Why are Americans so nice?

all 3 times ive been to the US, people have always been very very friendly. This goes for pretty much the entire country, as i've visited quite a few states, both West and East coasts.

If i ever got the slightest chance to emigrate over there, i'd take it straight away. without a doubt.
 
stockhausen said:
Q. Why are Americans so nice?
A. Ask someone from Vietnam, Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan or various other places around the world :rolleyes:
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It's not fair to blame the people of the US for that... it's like blaming the people on the street of the UK for Iraq and Afghanistan as well, surely?
 
Freefaller said:
It's not fair to blame the people of the US for that... it's like blaming the people on the street of the UK for Iraq and Afghanistan as well, surely?
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yer but the government represent the people in the uk don't they? we all wanted to invade those countries did'nt we......
 
edscdk said:
yer but the government represent the people in the uk don't they? we all wanted to invade those countries did'nt we......
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Yeah, the Governments are always in touch with the public. They never lie to us to justify a war *cough*Tony Blair*Cough*.
 
edscdk said:
yer but the government represent the people in the uk don't they? we all wanted to invade those countries did'nt we......
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Have you seen how many people oppose the war?! Or were you being facetious? :)


Oh of course, we're the ones who put them there (well those of among us that voted) however the country doesn't 100% all vote for the same people, just as the US isn't a 100% Democratic or Republican - there's a lot of diversity in people political understanding ideas.

In spite of this, I don't see how judging politics when we're talking about individual people and our interactions with them comes into play in this conversation. All the families, friends and people Iv'e interacted with in the States have always been more than willing to take time out of their day to help me, share with me and welcome me.

We do it in the UK as well, but we don't warm up to people as openly or as quickly, we're far more guarded - it's not necessarily negative, but I just prefer the "open armed welcome, hug, mi casa es tu casa" attitude, than the "slightly awkward do we handshake? do we hug? small talk pleasantries? I don't want to be here..." sort of attitude that we seem to have in this country - it is a generalisation, but that's how it comes across to me. :)
 
Freefaller said:
- it is a generalisation, but that's how it comes across to me. :)
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It is but I see what you mean, people round here are real friendly but I,ve been places where they aren't.
Some of the friendliest people I've met live round here closely followed by some American folk and strangely enough some Australians, it appears you get the miserable mixed with the friendly where ever you go. I wouldn't use it as a basis to move countries though :)
 
If they find out you are Scottish over there, they can behave rather strangely. They often quote BraveFart or the Highlander and get very animated, setting you in some mythic, illusive light - but it's done with genuine affection, not the cynical condescension that is the norm over here. I think they're just naive (or at least quite romantic about their history), and that lends to their general charm.

As far as we're concerned, I think this general attitude towards foreigners is a side-effect of losing an empire.
 
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I'd give anything to emigrate to the US.

Both the mrs and I have said it would be amazing to live there, but the application process is so mind boggling that I wouldn't know where to start.

I've read those sites that tell you the best ways to "get in" but most seem to rely on luck or an employment VISA. I suppose it helps that we have a trade that could be considered beneficial to the country, but even that doesn't help.

Anyone got any tips? I'm interested in that agency you spoke of JonRohan :)
 
Americans are just like people from every other country in the world, the vast majority are kind, polite and generally good people. Even people from the UK.

We seem too judge our entire society on news clips of ****ed up morons when there's a piece about binge drinking.
 
mollymoo said:
It is but I see what you mean, people round here are real friendly but I,ve been places where they aren't.
Some of the friendliest people I've met live round here closely followed by some American folk and strangely enough some Australians, it appears you get the miserable mixed with the friendly where ever you go. I wouldn't use it as a basis to move countries though :)
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Oh goodness no. I'd never move "just because the people are nicer" - certainly when going anywhere away from London anywhere seems like a nicer place where people actually say "good morning" when you walk past them or reply to you when you do the same.

I just think there's a lot of negativity towards the US, for unfair reasons, and from people that have never been or been once or to one place, which is not really a fair way of getting an impression of a massive place. :)
 
There is a balance between being nice and going too far and being forced and fake.

It varries a lot between states.
 
apeZ said:
Southern States and she mentioned being overwhelmed by small acts of kindness and friendliness from everyone she bumped into.
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Safe to say then she is neither black or gay!!
Southern States of America are renowned for being horribly racist and homophobic so yeah, provided your not black and you shove your wang in 'the correct' destination the majority of people their will love you :rolleyes:

 
The british are nice enough people when you engage them - but you don't, just like they don't engage you.

You can't really complain about the coldness of british reserve when you are a part of it. What it seems you want is a warm welcoming foriegner to do the hard work for you.
 
I think what you've said is proably correct, I think the Brits are just more reserved and not so openly warm as others are - which is not necessarily a negative, just an observation. :)
 
Telescopi said:
The british are nice enough people when you engage them - but you don't, just like they don't engage you.

You can't really complain about the coldness of british reserve when you are a part of it. What it seems you want is a warm welcoming foriegner to do the hard work for you.
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Have to agree with that. Also it's a bit different being on holiday somewhere than actually living there.
 
The UK isn't that bad. I always get talking to people on the bus etc when I'm home in Scotland usually find people very friendly.
 
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