Can someone answer this STUPID question....?

[scoey1953]

Normally people never wave to strangers with one exception:
When people are out on a boat or ship, and pass another boat or ship, they will wave. WHY IS THAT???

People never wave from cars, buses, planes, trains, or while walking on the side walk. What is so special about being on a boat, that people like to wave???

[Floogeldy]

1. I think it is a mutual recognition that they all are STUPID . . .

. . . for being out on a boat. ;)

[dubeskin]

2. Good question.

Never thought of that before. Oh well, I guess when you are on a boat you really don't care what you are doing in a way.

[scoey1953]

3. LOL

Was on the ferry going from San Francisco to Sausalito and every boat we passed the people waved. Same on the return trip. It made me wonder why people behaved in such a manner.

[WCGreen]

4. Because it is a sign of friendship ...

or some such nonsense....

My folks had a boat and they would always make a big deal...

I think it was silly, myself cause when I waved at the girls sunning off the front of all the bog boats, they never waved back at me...

[caty]

5. People wave when out

on boats because it shows other boaters that they are not alone in case of trouble. When you are out on the water, lots of things can happen that can disable your boat. There is an unspoken rule that you will help another boater or be helped by another boater when trouble arises. Waving is like a validation that you are there if needed.

[Jazz2006]

19. Exactly.

And also because it partly says, "hey, isn't it cool that we're out on our boats?" :toast:

Same thing happens while driving in rural areas.

And while hiking in a deserted sort of area.

I think in many instances, it is also a friendly acknowledgement that says, "we have something in common while we're out here in a rather unique spot."

[Maine-ah]

24. it happens quite a bit out where I am

also a couple of summers ago, I finally got out to one of our islands (North Haven) and everyone waves at you. I like it, it's pretty cool.

[Jazz2006]

25. Yes, I like it, too.

All warm and friendly.

Sort of like here in the lounge :hi:

[Robeson]

6. Because, if your engine goes out on the water, and you are stranded...

...you may need those same people, to tow you back in. It's courtesy of the seas.

[pitohui]

7. you are not correct in your assumption

drive down any back road in arkansas and tell me straight faced that people don't wave to you?

because they DO wave to you from cars, bus, RV, truck, what-EVAH

you need more country driving to relax your mind and you'd see i was correct

[sarge43]

10. Ditto in rural New England

We wave at passing vehicles all the time.

[Redstone]

20. Yes, indeed. On any road where there's another car less than

every fifteen minutes or so. It's a New England tradition.

Redstone

[sarge43]

22. Aye-up

They're either a cousin or someone from whom you've borrow his backhoe or snowblower.

[huskerlaw]

12. This is true

In rural Nebraska if you don't wave at passing cars it's considered rude and you might as well paint "I'm From the City" on your forehead.

Although it's not a full-on wave. You're supposed to lift your left index finger in the air and kinda of wag it at oncoming traffic.

I was a city girl, I always thought it was kinda stupid.

[cboy4]

8. When I was transferred to East Tennessee for three years, I was stunned

by the number of strangers who waved at me as I drove down my new street.

It was very odd coming from California where you never quite know if what someone is waving at you is their hand or a 9mm. ;)

But that is so true about boats. Very funny.

[Tsiyu]

32. Where I live It's rude not to wave at passing cars

or at folks settin' on their front porches as you zoom by.

There's a finger-wave thing you learn so your arm doesn't get tired and your hand doesn't leave the steering wheel.

Also, when on motorcycles, we always do the low wave at passing riders.

So a wave is just a wave.

[Oeditpus Rex]

9. I wave to people I don't know

Well, it's actually a 'V' or a thumbs-up. I do it to other guys driving cool old cars, and they always give it back. It's a sign of recognition, of appreciation and a sort of... I dunno, brotherhood in chrome, or something. :crazy:

[scoey1953]

11. That is true people who own the same "antique" or "odd" car

Wave at each other...as will Taxi drivers especially if its the same cab company, but generally in California even on rual roads, people do not wave at cars..trucks or the like unless they are little kids.

As for people back East or in the South, things may be a bit different than what happens here in California. Most people here on a whole ignore other people and if they do wave from the road its only cause they are in trouble (Flat tire or whatever) and are trying to flag down some help..or at least get some one to call the CHP for them. People in California generally will not stop and help you but they might use their cellphones to call the CHP if they see you are on the side of the road. Of course many of the highways now have telephones every few miles in case of car problems and of course everyone it seems has a cellphone in this state.

One other little exception, high school kids who have a "Car Wash" event for charity are always trying to wave down vehicles for the obvious...

I have found much the same for places like Upstate New York, and places of large populations, as a whole people will probably ignore you rather than wave. I think if a Californian saw someone waving at them, especially if they lived in Southern California, they would rather speed up, because the possibility is, if they stop, their car might be hijacked!!

[Redstone]

31. Was also the case back in the 60s and 70s among people who

drove British sports cars (hey, you never knew when you might need something from his or her toolbox, even though you always carried a spare 'everything' in your trunk).

Redstone

[uppityperson]

13. I love to wave at people while in cars, even in city.

In rural areas it is considered manners and friendly. In the city it confuses people which is fun.

[ComerPerro]

14. apparently you've never driven a car in rural areas of the midwest

[Richardo]

16. ...or Texas

It's still big down here. I like it.

[Crabby Appleton]

15. I guess

there are not many Corvette drivers here, other sport car drivers and motorcyclists sometimes wave when encountering a similar vehicle.

see Save the Wave

[RagingInMiami]

17. I remember once when I had just moved to a very rural part of New Mexico

And I was lost on some country road where I was trying to find some address. So this car drove by and I tried to wave it down.

In Miami, where I grew up, if you do that, they either speed up and ignore you, try to run you over or actually stop to see what the problem is.

But these people just waved back, smiling, and continuing to drive down that lonely road. It was really weird. I later realized they all wave at each other if you pass them by on the road.

[blonndee]

27. That was probably my parents

who waved at you LOL.

[Redstone]

18. Other cases: People in a smalll town (like the one where I gew up), and

also people who drive convertibles (and / or motorcycles).

Redstone

[Haole Girl]

21. People in Hawaii wave, as a sign of good will, when they

pass each other while driving. I love it, but I always return to "non-waving status" when I return to mainland USA for fear of being shot by someone mistakingly thinking I might be giving a gang sign!

[fleabert]

23. Jeep people wave at each other on the road...

I am talking real jeeps- not the Libertys, Cherokees, etc... (and I have owned three types, only Wranger/cj drivers wave at each other) more so in the south than here in the west though.

and, I grew up on boats (lakes) and we just always wave- not sure why. Just to be friendly I suppose. Kindred boat spirits I guess.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

26. I may not wave, but I'll acknowledge you with a grim nod.

[tallahasseedem]

28. Reminds me of a Curb Your Enthusiasm episode...

where Larry waved to all Prius owners. One time one owner didn't wave back and he was completely pissed.

[Midlodemocrat]

29. I don't know. But, we wave to everyone we pass while on our boat.

Seems like the friendly thing to do, I guess.

:shrug:

[anarch]

30. huh. Maybe that's why everyone looks at me funny

as I constantly wave at everyone I see on the street...whether I'm driving, riding the bus, or just walking. I thought they were all just being really rude all these years. I should write this down....