Happier Abroad Forum Community

Are Americans rude in comparison to other cultures? Particularly in comparison to East Asian cultures?

Something is only "rude" when it doesn't conform with a cultural norm. An Asian's inability to look you in the eye or say "no" in effect tell the truth becomes rude when they take that behavior to America for example.

Raja wrote:Something is only "rude" when it doesn't conform with a cultural norm. An Asian's inability to look you in the eye or say "no" in effect tell the truth becomes rude when they take that behavior to America for example.

Literally, you're right, Raja. However, let's keep it within the context of how Americans do unto each other. Yes, the OP wants to know if Americans are rude as compared to other cultures, but I really think we are fishing for how rude and pompously ignorant Americans are compared to the rest of the world as to how non-Americans see American's behavioral attitude is.

Let's not kid ourselves. American society has grown more and more rude in the past 30 years, especially in the North.

Americans tend to be grossly informal, under dress for the occasion, and exhibit horrendous lack of common courtesy on average.

There are exceptions to the rule of course, but in this age of Iphones, I have about had it with people yapping loudly on the train as if no one else is around, people putting their dirty feet up on the seats at theaters, and not returning a simple hello when passing by on the street.

If you think Americans are not rude, why don't you say hello to 10 random women you pass on the street and see how few return the greeting.

Also look at the nature of our sitcoms. They are full of sarcasm and rudeness masquerading as humor. Art imitates life as they say.

America is a big place and there are differences in people's behavior depending on geographic location.

I used to travel for work every week and spent considerable amount of time in the Southern states. Generally speaking people are nicer to me in smaller Southern towns. When I shopped at Walmart, a college-age girl with a shopping cart full of stuff in front of me offered to let me go ahead of her because I only had a few items. Women there also open doors to me from time to time. I've had men there say welcome to their town and I should consider staying because it's a nice place. In California you usually won't find people acting like that in Los Angeles. In Eastern KY, when I pulled over to take photos, I've had guys driving by stop to find out if I was OK or needed assistance. Elsewhere in the country I might have to worry about getting run over instead.

LOUD.

The loudest tourists are americans.

I remember a group of americans while I was sitting in a restaurant a while ago. I could hear their conversation clear across the restaurant!

Contrarian Expatriate wrote:Let's not kid ourselves. American society has grown more and more rude in the past 30 years, especially in the North.

Americans tend to be grossly informal, under dress for the occasion, and exhibit horrendous lack of common courtesy on average.

There are exceptions to the rule of course, but in this age of Iphones, I have about had it with people yapping loudly on the train as if no one else is around, people putting their dirty feet up on the seats at theaters, and not returning a simple hello when passing by on the street.

If you think Americans are not rude, why don't you say hello to 10 random women you pass on the street and see how few return the greeting.

Also look at the nature of our sitcoms. They are full of sarcasm and rudeness masquerading as humor. Art imitates life as they say.

+1

momopi wrote:America is a big place and there are differences in people's behavior depending on geographic location.

I used to travel for work every week and spent considerable amount of time in the Southern states. Generally speaking people are nicer to me in smaller Southern towns. When I shopped at Walmart, a college-age girl with a shopping cart full of stuff in front of me offered to let me go ahead of her because I only had a few items. Women there also open doors to me from time to time. I've had men there say welcome to their town and I should consider staying because it's a nice place. In California you usually won't find people acting like that in Los Angeles. In Eastern KY, when I pulled over to take photos, I've had guys driving by stop to find out if I was OK or needed assistance. Elsewhere in the country I might have to worry about getting run over instead.

I agree with what you said, although I was always treated well in California in a similar way you were treated in the South.

I'm now in the tri state area and it SUCKS. You want to talk about rude? Around here if you walk up to people in the street and start talking to them they think you're crazy, people cross paths and don't say anything to each other, people don't smile around here and generally look gloomy and depressed; and recently I was extremely disturbed by a few people I knew from years ago that I bumped into who totally blew me off after I introduced myself to them. I haven't seen them in 10 years and they could only manege a 2 minute conversation in which they were sizing me up (where do you work?, where do you live?) the whole time, then they walked away like they could care less.

yes americans are rude i have been living here for 5 years ..can't wait to live

Contrarian Expatriate wrote:Let's not kid ourselves. American society has grown more and more rude in the past 30 years, especially in the North.

Americans tend to be grossly informal, under dress for the occasion, and exhibit horrendous lack of common courtesy on average.

There are exceptions to the rule of course, but in this age of Iphones, I have about had it with people yapping loudly on the train as if no one else is around, people putting their dirty feet up on the seats at theaters, and not returning a simple hello when passing by on the street.

If you think Americans are not rude, why don't you say hello to 10 random women you pass on the street and see how few return the greeting.

Yes, try saying hi to 10 women on the street and see how many return your hello. American's don't talk to strangers, especially American women.

American's ain't rude motha f***er!

and that guy who's been doing donuts outside my house at 2 am is just relieving work stress.

go to any movie theater, amusement park, or pop eyes chicken on a friday night and you'll see the classy creatures that americans truly are.

newlife wrote:LOUD.

The loudest tourists are americans.

I remember a group of americans while I was sitting in a restaurant a while ago. I could hear their conversation clear across the restaurant!

"Rude" is culturally subjective. What is rude to one person is normal to another. As for the loudest tourists, I vote for the Russians.

I may be rude, but i don't know any better.

Although I have never been to the U.S. Whenever i encounter an American in other countries i consider them to be probably the most polite people to meet.

If you want rude then try the French , English, or Russians.

There are always good and bad in all countries.

It is rare to find a frenchman that is not an arrogant piece , even when you speak french to them.

Teamsatan wrote:Although I have never been to the U.S. Whenever i encounter an American in other countries i consider them to be probably the most polite people to meet.

If you want rude then try the French , English, or Russians.

There are always good and bad in all countries.

It is rare to find a frenchman that is not an arrogant piece , even when you speak french to them.

This is true but one thing you have to keep in mind is that Americans who travel abroad are usually a unique breed. There's self selection going on because you have to be particularly open minded, tolerant, or at least adventurous to take that step. So most likely Americans who are willing to go outside of cultural boundaries have their own mindset to begin with.