine anyone doing that nowadays...
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>>Hi Thomas
>>
>>First off, men don't wear dresses. Well, except for some people. Like Seinfeld "Not that there's anything wrong with that".
>>
>>I am constantly amazed by how we supposedly evolve but then still act like those who went before were somehow smarter than we are today.
>>
>>How about this? Regardless of gender, race or wearing dresses <g>, give everyone a proper greeting. That shows respect for all.
>>
>>>Years ago during one of my discussions with my grandfather we talked about how men dressed for specific events. Two of those events were payday and baseball games.
>>>
>>>Around 1910 men worked a typical 56-hour week, ten hours Monday through Friday and six hours on Saturday. Saturday was payday and on that day you wore your best suit and hat as if you were going to church. Regardless of your trade – ditch digger or whatever, you wore your best suit! This was to show respect for your employer and for yourself. You stood in line to receive your pay and shook hands with either the owner of the business or the company pay master.
>>>
>>>Up until about 1960 a man wore his best suit and hat to attend a baseball game. In studying Sociology in college I saw films of what my grandfather had told me about men’s dress over the years. It seems interesting how things change.
>>>
>>>Men from my grandfather’s era always wore a hat outside. When they passed a woman out of doors they took off their hat and gave a proper greeting.
>>>
>>>Today people wear short shorts and cut up/off jeans to church. Dress for a baseball game is even more casual then for church. Who needs to dress up for payday? We have direct deposit! Who has time for payday when we work 24/7?
>>>
>>>Yes, times change and most of us go with the flow.
>>>
>>>Tom