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In no way is this meant to sound rude but I'm curious as to why a greater percentage of women in Bdn have the attitude that they are better than the guys that try to talk to them? Even a simple "hi" seems to get a look of "why are you talking to me?"...... I mean obviously some guys are jerks and say rude or ignorant things..... But some guys are just simply nice and maybe a little shy based upon past experiences.....

I think its a bigger issue than that. As someone who moved to Brandon from elsewhere, it was a real surprise how strangers aren't that friendly here.  
 
I as a girl would probably get that same look of, 'why are you talking to me?'  
 
You just need to decide ahead of time what your follow up sentence is, to put them at ease so they know you're just being friendly.

Even a follow up sentence still gets a weird look.... I'm pretty quick with responses and can be either funny or charming.... But still

And I also agree, people in Brandon are not as friendly as they once were. Life changes people.  
 
All you can do is continue to be your friendly self and don't let others discourage you from being you.  
 
If anyone says hi to me, I smile and say hi back. It's who I am.

Know we all aren't like that. What I can tell you is if you're not model thin, most guys here don't or won't give the girls the time of day in a pleasant way. After repeated rude sneers and giggles from said guys, alot of us now have a wall up towards strangers that look at us. Just my outlook on my experiences here.

Women don't have to be model thin....... I've dated super thin women as well as women with a lol bit of curves..... Curves are much more attractive...... But either way..... Same response from both..... It's almost as if any kind of communication is meant as "trying to pick them up"

Wrong with walking by and smiling to everyone you see. I shop and I smile all the time, I even say "hey" or "how's it going" to ppl I don't know while I walk by them. I'm not trying to pick anyone up, I'm just a happy person and love to smile.

I'm in the process of moving here from a small town... I find it so far to be a very friendly city... I think maybe it might have something to do with how you are raised... My parents are very social and as a child we saw that and that was the "norm"  
To me if someone comes up to me and says hey I don't look at them like they are trying to hit on me... (I'm terrible for telling that stuff anyway)...  
I smile a lot and pretty much at absolutely everyone it's just how I am... Last week I had a gentleman come up to me at a store, he was shopping with a few other male friends and he started a conversation I never thought anything of it or that he was "hitting on me" until he told me I looked good and asked for my number... I was not expecting it and was actually kind of shocked... I responded by saying I was flattered but not interested, and explained why... he was nice about it and moved on.  
 
I also find with texting and social media now a days having a "face to face" conversation is rare and so I respect people who make that effort regardless how tough it is.

As a 23 year old female i find that a lot of guys take us responding to a simple hi as a way to try and get into your life. I try to be a decent human and say hi back, and it has happened that the male will follow me around after if its at a store or make some inappropriate remark to me which makes me uncomfortable. So in conclusion, I do try to not be a gnome to people who say hi to me but the repercussions can make it undesirable to do so

I was wondering the same thing. Thought I was the only person who thought this. The women in Brandon are not very friendly at all. Not to be mean but they seem quite stuck up like they don't want you to even look at them. I instantly think to myself " Oh she must think I'm ugly". Seems that it is always about looks these days and us average guys can't catch a break. With that being said, it is very hard to meet women, extremely hard lol.

Not into the dating scene, but maybe it's not her. Just a thought.

I'm a husband, a father, and a grandfather, and I have to disagree with the idea that women in Brandon aren't friendly. Maybe it's just me,but it seems to be easy for me to start up conversations with women of any age, well maybe not so much with those in their teens, but from the early twenties up. For myself starting up a conversation with a woman follows the same procedure (not the right word) as with a man, usually there is eye contact and then recognition, with men it is usually a nod of the head, and with women it is usually a smile, both are followed with a polite Hi or Hello.  
 
My grandfather told me something once that I believe applies to starting a conversation with anyone, he said "Don, if they're not interested, they're not interested", and that seems to be the way it is.

I have found that it depends on where you are when you say hi. I have lived off and on in this city for years I find that geographic locations matter. For the first time in all the time I have lived here this last places is the first I have not only known my neighbours but have a friendly neighbourly type relationship. Not saying that everyone in a certain area will always be friendly but if you live in a high crime area not everyone will be friendly and so on. Also I have found that I may not say hi to someone because of the worry about the persons intentions. Not all men are pigs but most women by a certain age tend to have bad experiences with that overly pushy person that it becomes a natural defence.

Why do women have to be nice to you just because they are women and you granted them the experience of talking to you?  
 
You don't deserve nor are you entitled to someone's attention just because you want it and 'ask' for it by trying to start a conversation.

macncheese said "Why do women have to be nice to you just because they are women and you granted them the experience of talking to you?     You don't deserve nor are you entitled to someone's attention just because you want it and 'ask' for it by trying to start a conversation. "

Everyone "deserves" respect and courtesy.  
A simple hi and a smile is not hitting on someone. Is a polite response too much to ask for?  
A little kindness goes a long way.

Pretty sure you emphatically emphasized my point!!!  
Oh.... and it's called a thesaurus!

CatMan said "    macncheese said "Why do women have to be nice to you just because they are women and you granted them the experience of talking to you?     You don't deserve nor are you entitled to someone's attention just because you want it and 'ask' for it by trying to start a conversation. " Everyone "deserves" respect and courtesy.   A simple hi and a smile is not hitting on someone. Is a polite response too much to ask for?   A little kindness goes a long way. "

good post. But it is also to hard to start any kind of a conversation with anyone lately, as they all have their heads in their phones. So busy texting and talking, they don't even notice you, as they are in your way of getting by.  
 
They say smokers are inconsiderate, I am beginning to think cell phone users are much more and sorry I got off topic!

It's really hard to give meaningful feedback on this one without more information. For instance, is there an age or type of woman who you are generally trying to greet? Are you making eye contact or are you looking at their body? Are you in a safe public area, or are you in an area where the person might be feeling unsafe? Are the people you're trying to start up a conversation with generally busy or on their way somewhere?  
I'm a friendly woman in my 40's, I don't have men falling over themselves trying to start up conversations and I'm kind and polite. Someone else might not be, and they might not let you know why unfortunately.  
 
Are you only trying to start conversations with women you're attracted to?

macncheese said "Why do women have to be nice to you just because they are women and you granted them the experience of talking to you?     You don't deserve nor are you entitled to someone's attention just because you want it and 'ask' for it by trying to start a conversation. "

Being courteous is one thing, I absolutely agree that everyone should extend common courtesy.  
 
But the expectation for females to smile and act nicely at the whim of men (or other women) frustrates me to no end.  
 
I have been harassed and cat-called with vulgar language in broad daylight in a safe part of the city while pushing my child in a stroller. When I mentioned it to a few men in my life-men that I trust and who care about me-their response was that I should brush it off and take it as a compliment. THIS IS A PROBLEM. When even the good guys don't get it and don't see this behaviour as harassment, women lose trust in strangers. It's as simple as that.  
 
I'm not accusing the OP of harassing anyone. I'm just saying that you have no idea what the women you're approaching have encountered. They may be reacting defensively for a reason, and it may have nothing to do with you.  
 
So. My advice? Start with a self-deprecating joke or a thoughtful compliment (not about looks!) to break the ice. If she is interested she will respond.

what circumstance are you saying hi? Have you seen them a few times, like at the gym or on the bus or wherever? Or are you just approaching a stranger saying hi?  
 
Take a step back and realize just approaching a stranger going about their day and saying hi may catch them off guard.  
 
If im busy say grocery shopping, I would totally give a stranger saying hi a look of "why are you talking to me?"  
 
also agree youre not entitled to a friendly response from a woman just because you want one.

I feel the exact same way. I feel like the "plus" sized woman are looked down upon. And no not all of us ladies here and Brandon are mean or unfriendly.  
 
I being a almost 40 year, plus size lady. Find it very hard to meet guys in Brandon. I guess the saying is there are lots of fish in the sea. It just takes a while to catch the right one. And that goes to both men and women.  
 
I hope you start meeting some nice ladies

Join an organization that you are interested in and there will be women that are also interested in that same thing. This opens the line for communication and gives a foundation for that conversation.  
 
I have had guys stalk me if I show the smallest bit of kindness so I am very wary of being kind unless I have an escape plan available.  
 
Sorry OP, too many weird guys who think I owe them a conversation has ruined it for many. Saying something intelligent about current affairs might get my attention. Demanding (requesting with emphasis) that I smile will get as snarl.

Joey_Bats said "Wow, this thread has brought out the feminists in full force.   How awful it must be for you Sesame to be young and beautiful. How awful it must be to have guys think you're attractive and give you attention. Your life must be so tough, I feel for you.     Edited by Joey_Bats, 2016-07-22 11:41:53"

Who said anything about being young and beautiful? Those certainly weren't the words that the guy shouted to me.  
 
You don't get to decide what should make me feel attractive. You don't get to decide what type of unsolicited attention I should accept.  
 
Beliefs like yours are part of the problem. They're the reason most women don't respond warmly to Shyguy81's genuine attempts at friendliness.

Sesame- fully agree.  
Joey Bats- There is a need for feminism exactly because of the attitude you're showing. You don't know what aggressive approaches a woman has encountered in the past and you don't get to decide if she should appreciate your attention.  
 
I'm older and I don't think I'm particularly attractive but I've absolutely been stalked, assaulted, etc. Don't think coming on to women is doing them a FAVOUR.

Greetings all. I will just point out that i have no problem with gents saying hi to me. What i do have a problem with is being threatened, aggressively hit on, and hiding in my home while someone I said a simple hello to in public pounds on my front door insisting that I owe him. Yes these are based on several different instances i have had in Brandon. I feel like I shouldn't have to be harassed just because I am a young woman. On several occasions i have felt like males feel like I owe them something solely for the fact that I am a polite person to them instead of ignoring them altogether. I refuse to feel guilty for being "young and beautiful" as you called it and also understand that very little will change in the way of male actions in this world. Just don't think its quite fair that I have to be afraid to be a decent person to men in public for fear of being assaulted and threatened.

Feminists are out in full force? Where!? There have been several comments of people trying to stand up for themselves or express times they were uncomfortable BY SEXUAL HARASSMENT. They are trying to explain something to you!  
 
OP- I don't know who you are or how you approach people you are trying to talk to. Honestly, I would suggest a question... Do you know how to tell if tomatoes are ripe? Have you tried the tea here? Something where it's not a yes or no answer, but they can leave the conversation if they want, or expand on it if they want.

CatMan said "    macncheese said "Why do women have to be nice to you just because they are women and you granted them the experience of talking to you?     You don't deserve nor are you entitled to someone's attention just because you want it and 'ask' for it by trying to start a conversation. " Everyone "deserves" respect and courtesy.   A simple hi and a smile is not hitting on someone. Is a polite response too much to ask for?   A little kindness goes a long way. "

A little kindness to a stranger in a grocery...why? why should I do that? What would I get out of that. I'm there for bread.  
 
Please note: I am polite and courteous. I am full of kindness. Just not for old men that call me sweetie and don't look me in the eye.

Shyguy81 said "Pretty sure you emphatically emphasized my point!!!   Oh.... and it's called a thesaurus! "

Which comment is this directed at?

I've never had a bad encounter with anyone here, none worth remembering anyways, and I try and talk to a lot of people. Most of the time its a simple hello as passing by, or in a store if I can tell someone's looking and not finding something I ask if I can help them or much like the other day seeing someone upset going up saying hey I hope your day gets better. I don't ever get any rude responses or anything, sometimes no response and that's fine and sometimes a conversation strikes up. No expectations no let downs.