Is there a tiny, pulpy scrap of this dead horse lying somewhere in the forum for me to whip?

Velocipedio is correct: You can't possibly know what someone is thinking (hence what their motives are for their actions); however...

--Begin Rant--
...I don't give a %$*@ what they are thinking; I care about how they are acting! Stop me if I've got a warped perspective, but aren't we defined by our actions? If we're hanging around the start area before a ride, and I smile or say "hi" to you (or try to start a rapport in whatever fashion), and you give me the cold-shoulder/blank-stare/curt-reply, well then I don't really give a bent spoke what you're thoughts or motives are; your actions are not cool. I might define it as snobbish, or I might just define it as unfriendly; whatever, IMHO, good intentions are a poor excuse for bad actions. Going out on a limb here, I would guess that it was the actions of some folks that offended Fireman Phil.
--End Rant--

Anyway, sorry about that; I get touchy when my bunions are acting up.