29 replies to this topic

[miranda363]

Americans are the most polite people by far always saying have a nice day or something similar I can't fault them. They are great to deal with cos they know what they want but seem helplesss and you help them and they're so greatful that you feel great for helping them. I love Americans they rock.

[nokturnl]

Im American, have a nice day.  

[kif]

Why thank you.

[stryder]

miranda363, on Jan 10 2006, 10:08 PM, said:

Americans are the most polite people by far always saying have a nice day or something similar I can't fault them. They are great to deal with cos they know what they want but seem helplesss and you help them and they're so greatful that you feel great for helping them. I love Americans they rock.

One shouldn't judge a whole group of people by the experiences they have with just a few of them.  

Seriously, there are many polite and friendly Americans.  There are many polite and friendly Canadians.  There are many polite and friendly XXXians.  BUT...  I've dealt with some real A-holes in my 8 years in retail/mail order to tell you that not all are as friendly as you might think.

And another thing:  

[fireshark]

Ya want overpolite, go to Japan. They got sorry all the time, even if they are not sure if they did something or not.

[Technobob]

I can't agree, I worked at the Canada & US border for a couple years. I have met a few nice Americans but I also have met many very rude Americans.

[dfunked]

Are you kidding me?

Come to Australia. Don't believe that we're what your shows on Fox portray us to be (talking about LOST in particular there).

[Mr. Bond]

I think every country has their stereotypes...look at Canadians! Even we like to poke fun at ourselves thouugh...Look at Red Green, Jim Carey, Mike Myers...pretty much any Canadian comic likes to poke fun at their own country.

I think one of the greatest shows to show just how bad steretypes can become was Rick Mercer's "Talking to Americans". American's would believe the stupidest things about Canada...like we were going to pull the melting polar icecap back in place with a tugboat called Thomas, or asking americans whether they've ever been on the Peter's Mansbridge

Hehe...back bacon on a bun anyone?

[Metrogirl]

Stereotypes weren't created by accident...

But the way you view other nationalities really depends on the culture you're from.   If you're from a perceived 'rude' culture, you will probably think everyone else is over-polite.  And vice-versa.

I'm English (note - I don't call myself British, because there are cultural differences between English, Scots and so on) but I spend far more time in the US - where I live at the moment - than the UK.   I also spend a fair time in Canada, and I've lived in France too.   (Speaking French is still handy in parts of Canada, lol) I have visited more countries than most people because of my job.

My take - people are people.    They behave as their culture demands so crossing cultures always causes a few hiccups.   I have endless stories about how I upset a lot of Americans at first because I tended to expect them to react to things I said in the way an English person would.   If you're a woman in the US you just don't talk about some things that in England would be fine.   The US has quite an old-fashioned and sometimes religious/prudish set of standards which can surprise a European.   Superficial politeness is one of those things.   But although you see that on the surface, once you get to know someone they're just the same underneath.   I like Americans.   Actually I like people from most cultures but the trick is to get to know them.   I even managed to get good friendships going with my German colleagues, but that was hard work at first.

The only nation I have real problems with is Japan.   I can't fault my Japanese colleagues, but I just can't get to know them.   Maybe I should learn more of the language. It seems to me that in business they'll keep on agreeing and being polite for ever, and then take no notice at all of what you said once you've left the room.   I wish they'd just be honest and tell me to go jump if they don't like something!

Edit- I agree with you, Mr Bond, about Americans being prepared to believe anything about other nations, not just Canada.   I once convinced a roomful of Americans that there was a law compelling English people to eat roast beef once a month.   That was easy.   Convincing them that I had been fooling them was a lot harder...

Edited by Metrogirl, 23 January 2006 - 03:29 AM.

[DrJägermeister]

Prejudice:
http://blog.outer-court.com/prejudice/
One prejudice is true: (almost) all Germans like beer

EDIT: click on the right definition to see the map

Edited by DrJägermeister, 27 January 2006 - 02:19 PM.

[Swad]

Mr. Bond-

My favorite was the one where the guy got the governor of Arkansas to sign a petition to launch strikes on rouge polar bears.  Or the one where he convinced a ton of people that Canada was planning on changing its flag from the leaf to the hockey puck...

[Metrogirl]

I just had to add this from an email someone sent today -

What it means to be British.

You leave your office which is owned by an American company.
You drive home in your German car filled with Kuwaiti fuel
You stop for a pint of Belgian beer in an Irish pub, then pick up an Indian meal to take home.
You check your email on a Chinese computer and download a Russian program from a site in Poland
You sit on your Italian sofa and watch Spanish football on your Japanese TV while eating Israeli oranges.
You put on your French pyjamas and slip into your Egyptian cotton sheets to dream about - how great it is to be British!

[Mr. Bond]

Lol....that's a funny one there Terry....I heard good things about the movie...now maybe It's time I go rent it...

[thenewguy]

Yep,  we are....to a point.

[Generic George]

Yup you're the newguy alright.

So what exactly prompted you to add that to a 4 year old thread?

[OpethLFC]

The americans I dealt with are no fools and neither helpless. Great workers though!

[uph0]

I've mostly met nice americans though I recall having a bad experience with customs official at an airport.  Anybody, regardless of nationality, can  act rather rude when they are in position of greater authority. I live in Japan right now; people are nice too, but there's really too much formality and rules IMO.

[Generic George]

uph0, on Feb 25 2010, 03:17 AM, said:

I've mostly met nice americans though I recall having a bad experience with customs official at an airport.  Anybody, regardless of nationality, can  act rather rude when they are in position of greater authority. I live in Japan right now; people are nice too, but there's really too much formality and rules IMO.

What part of Japan are you in? I spent 3 yrs in Niigata-ken.