Is it culturally awkward to be polite in other parts of the US/world?

[420Rachel]

So I grew up and live in the South so I'm used to people being polite and asking me how I am, telling me to have a good day and vice versa. And I'm talking about this is everywhere; th gas station, McDonald's, the Dr's office. Even driving down the road and waving to strangers isn't out of the norm. In fact it even kind of feels odd not to to me. But from what I understand if I acted so cordially in the northern US it would be strange to them. 😂 Is this true or are people, for the most part, generally friendly in day to day comings and goings?

[ohshee]

I'm the same way. Even though there's new people moving your all the time is still the same but it is a little bit more standoffish it kind of sucks that you can look into somebody's eyes it's a good morning or how are you and they kind of look at you like who the fuck are you and I think that sucks but I think it's just people in general the world is changing and we're losing what we had and it's just going to get worse I believe I hope not but that's where we're headed it looks like you can even tell by the people on here sometimes and how rude they are

[420Rachel]

Yes! 😭 I see the way people talk on here and I just think to myself "I have honestly never encounter this kind of hostility in person"

[ohshee]

I agree I use GaG as somewhat of a guide to see where we are headed and it's not good ,, but I do have to be honest that I have watch people do a 180 in the way that they ask you questions because so many people gave him crap about the way he would answer but I think we're headed more of a negative way to the positive way I also believe that it starts with parents but also our public officials and have local they are and how they treat people I think the trumpster dill really set the world into a spin on how to treat people to say anything you want about anybody that you want no matter who they are it is just wrong there are no more morals values and ethics it seems like for many years the world has been 50-50 in a roundabout way no matter what it is Fromm the way we vote and elect our officials 2
God evil
Right wrong
Positive negative
Yes no
Love hate
Excetera excetera
People have to understand when we came into this world we were all given a gift to gift of choice we get to choose who we like to be by the things we say and do and as one because we are all interweave together somehow we make the choices on where we want to go where we want this planet to go and it's sad that the people making the negative choices is where we are headed so now there has to be a way to turn it to make people understand that we are all interweave together and we are all in this together and we all have to make the right choices

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

We had these elderly people that was born down South and they were always very kind-hearted, this guy was African-American and he had one of the deepest Southern accents he and his wife didn't live far from my grandma but she was from North and
had no accent, the one woman was born down South Carolina but came to Pennsylvania to live, she had Cherokee Indian in her, she had a husband who
was running around on her so one night she followed him to the woman's
house well she came home before he did and got his deer rifle just wanted
to scare him and before she knew it she pulled the trigger the guy said,
How I Be A Son-of-bitch and his heart went all over the refrigerator but

[yucychan]

I think you should do what you continue to do. It's kind and spreads a positive vibe. Where I came from, people just normally go about their own business, and ignore everyone else.

[Dinklex3]

No, lol.
I'm from NY and people are just as friendly.

[Makeushiver]

I have been to quite a few different countries and have been treated graciously by almost everyone. Guys who were pretty low income ( I ! after found out) who stood my then girlfriend and I to pints of Guinness in a port town in Ireland, Egyptians who went out of there way to return cash I had left in a Cairo hotel room, a Turkish truck driver who picked me up at 4:00 AM in Istanbul let me pass out in his cab and had only the we tion of town I mentioned prior to sleeping to go buy waking me up an hour later in front of the cheap hotel I was staying. The wealthy wife of a. prominent German politician who ought me dinner and shared a bottle of wine. One of the senior managers at the Mummy"s champagne house who treated myself and a different t girlfriend to a 3 hour 9 course lunch at a fabulously expensive restaurant and drove us back to our hotel when he. learned we were taking a train back. A Norwegian farmer who let us camp on his property North of the arctic circle when seeing the. midnight sun. Many more that I can't even remember. I think k most people have incredibly good intentions and are naturally hospitable and generous. I try to learn as much of their language as I can. I try the native food and drink and try to remember how I've been treated when someone from another country happens to run into me. Not simply to the " good immigrants". I have been treated more hospital y in Mexico than I've sometime deserved. In the Caribbean, I try to be as generous and friendly with the natives most of whom could never afford the places they work.

[BeMuse]

You be you. You’ll encounter all sorts, don’t let it change you. Most people are nice if you are nice to them throughout the country even if they wear armor of anger. For example I was in Road Island one time and I stopped in a police precinct to get directions and the local cops were almost insulted that I was like heh hows it going. They were like “Where the fuck are you from! What the hell is this…” I’m like Florida, I’m trying to find this place and they were like “No shit… Well alright buddy.” and then they became more normal and helped me out.

[TurboKid]

The thing that culture shocked me a lot living in various parts of the world growing up is that, occasionally, what is considered polite in one culture is considered rude in another.

For example, in Japan where I'm from, it is generally considered rude and hostile to look at people in the eye when speaking to them. So we look at somewhere slightly else, like mouth, or neck. In the US, I discovered the hard way that this is considered insincere, timid, unfriendly, or even outright rude.

Meanwhile, from the reverse angle, it is very polite and customary and even generally expected for people to pay a tip for a variety of services. In Japan, this is often considered quite rude.

So the rules can change a lot depending on the culture. It isn't the case so much in my experience that different cultures are less polite so much as having different rules about what is and isn't polite behavior.

[TurboKid]

* [...] generally expected for people to pay a tip for a variety of services [/in places like the US] [...]

[420Rachel]

Huh I didn't know that about Japan. That's one place I'd love to travel to one day. I'll keep the eye contact thing in mind! 😂

[slatyb]

No, I live in Seattle and I think people here are very polite. Drivers almost always stop for pedestrians waiting to cross the street. People wore masks during the pandemic routinely, no one complained. Whatever kind of love people are into is fine. White Christian southerners are nice to people like themselves. But don't let them know you don't believe, and don't complain about the bible verses displayed in the high school unless you want someone to burn down your house.

[ChrisMaster69]

I’m from Newcastle in the North East of England, we are recognised as just being happy and welcoming.

I had my car in for servicing today and was chatting to someone recently moved to the area from London, they were shocked with everyone talking to them etc.

[Jackblue]

I live in Indonesia, people tend to smile at each other a lot. If they don't it is usually because they have a problem. On a couple of occasions people I don't know too well have waved at me, but it is not something I think that is part of the culture.

[NamerOfStars]

Up here in Chicago, we're definitely more brusque than in other parts of the country; all too often "how are you?" is just a meaningless followup to "hello". It doesn't actually mean anything, and people will sometimes react with surprise if you respond with anything other than a bland "fine". But it's not like people are going to react poorly to someone being friendly; the worst you'd get is a raised eyebrow or two.

[Kaneki05]

People mind there own business which i like so doubtfully that waving to randoms would happen, but yeah we say thank you to the bus driver or after buying something at store, then some don't say thanks and it's no biggie. So pretty much it's not over friendly but it's not rude really.

[MadBoy]

Well, as someone who lives in the middle of the US but we consider ourselves the South for reasons I still don't completely understand, we're all a mixed bag here. Some people are nice. Others... Well... Let's just say an angry cat is more nice than these people. Kinda all depends really.

[OnTheLevel]

I've lived all over the US... East Coast, West Coast, the South and the midwest. The nicest people are in the south by far. To answer your question, yes, the outgoing, sincere niceness you find in the South is often viewed with suspicion in other parts of the US.

[zagor]

Not so much the US, but in many countries it is considered odd to behave this way - Scandinavia and many Asian countries tend to be much less communicative with strangers.

[IAMNathanael]

Well I live in Nevada. People will tell you have a good day like when leaving a restaurant or something. But on the road or sidewalk most times you can expect a head nod or a wave.

[Iron_Man]

No matter where you're at being polite is the way to go there's no sense of walking with a Stone Face

[SomeGuyCalledTom]

As a Brit, politeness is very much in our culture, even if just a slight nod and a "y'alrite mate?".

As a Londoner specifically, it's hit or miss, some people are polite, some are rude, most are indifferent.

[MannMitAntworten]

New York City, this would be unusual. Having grown up in a small agricultural town myself and travelled a bit, the friendly part is more common in the United States than not. Perhaps less so in progressive urban areas, but that is it Stateside.

[exitseven]

In a lot of cities in the Northeast people can be a little rude but in most towns they are pretty friendly. I was sitting on my front porch today watching people walk by and waving at me.

[legalboxers]

If you were nice to people up here in the North they would think you want something. People up here are as spineless and gutless..

[DiegoO]

In Latin America that's pretty much the predominant culture: be friendly.

[David_Bayer]

If you randomly to people you don't know out here it might seem weird. Your attractive so people word assume ur flirting with them.

[dolemite89]

ya don’t do that quaint crap in cities people aren’t friendly lol