It's hardly easy to get a Green card, if it'd been easy I'd probably be moving there too in the future.
Why are Americans so nice?
- Thread starter apeZ
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It's hardly easy to get a Green card, if it'd been easy I'd probably be moving there too in the future.
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It's funny, as I find people in NY far far more polite and openly warm than in London. 
It's interesting how people see things differently isn't it?
It's interesting how people see things differently isn't it? 
It's funny, as I find people in NY far far more polite and openly warm than in London.
You only need to open a map in NY and have people offer help with directions.
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An american friend has stated the same but she says that americans have their own way of avoiding things rather than being 'cold' or conservative about things. She find the who thing very annoying..
I've been to California and everyone who I spoke to was nice. I went to Canada/Ontario and everyone there was nice but it felt a little more sincere.
From my experience there is a fake plasticy feel to the Americans niceness, it wierded me out a few times tbh. An example of this was when I was walking in some Mall in Santa Cruz, this guy who owned a little stall in the walk way went WELL out of his way to say "Hi, how are you?" with this fake smile that looked so forced. It felt creep/slimey, obviously trying to sell something.
People who I met in both countries who weren't after anything were very genuine and friendly people. Having said that, being a similar person (I'd like to think) I wouldn't have spent time with degenerate nasty people would I?
I think Telescoppi hit the nail on the head distinguishing the Americans from the British. Most of us are friendly but the British reserve might hide it a little, whereas the Yanks are more 'in your face'.
From my experience there is a fake plasticy feel to the Americans niceness, it wierded me out a few times tbh. An example of this was when I was walking in some Mall in Santa Cruz, this guy who owned a little stall in the walk way went WELL out of his way to say "Hi, how are you?" with this fake smile that looked so forced. It felt creep/slimey, obviously trying to sell something.
People who I met in both countries who weren't after anything were very genuine and friendly people. Having said that, being a similar person (I'd like to think) I wouldn't have spent time with degenerate nasty people would I?
I think Telescoppi hit the nail on the head distinguishing the Americans from the British. Most of us are friendly but the British reserve might hide it a little, whereas the Yanks are more 'in your face'.
Every day in England I am upset by someone's random act of selfishness or thoughtlessness, whether it's someone pushing in in front of a granny or a driver being discourteous. It's very rare for someone to be nice over here
the drivers over there are on the whole a great deal WORSE than over here, less curtious less aware, less able to merge etc
YES definitly true.. The British hold the most courteous driver award.. Americans NEVER EVER flash you to give way or slow down to allow you to merge..
I was quite taken back at first..
HAHAHAHA lol!!!!!
I lived in the US for 7 years and generally find the notion that Americans are consistently more friendly than anywhere else to be false. I also reject the idea that GB is any less friendly than any other country in Yurop.
In fact, I pretty much regard all cultutal stereotypes as they're all essentially nonsense. Except for perhaps the US obesity one - 'cause it's statistically true.
Surely this is the just a case of the grass being greener on the other side? You'd be surprised at how many American friends and associates who love (and in some cases prefer) how things are over here.
I work for an American company, we constantly have people coming backwards and forwards from both sides. All the ones that come over here, sometimes for months on end, love it and think the people are fantastic.
Some even have applied for permanent roles here and have come to stay.
So i'd reject the sentiment that America is "better" and that Americans are "better"
I'd say that both countries are pretty much equal on the whole having worked in both.
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
I do think a lot of this depends where you live and a lot of it is the whole 'grass is greener' thing. I came back from 6 weeks in Australia wishing I could move there and to some extent I still plan to if possible but the UK isn't all bad.
People keep going on about crime but there are good and bad areas of the UK just like the USA - the key difference being you dont get shot in the bad areas. Where I live there is little if any crime, I've lost count of the number of times I've forgotton to lock the car for example..
People keep going on about crime but there are good and bad areas of the UK just like the USA - the key difference being you dont get shot in the bad areas. Where I live there is little if any crime, I've lost count of the number of times I've forgotton to lock the car for example..
[TW]Fox;15555153 said:
You're right about the whole "grass is greener" thing. At first glance to most people, most places are "better" than the UK simply because they're different.
However, I have been the the US 4 times this year, once a month for the last 3 months, and I whilst over there I have been living with the locals rather than staying at hotels. Based on this experience, the grass actually is greener, at least as far as I am concerned. I just love the fact that over there, on a fairly moderate salary (probably a third of what I earn right now), you can have a 4-5 bedroom detached house, an acre of land, a massive pick up truck to tow your boat and off-road motorbike to hunting trips where you get to shoot your armory of guns and a damn good quality of life to go with it all. Over here on what is considered a respectable salary, I can't even afford to buy a house in a decent area.
Everything is much more relaxed in the US. The main thing I noticed was the difference on the roads. Whilst most of them can't drive to save their lives, everything is MUCH more relaxed. Nobody tries to prove a point or teach you a lesson. If you or anyone else screws up on the road its forgotten about and everyone just gets on with it. I was surprised that when I drive over there, the quality of the car means nothing to me and I NEVER speed. I'd be hapy driving a POS pickup truck over there because driving is purely for getting from A to B. A car is a utility. I also find that even when in a rush, I drive calmly and just get on with it. Whereas here, if I'm in a rush I end up doing 120mph everywhere. I can't explain why.
It's just.... nice.
God damnit I want to move to New Orleans. Yes, the crime is notorious and you stand a damn good chance of getting shot in the ghetto but everythign else makes up for that. I have even been considering joining the police there, in one of the most dangerous cities in the US. That's how much I respect the place.
Indeed, or at least give me 30mins of wandering around before you ask
I do completely agree and I share your love of the country - looking to visit again next year. The whole sense of open-ness and space is just so refreshing.
Given they, as the Australians, are descended from us and owe much of their way of life to us it does seem rather odd its so difficult for us to move to either country.
Equally well though, I'd say arguably the worse parts of the US (*cough* healthcare *cough*) don't really show themselves to the fullest until you are living there properly. It is an amazing country when things are good, but by all accounts can be horrific when things are not so good - the contrasts are far more distinct than they are in European countries, so if you land on the good side, you're good
I very much share your sentiment about the relaxed nature of driving though
I very much share your sentiment about the relaxed nature of driving though