Civility

 

Your mother in all likelihood told you never 

to speak to strangers. Good cautionary advice 

for vulnerable, trusting young children.

Possibly your mother was unaware that children

are abused by family friends, even family

members in numbers that eclipse potential

threats from strangers. That was then and

this is now. You're no longer a child, no need

to shun speaking with people. Could be 

your mother forgot the obligatory role of a

parent is also to teach civility to their young.

Might be your mother was herself uncivil

the type of person that walks past another 

casually and politely greeting someone

they pass on the street. There are those who

refuse to acknowledge the presence of people

who they know live in their neighbourhood

others who labour in the same workplace.

Time you set aside your mother's caution

since you're an adult -- for deliberately ignoring

the presence of others constitutes egregiously

bad manners and you wouldn't want to be thought

of as an ill-mannered oaf, now, would you?