Why are Americans so nice?
- Thread starter apeZ
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The americans I met on my canadian trip on the rocky mountaineer where a tour group from texas. They had a whole car to themselfs and a video camera. Once they heard me speaking in the vestibule and taking pictures that was it. Dragged into there car and hugged by old women and old texas guys tipping there hats to me I was then forced to shout lines from braveheart on the camera and give them a description of scotland was hilarious lol. Im now probably on the tour guides promo video for trips to canada 
<3 texans
<3 texans
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From my limited experience, while on a ski trip to Vail, Colorado, I asked this very question of the bar owner. She explained that they were all really nice people anyway but that all staff went to 'Smiley School' to learn how to be courteous etc. This is obviously not the rule if any Tom, Dick or Harry come across as genuinely nice.
Two of my brothers live in the US. One of them has done for 20 years, the other just recent (2-3 years ago). Every single time I speak to them they try to persuade me to try and get over there but I won't be convinced.
I've been before, I've worked and lived there for about 6 months one time, it was a very good experience but I just cannot see myself over there now, I'm too English for it. If 20 years ago I could have seen the writing on the wall as to where this country was heading, I might have given it thought, but I've left it a bit late now I reckon with two thirds of my life behind me.
I've been before, I've worked and lived there for about 6 months one time, it was a very good experience but I just cannot see myself over there now, I'm too English for it. If 20 years ago I could have seen the writing on the wall as to where this country was heading, I might have given it thought, but I've left it a bit late now I reckon with two thirds of my life behind me.
I used to stereotype Americans as being the exact opposite of the OP (really wrong, I know 
), but after having four guys from Mississippi come and stay at my B+B for a couple of weeks, my preconceptions were turned on their head big time. They were part of a group of about thirty, and EVERY single guy/girl was just the nicest person I'd ever met. So enthusiastic, joyful, polite (very polite, actually), interesting, interested and just so pleasant to be around. My lesson from meeting them was not to stereotype, so I wouldn't go so far as to say that Americans are like that, but every American I've met since has just been so so pleasant.
Pretty unbelievable really. :/
), but after having four guys from Mississippi come and stay at my B+B for a couple of weeks, my preconceptions were turned on their head big time. They were part of a group of about thirty, and EVERY single guy/girl was just the nicest person I'd ever met. So enthusiastic, joyful, polite (very polite, actually), interesting, interested and just so pleasant to be around. My lesson from meeting them was not to stereotype, so I wouldn't go so far as to say that Americans are like that, but every American I've met since has just been so so pleasant.Pretty unbelievable really. :/
Love America, been to florida twice. Everybody is nice, friendly and helpful....except the other british people there. I felt embarassed to be british after seeing complete scum over there, being loud and rude. Terrible really.
That's a real shame. Why don't you move there or have you already?
Caporegime
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I can't comment on Americans really because I've never been. But what I will say is that I've lost count of the time I've held doors open for people, let elderly people in front of me in the queue, picked up an old persons shopping off the floor, helped them cross the road. And out of all the occasions I've done this I've got a thank you about a handful of times.
I don't know if the situation is different in America but going on the majority of the comments here that does seem to be the case.
I don't know if the situation is different in America but going on the majority of the comments here that does seem to be the case.
Have you ever been to north of Birmingham? Behaviour of that is far from uncommon up north.
I can't say I've ever found people in the UK particularly unfriendly, quite the opposite in fact.
My wife has a lot of interesting examples, she loves the fact that British groups of friends are very social, will spend whole evenings in the pub chatting and suchlike whereas in her experience people tend to only go to bars late at night, or go out for meals. Also that she loves how generous Brits are too in buying rounds of drinks, splitting restaurant bills etc which doesn't really happen over there - that said it could just be her experiences vs my experiences but it's interesting to get her perspective.
That said, US folks are also friendly, I remember I was shopping in Trader Joes in Californee and my conversation with the till guy went:
Him: "Hey, how are you"
Me: "Good thanks, how are you"
Him: "I'm awesome!"
But then I guess if you live in Southern California, life pretty much is awesome all the time (Not long till I'm over there \o/ )
Although the UK is the best country in the world, and London is the best city in the world, the USA has a lot of good points (as well as some not so good points) - maybe I'll report back next Christmas and let y'all know what it's like
My wife has a lot of interesting examples, she loves the fact that British groups of friends are very social, will spend whole evenings in the pub chatting and suchlike whereas in her experience people tend to only go to bars late at night, or go out for meals. Also that she loves how generous Brits are too in buying rounds of drinks, splitting restaurant bills etc which doesn't really happen over there - that said it could just be her experiences vs my experiences but it's interesting to get her perspective.
That said, US folks are also friendly, I remember I was shopping in Trader Joes in Californee and my conversation with the till guy went:
Him: "Hey, how are you"
Me: "Good thanks, how are you"
Him: "I'm awesome!"
But then I guess if you live in Southern California, life pretty much is awesome all the time
(Not long till I'm over there \o/ ) Although the UK is the best country in the world, and London is the best city in the world, the USA has a lot of good points (as well as some not so good points) - maybe I'll report back next Christmas and let y'all know what it's like
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Caporegime
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The grass is always greener on the other side. New York is one of the Rudest Parts of the World
That's odd, when I hit New York everyone was uber nice, just everybody.
We got a lift from one closing bar to a strip club from the designated driver of the group. We'd been talking to them for hours in one bar and decided the night wasn't over. The first night there we ended up in a bar just off time square, still stupidly cheap to drink in compared to here, talked with loads of people, everyone was friendly, went to a "dive" of a bar, on the way stopped to get cigarette's. Some weird manky old whore approached us and some other guy who over here you'd instantly be wary off came over and talked her into leaving us alone, was bizarre. Gave us an idea what bars would be open, walked us over to one as it was a darkish street at like 3am. Drank for a while in that bar where we met a woman who did makeup in porn, so had many many questions for her
THere are places in London I would not want to walk around at 11pm, let alone 3am. From everything you hear about New York this was a road, that was empty, dark and seemed a bit, well a good place to get mugged. But after several days there, I felt safe everywhere at all times, something I don't in many parts of London. Considering how New York's been portrayed over the years I was frankly shocked at how safe I felt there.
New York was just bumping into one nice group of helpful people to another, though I felt nervous when bumping into people who here you'd see a group walking down the street at 2am and be worried they'd start something, they ended up being incredibly nice and helpful.
Have been to other places aswell and there is the slightly false(compared to here) happy face on people who work in say Denny's and most food places. But when you realise everyone else not working for tips acts the same way you know even if they are playing it up, its not much.
Honestly I think people are just happier over there, they are more open because they are less worried about how people think of them, they are more confident, happy, willing to start a conversation. Here we just have that gloomy feel to almost everyone. Until the drinking starts people seem very reluctant to talk to new people here.
The USA has big gang problems, but unlike chavs who you can really encounter anywhere at any time. Gangs really do tend to stay in the ghetto's, unless you go hang out in Compton you really aren't likely to see any gang related problems at all. Here its not isolated to only certain area's, its a growing culture thats really spread out everywhere.
I'm not sure the USA is better, less holidays, but then more likely in many places to be at a workplace with friendlier nicer people. Maybe 1 weeks less holiday a year but 50 weeks in a friendlier happier atmosphere more than makes up for that?
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I've not been, but I have a bunch of friends by way of a forum in North America.
A bunch have come over here, and been really cool to meet, but they've said one of the things that can influence our perceptions of eachother is that the scummy type in the US don't leave the US, but the crappy examples of UK citizens can still manage to afford a trip over the pond and give Brits a bad name.
On the whole, all the americans and canucks I've met have been very pleasant, but I struggle with the accents, most really grate my nerves for some reason.
Also, they aren't very big on sarcasm or self-depreciation over there.
A bunch have come over here, and been really cool to meet, but they've said one of the things that can influence our perceptions of eachother is that the scummy type in the US don't leave the US, but the crappy examples of UK citizens can still manage to afford a trip over the pond and give Brits a bad name.
On the whole, all the americans and canucks I've met have been very pleasant, but I struggle with the accents, most really grate my nerves for some reason.
Also, they aren't very big on sarcasm or self-depreciation over there.
I'm not so keen. I visited a few years ago, and stayed manly with anglophile friends. It was great, but I really believe in the 'cultures separated by a common language' thing - I find the forwardness excessive, and the culture too materialistic. That makes me sound rather grumpy, but I'm not, I swear!
In fairness, they did love my accent.
In fairness, they did love my accent.
What a strange thread.
I think this is all a matter of perception.
The UK has been the Americans little buddy for quite some time, maybe that's a reason why they are friendlier towards you, once they hear your accents? Americans love British accents, and people are also generally friendlier or more open towards visitors/tourists. On top of that if you are there on holiday you are probably in a better mood than at home which perhaps makes you think that people are friendlier.
I'm not saying that Americans are not friendly, but they are people just like others around the world and there is nothing in their history or culture that would indicate extraordinary friendliness unlike some Asian countries and cultures where respect, not necessarily friendliness, is a lot more common.
Would you also say that Americans show more respect towards you?
I think this is all a matter of perception.
The UK has been the Americans little buddy for quite some time, maybe that's a reason why they are friendlier towards you, once they hear your accents? Americans love British accents, and people are also generally friendlier or more open towards visitors/tourists. On top of that if you are there on holiday you are probably in a better mood than at home which perhaps makes you think that people are friendlier.
I'm not saying that Americans are not friendly, but they are people just like others around the world and there is nothing in their history or culture that would indicate extraordinary friendliness unlike some Asian countries and cultures where respect, not necessarily friendliness, is a lot more common.
Would you also say that Americans show more respect towards you?