What are some friendly things you can say to strangers in the USA without seeming weird?

Posted by TheShyBuck@reddit | AskAnAmerican | View on Reddit | 439 comments

Hi.

In my country, usually people (both men and women) address strangers as “brother” when speaking to men, and “sister” when speaking to women, as a sign of respect. They may also call old strangers “mother” and “father” to show respect, most Algerian women feel uncomfortable talking to male strangers, which is why they usually call male strangers “brother.”

Some people especially men also say “baba” (father), even to male strangers who are younger than them, as a term of endearment similar to the Latino affectionate term “papi.”

Sometimes cashiers, vendors address me as baba (father) although they they know I am young and younger than them they don't mean it in the literal sense, it is just a term of endearment.

How about the USA?