Do you try to be nice to strangers?

Before I used to not give a f*** about anyone other than my family and friends and would be rude to most strangers because I knew I would never see them again. I wanted to turn over a new leaf so I decided to be nice to just about anyone who approaches me no matter what. Like today this girl at the bus stop was complaining to me how the bus is never on time, I agreed, introduced myself, chit chatted a bit, and than we went on our separate ways. Am I going to see this girl ever again? Probably not but for some reason I felt nice being nice to someone I didn't even know :P Same thing goes for this old man talking to me at the library. He kept rambling on and on about something and instead of ignoring him I politely listened until he went on his way. What about you guys? Do you try to be nice to strangers or do you just not give a f*** sometimes and couldn't care less, both stances are completely understandable in my opinion. 

I'm almost always courteous with strangers. I find that most strangers are friendly towards each other, there's no reason to be rude to someone that you've never met. Unless they're doing something that pisses you off.

Head up, eyes forward and always allow time to help a stranger. It makes me feel good and a smile goes a long way.

It depends, if you're nice to me i'll be nice to you, but if you're an ass i'll laugh and walk away.

All the time. Think about it. As dumb and 'carebearish' as it may seem, if everyone was just a little bit nicer to everyone else, the world would be a helluva lot better place to be.

As much as I am capable of. Often times that's not a lot because they're acting in a manner that doesn't allow it. But I'm always willing to help.
 
(Often help means, help them understand why they need their skull fractured.)

It depends. I find in England that any act of kindness is immediately followed by scorn. There was a woman who's bag was stuck in the gap between a train and the platform, I helped get it out and she pulled it away from me like I was trying to steal it and looked at me like I was some kind of monster. Definitely makes me reconsider trying to help anyone.

Yes.  Even if they have a snotty attitude I try to show them what respect looks like so that maybe they'll try it themselves sometime.

Always.  
 
@Squagmire said:

" Yes.  Even when they have a snotty attitude I try to show them what respect looks like so that maybe they'd try it themselves "

" All the time. Think about it. As dumb and 'carebearish' as it may seem, if everyone was just a little bit nicer to everyone else, the world would be a helluva lot better place to be. "

I'm polite to most people, but I am rarely nice.

I am fantastically anti-social, but I always do what I can to help people out. A basic level of kindness and helpfulness makes the world a better place.

Totally. 

I act content around strangers, I try to imitate their enthusiasm at times to make them feel like I care, but at the same time, I don't directly ''help'' someone. Not even when it comes to giving directions, I just don't bother :| 
 
There can be a few exceptions to that though. Actually, alot of the time, it is an ''exception''......I think it's impressive that the responses in this thread have been good so far. I would never disrespect someone that treated me kind and fairly especially as a stranger.

I'd rather be polite then a dick.

I don't go out of my way to be nice, but yeah, I'm polite to just about everybody as long as they don't say or do something to make me act the opposite. If somebody acts like a prick, there's no reason for me to treat them with respect. 

It is part of my job as a cashier to be nice to people I do not know. 

I am nice on first impression so I don't have to try that much,

I usually try to go out of my way to be kind to people: hold doors open, help them pick up something they drop, letting someone in while driving.  
 
It feels good and helps me negate some of the bad karma I've accrued over the years.

Yes, always. Being mean has no benefits.

Nah, fuck em... Unless they have something I need. Then I'm real nice. >:]

If they need anything of me, they should let me know.
If I need anything from them, I'll let them know.
If I can help someone out or have a friendly conversation which is totally not awkward, I'll do it.
 
But generally speaking I care little for other people unless our paths cross, I got enough stuff to worry about and do in my own life, not keen on playing shrink for everyone I meet.

Ya unless your an asshole to me then ill be the biggest mother fucker ever.

I try to be nice but some people make it really hard to be.

Always nice to strangers. Life would just suck if everyone was a dick to eachother.

" Head up, eyes forward and always allow time to help a stranger. It makes me feel good and a smile goes a long way. "

I hold doors open for people but I don't really go out of my way to do more than that.

Yeah I do act nice. 
People that act like dicks for no fucking reason are the types that one would like to fuck up.

Yeah I try to be. Assholes I ignore though.

" I'm almost always courteous with strangers. I find that most strangers are friendly towards each other, there's no reason to be rude to someone that you've never met. Unless they're doing something that pisses you off. "

I base my life on being nice, but nobody else is.

"Head up, eyes forward and always allow time to help a stranger. It makes me feel good and a smile goes a long way. "

im always nice to people and love to help them out even if they are strangers. i dont really care who it is, just as long as I feel like i did something good

yes because i'm not a scumbag

I always say "Hi" when I pass people on the streets. But once I started doing that I started getting really pissed at the people who don't say "Hi" back. Usually they're not expecting it coming from a teenager but that's not much of an excuse to be rude.

I try not to be an asshole, if that's what you mean.

I am very nice to everyone unless I have a reason not to be. Strangers love me! ^___^ 

I am only nice to strangers that offer candy and ride around in nondescript windowless vans.

A smile and a nod can brighten someone's mood.

" I hold doors open for people but I don't really go out of my way to do more than that. "

I carry jumper cables in my car not because I ever need them but because someone else always does. lol 
One of the best things about living in the southern US is that people are more polite and friendly when out and about. People hold doors open for each other. If you're in a small town people will actually give you a nod or a small wave when they pass you on the road.

i'm polite but never super enthusiastic.  i try not to interact with too many people though

I'm generally nice to people.  It's not like it really takes any effort.

I'm always as nice to strangers as I can be. People who are mean to strangers are douchebags.

Fucking hate people that are assholes. If the person that is talking to me isn't a total moron I'd be glad to chitchat. 
And I try to help people whenever I can, it can brighten the darkest of days for both parts. I helped a lady in a wheelchair with a door the other day and she looked up at me, smiled and thanked me, that felt nice.

So yeah, I'm nice most of the time.

All the time. I even hold out the door open for women whenever the situation demands.

Its common courtesy to be polite in Canada, so yeah.

yeah  
also am i the only one that says hi to people if i pass them in a back street or down the walk way near the river i live at  
it only seems nice and to ease there worry at walking down one creepy ass river at 9ish at night 

Why on earth would I be anything but?

I always try to be courteous and respectful to everyone. I'm probably nicer to foreigners because I want them to go home with positive feelings towards Americans. So many people hate us, I like to think that I'm doing my part to help fix that. Of course the absolute worst people I've met were foreigners, specifically this old couple from the UK. My God, toddlers aren't as defiant as those two twats. >_>