Strange. Tonight, I held the door open for a cute nurse (just coming off duty). She smiled and said thank you. Maybe you were in one of the serious yuppie places, they tend to be a bit more uptight.
I am in Connecticut and grew up here. A rural part of the state, small town Americana stuff every Memorial Day, 4th and Veterans Day. The South is great and if my state passes really stringent gun control laws, I will seriously consider moving out of here. I really enjoyed a recent visit to the piedmont area of North Carolina. Great people, easy to talk to despite my goofy accent.
Betis, it was early morning and I was at a McDonalds on the Interstate. She gave me my breakfast I ordered and I said "Thank you ma'am".
That was it.