As a southerner all I can say is bless your widdle heart

Can confirm that is the prevalent view in former Soviet states. I spent a lot if time in Czechia and still remember the first time I said “dobry den” (good day) to a young woman walking in my direction. She jumped and seemed physically threatened by an innocuous hello. I asked my local colleague about that and he said you don’t say hello to strangers in Czechia.

Americans don't realize this is the norm in literally every single country in the world.