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Hello everyone, I am here to ask a question because I don't know if I am being too sensitive or if there is something off about a conversation I had with neighbors yesterday. I do not know them well but have interacted with them before while walking or attending a get together at another neighbor's house. These neighbors I am talking about have said, "If you see us outside, come over anytime and visit." Well yesterday, I went by to say hello and asked the female how they had been doing. I was there to say hello. She was pleasant and cordial, and we had a nice conversation. The husband then came outside and said hello but then asked, "What can we do for you?" Was this weird or is this normal? I am asking because it seems a little off putting, and this man has always been very nice in the past. He was still cordial but just asking me what they could do for me was odd. I don't want to have issues with my neighbors but I almost feel like I said or did something wrong at some point. Does anyone have any ideas about why he could have said this? Thank you to anyone who can offer some insight.
I just said that I came by to say hello. I just thought his reaction to my being there was very different from his usual demeanor. Before he kept saying, "Come over and sit with us!" He also stopped to chat one day when I was outside. But yesterday he acted very differently. I have had some issues with someone he knows so I immediately wondered if some gossip had affected his behavior. I have just never heard "What can we do for you?" That sounds almost like I was there because I wanted something from them, rather than simply making a visit, as he had asked me to do several times in the past. I thought to myself that this was odd... this same man who was so eager beaver for me to visit is now asking me what they can do for me.
I hope I am not reading too much into it but I have never heard a "How can we help you" in social situations. Only in business situations do I hear this. It just seemed odd.
Hello everyone, I am here to ask a question because I don't know if I am being too sensitive or if there is something off about a conversation I had with neighbors yesterday. I do not know them well but have interacted with them before while walking or attending a get together at another neighbor's house. These neighbors I am talking about have said, "If you see us outside, come over anytime and visit." Well yesterday, I went by to say hello and asked the female how they had been doing. I was there to say hello. She was pleasant and cordial, and we had a nice conversation. The husband then came outside and said hello but then asked, "What can we do for you?" Was this weird or is this normal? I am asking because it seems a little off putting, and this man has always been very nice in the past. He was still cordial but just asking me what they could do for me was odd. I don't want to have issues with my neighbors but I almost feel like I said or did something wrong at some point. Does anyone have any ideas about why he could have said this? Thank you to anyone who can offer some insight.
I don't think you did anything wrong. I think the husband interrupted the conversation for some purpose. Perhaps there was something he wanted the wife to do for him. I wouldn't like it if I was having a conversation with a neighbor and my husband came out of the house and took control of the conversation in that way. I would have reminded him that I was talking them up on their suggestion to stop and visit and was simply enjoying a nice chat. It is up to the wife to end the socializing; not the husband if that was his intent.
Last edited by Maddie104; 04-17-2024 at 01:53 PM..
"If you see us outside, come over anytime and visit." Well yesterday, I went by to say hello and asked the female how they had been doing. I was there to say hello. She was pleasant and cordial, and we had a nice conversation. The husband then came outside and said hello but then asked, "What can we do for you?"
He wasn't outside so he wasn't privy to the conversation you were having with his wife, who was presumably, already outside. No biggie, unless the wife wasn't outside, which is what they were specific about in reference to you being welcomed.
I don't ever just go ambling over to a neighbor's house unless they are currently outside, or I've texted first to make sure they aren't busy.
Hi Maddie, thank you for your input. The wife was outside already and waved. I then walked over to ask how she was doing. In the past, she has been sick. She is a quiet and reserved type but the husband is usually very outgoing and overly friendly. When the husband came out, he didn't want anything from her. He was looking in some cabinets in the garage as she and I were talking, said hello in a cordial tone but then asked "What can we do for you" in a much less friendly tone. Again, I said that I was just saying hello. If this had been someone else, I would not think much of it. But this was the same guy who has been insistent when asking for me to come over. I don't want to beat a dead horse with this issue, but it is concerning. Thanks again for your post.
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