Because you’re an elder to me, out of, respect? Yeah, uh, that’s, how we’d been, “groomed” to greet those around us when we were little…
But, from the “angle” of a modern day “kid”, why should I call you??? I mean, are we acquaintances? Do we know one another like friends? NO! So, why the @#$% (my bad!!!), should I refer to you as “uncle” or “aunty”?
I mean yeah, I get that, it’s, important to show, courtesy, to those who are, older than we are, but think on it from an “angle” of a child here: why should I call you uncle? Do I know you? I mean, are you my friend my acquaintance, or even, my uncle, for real (related by blood I mean!)? No, so, there’s, NO reason, for me to, “befriend” you, is there?
if your kid is personable and easy going in nature, not afraid of stranger…
But, mommy and daddy, they’d, “socialized” (or “groomed” is more like it!) me to say “hello” to everybody I come into contact with, and that would be okay, if your kids were, not shy, meaning, not fearful of strangers.
And yet some children are, innately, shy, they don’t connect with strangers they meet every day, and even IF the individuals you’re asking your child to greet is a friend, a coworker, DO keep in mind, how it makes your kid feel WEIRD.
But hey, we don’t have the right to decide for OURSELVES, if we want to, interact with someone else, because we’re, way too young, because if we don’t do what we are told, we’re all gonna get IT (go to the corner, young man/young lady! You’re being, punished for not knowing general courtesy!)
So, that’s just, an alternative angle, for all of you, parents who still teaches your young, to greet your friends, DO consider it from their perspectives there…
Life, the Obstacle Course 