Are people generally more friendly when it is cold and everybody is running to get into a warm place?

That’s why Canadians, over the generations, have become so tolerant and yes, friendly.

(smile) Thanks, Zen Again. It seems there is something about winter that brings people together more. Of course that is why there is more colds and flu as well, ....but it is a kind of nice thing, too.

sad but true :)

We have to trust each other to boost us, dig is out of snow, offer shelter in wicked storms when your car quits!

Indeed, faye. And I am lucky to have good neighbors who will do that for me, as I will for them. We may not even visit much, but we do come together when one of us has a problem.

That is my experience, too. Also the tourists and their rudeness are gone. Everyone is dressed for warmth, not the “mating game”. Helping others becomes a matter of survival, not courtesy.

Where it is very cold, there are fewer “criminals.” Where there are fewer “criminals,” people are more open to one another, and more friendly. Compare Minnesota to Florida.

I’m headed out to the 8” of snow I have in my driveway now. I think I’d welcome a few criminals to give me an excuse to stay inside. Maybe I’ll get lucky and find some Minnesotans or Canadians out there. Yeah, or Santa.

@stranger_in_a_strange_land Good points. You are correct, people tend to be more friendly and helpful to each other in survival situations. James Brooks pointed out this phenomenon when he hosted a show about the Northeast blackouts in 1965. Stranded subway riders shared their food with each other and sat talking in a big circle, when they wouldn’t even make eye contact with one another under normal circumstances.

@lonelydragon Happened on my ninth birthday, remember it well.

Actually, it seems to work the other way. Cold seems to drive people indoors, to their own hearths and so they are less friendly when it is cold.
It is in the warmer months when people visit neighbors and enjoy each other’s company outdoors.

@lonelydragon, I have a confession to make about that blackout.

I caused it.

I was out shoveling the driveway as an almost-teenager, and took a break. I made a snowball and threw it (pitched it, with a full windup and all) at the nearest telephone pole. My best pitch ever; I hit it square and hard. The lights blinked and went out.

I finished the driveway and went inside. My mom had a battery-powered radio that she was listening to, and she told me the extent of the thing.

I have never admitted my culpability to this date. I’m ready to face the music now.

I think it’s the other way round Tom47. I find people get together more in summer than in winter. In winter, many people stay at home and huddle round the fireside.

I would agree, Canadians are friendly (be it warm or cold weather); but we can be a bit shy. I’ve been down with a nasty cold for the last 3 weeks – went to my doctor on Friday and was made to wear a mask (like all similar patients) then directed to the “mask room”. I walked in, three others in the rom, sat down-allowing adequate space between me and my fellow sickees; then put on my waiting room face. Suddenly, a fellow sickee made a humorous comment pertaining to our personal level level of contagion (judged by our type of mask). We broke out in laughter (some coughing fits…but I digress). It clearly “broke the ice” and led to some much needed and interesting conversation that I don’t personally experience in this setting. Not directly related to your question, Tom47, but close enough?

Yes, people do that where I live. And they’ll even help you if your car gets stuck in the snow or if you have engine trouble. I’d do that, especially if the occupant is a pretty young gal. :3 (I know what you’re going to say Tom! Sigh.)

Totally agree and here is a great example: went to Cherokee for bingo high dollar games. rode on a bus with many other people. halfway through the games, someone announced there was a blizzard just south of us and it was heading our way. did they stop the bingo games? NO. they just kept on playing. as we were leaving, it began snowing….hard. we made it out of Cherokee to the top of a tall mountain. the bus drivers were afraid to drive down the mountains, so they pulled into a service station. most of the bus occupants were cold, hungry and little leftover money. the temperature outside was about 2 above zero. i cannot say enough for the two men operating this service station. they welcomed us with open arms. yes, the place smelled of oil and gasoline, but we did not care. it was warm inside and that was enough for us, but not for the two men. they opened the snack machines and made plenty of hot coffee, FREE. we were there about two hours. they could not do enough for us. why do i remember this? its because of the generosity these two men showed a busload of strangers in a freezing blizzard. what money we did have we left on the glass counter inside the service station. it just goes to show you that there are still some good people out there and the cold weather just made these two guys seem like heroes to us.

Totally agree and here is a great example: went to Cherokee for bingo high dollar games. rode on a bus with many other people. halfway through the games, someone announced there was a blizzard just south of us and it was heading our way. did they stop the bingo games? NO. they just kept on playing. as we were leaving, it began snowing….hard. we made it out of Cherokee to the top of a tall mountain. the bus drivers were afraid to drive down the mountains, so they pulled into a service station. most of the bus occupants were cold, hungry and had little leftover money. the temperature outside was about 2 above zero. i cannot say enough for the two men operating this service station. they welcomed us with open arms. yes, the place smelled of oil and gasoline, but we did not care. it was warm inside and that was enough for us, but not for the two men. they opened the snack machines and made plenty of hot coffee, FREE. we were there about two hours. they could not do enough for us. why do i remember this? its because of the generosity these two men showed a busload of strangers in a freezing blizzard. what money we did have we left on the glass counter inside the service station. it just goes to show you that there are still some good people out there and the cold weather just made these two guys seem like heroes to us.

@Vintage55, yes, it does relate. And thank you for sharing that.

@john65pennington. Great story, and I have had many similar experiences, myself. One was on a long bus trip from Texas to Montana as a young guy in the service back in the early seventies. We were not allowed to fly commercial air because of the hijackings that were going on if we had a high security clearance for our job. Everyone was bummed about it,but…that trip turned out to be one of the most enjoyable and educational of my life. It was in the winter,..late November. There were many delays and layovers on the way because of the weather. But I got aquainted with some really great people. We shared a lot of coffee from thermoses, snacks, stories of our lives, and even exchanged addresses…(lol) In the very cold and snowbound Rocky Mountains, many people from many places got to know each other in a way they probably never would have otherwise. That was one of the things that prompted my question. Thanks for all your responses.