Why can't Americans say "Good morning"
Jul 22nd, 2008, 06:51 PM
#222
Bellastarr, my unique NY experience: I was shopping and bought on sale, a travel wallet that hangs on your neck with a leather lace at Berdorfs. As I left the store, carrying packages and my shoulder bag, a storm suddenly hit, heavy rain and thunder. My bags fell apart and I was on my knees picking up my stuff and couldn't find my handbag. I went back into Bergdorfs explained my situation and they let me use the phone to call the friends I was meeting at the Ocean Club. I was told to get cab they'd meet me and pay for it
Luckily one had my plane ticket.
Back in Boston, a few days later, I had a phone call from the NYPD.
He said: You are one lucky lady, we have your purse with money and all intact. I asked for the gentleman's named to reward him. I contacted him by phone, he refused ny reward but to be more careful and enjoy life. I keep that police report sent to m.
Luckily one had my plane ticket.
Back in Boston, a few days later, I had a phone call from the NYPD.
He said: You are one lucky lady, we have your purse with money and all intact. I asked for the gentleman's named to reward him. I contacted him by phone, he refused ny reward but to be more careful and enjoy life. I keep that police report sent to m.
Jul 22nd, 2008, 10:09 PM
#223
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Okay, believe it or not, as I was sitting in a comedy club in RENO, NEVADA (one place in America where the hookers, strippers, card dealers and bar tenders would LOVE to say hello to you, and at any time of day for that matter), I couldn't believe what I heard...
A comedian from CANADA explained to us all that no where else but in the U.S. will you be bombarded with people saying "Hello" "Good Morning!" "How are you?" and so forth... He stated that each time he visits America he feels like he's being MOLESTED. Americans are "TOO NICE" and it makes him uncomfortable.
logos999 - Try including Reno, Nevada on your next trip to the U.S.
I'd love to hear about your experience.
A comedian from CANADA explained to us all that no where else but in the U.S. will you be bombarded with people saying "Hello" "Good Morning!" "How are you?" and so forth... He stated that each time he visits America he feels like he's being MOLESTED. Americans are "TOO NICE" and it makes him uncomfortable.
logos999 - Try including Reno, Nevada on your next trip to the U.S.
I'd love to hear about your experience.
Jul 22nd, 2008, 10:13 PM
#224
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And from one German to another...
I know all too well that we start the morning out by saying "Guten Morgen" then we spend the rest of our day complaining about anything and everything.
It's a vicious cycle and unfortunately, is inherited.
I know all too well that we start the morning out by saying "Guten Morgen" then we spend the rest of our day complaining about anything and everything.
It's a vicious cycle and unfortunately, is inherited.
Jul 22nd, 2008, 10:38 PM
#225
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Very funny strand and very surprising to me too.
I stayed for two weeks at a hotel in Rome. My family were generally the only ones there who weren't German. Every few days a new set would come in on the German tour buses. Almost every day, there would be between 10 and 50 Germans in the breakfast room. In all those days, none of the Germans ever addressed any of my family with a hello. When I got up to get some food, they did not make eye contact when I was before or behind them at the table.
I did not assume that Germans were rude. However, I did conclude they were rather insular and private.
My dad, who loves to make a friend, tried smiling and making eye contact more than once and was ignored. The Italian staff did always say hello.
I stayed for two weeks at a hotel in Rome. My family were generally the only ones there who weren't German. Every few days a new set would come in on the German tour buses. Almost every day, there would be between 10 and 50 Germans in the breakfast room. In all those days, none of the Germans ever addressed any of my family with a hello. When I got up to get some food, they did not make eye contact when I was before or behind them at the table.
I did not assume that Germans were rude. However, I did conclude they were rather insular and private.
My dad, who loves to make a friend, tried smiling and making eye contact more than once and was ignored. The Italian staff did always say hello.
Jul 23rd, 2008, 12:16 AM
#226
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Thanks so much cigalechanta, for posting that story.
So often people make that "rude" comment about New Yorkers as if it's a throw-away line, and your anecdote has helped me in my little travel site campaign to set the record straight!
A favorite story of mine is a recent one about a well-known concert violinist who gave a private concert to a group of NY Taxi drivers to thank one of them for going to some trouble to find the owner of a violin left in his cab. It turned out to be a Stradivarius...
So often people make that "rude" comment about New Yorkers as if it's a throw-away line, and your anecdote has helped me in my little travel site campaign to set the record straight!
A favorite story of mine is a recent one about a well-known concert violinist who gave a private concert to a group of NY Taxi drivers to thank one of them for going to some trouble to find the owner of a violin left in his cab. It turned out to be a Stradivarius...
Jul 23rd, 2008, 05:45 AM
#228
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Well thank you, bellastarr, it's a beautiful near perfect weather day with a refreshing breeze in the 70's here in countryside IL. I saw the fading moon within a gorgeous field of blue coming in- with beautiful lush crops of greens, yellow and all the shades between reaching into that blue.
Glorious good morning to all!
Glorious good morning to all!
Jul 23rd, 2008, 06:47 AM
#230
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good morning all! a relative issue...i have begun to reply "very well, thanks" instead of "fine, how are you" as a response to store employees when they greet me (in a somewhat fake and monotonous way as if it is an employee rule that one must follow or get demerits on their evaluation). this is my attempt at genuine communication. and. have you ever called a store by phone to be greeted with "hello...thankyoufor
calling*al-mar*it'sabeautifuldaythis isbarbarasmithjoneshowmayihelpyou? then you're put on hold.
calling*al-mar*it'sabeautifuldaythis isbarbarasmithjoneshowmayihelpyou? then you're put on hold.
Jul 24th, 2008, 04:37 AM
#231
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bella, that was a Newark cabbie, but I guess we'll let you claim him for NYC!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008...classicalmusic
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008...classicalmusic
Jul 24th, 2008, 04:48 AM
#232
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No, It was a New York yellow cab and he caught the taxi at Newark Airpport into Manhattan. The Newark police were involved because the Airport is in Newark.
But I'm sure that Newark cabbies would do the same.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7385174.stm
But I'm sure that Newark cabbies would do the same.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7385174.stm
Jul 24th, 2008, 05:31 AM
#234
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Good Morning from Canada! (and feel free to ignore me if you are eating breakfast)
DH and I have been noticing an odd thing...when you meet kids that you have already been introduced to(like the ones at the camp in Maine we vacation at) some of them don't say hello, ANYTIME OF DAY, even when we say "hi" to them. We are not weird: we have kids of our own.
All this "not talking to strangers" stuff has gotten through but in a very weird, mixed-up way...it is obvious that kids get warned, but the explanation has been given in such a manner that they are paranoid (or lazy)about speaking to ANYYONE! Even the parents of kids they were playing soccer with the day before...
And I am not just talking about little kids: I have passed folks up to the age of about 30, along the path to the breakfast we share at the lodge in Maine and received blank stares in repsonse to my cheery "Hi" or "Good Morning". I know their names, for crying out loud,not because I am stalking them with sinister intent but because I have seen them for 10 hours a day for the last two weeks.
There is prudent caution and then there is just plain ignorance. And let me make this plain, I am NOT referring to the US alone...this same phenomenon happens with some young people who live in my neighbourhood.
I was quite prepared to become invisible as I grew older. I just didn't think it was going to happen at 45 and I didn't expect to become inaudible to everyone (well, some!) under 30!
Have a good day!
DH and I have been noticing an odd thing...when you meet kids that you have already been introduced to(like the ones at the camp in Maine we vacation at) some of them don't say hello, ANYTIME OF DAY, even when we say "hi" to them. We are not weird: we have kids of our own.
All this "not talking to strangers" stuff has gotten through but in a very weird, mixed-up way...it is obvious that kids get warned, but the explanation has been given in such a manner that they are paranoid (or lazy)about speaking to ANYYONE! Even the parents of kids they were playing soccer with the day before...
And I am not just talking about little kids: I have passed folks up to the age of about 30, along the path to the breakfast we share at the lodge in Maine and received blank stares in repsonse to my cheery "Hi" or "Good Morning". I know their names, for crying out loud,not because I am stalking them with sinister intent but because I have seen them for 10 hours a day for the last two weeks.
There is prudent caution and then there is just plain ignorance. And let me make this plain, I am NOT referring to the US alone...this same phenomenon happens with some young people who live in my neighbourhood.
I was quite prepared to become invisible as I grew older. I just didn't think it was going to happen at 45 and I didn't expect to become inaudible to everyone (well, some!) under 30!
Have a good day!
Jul 24th, 2008, 08:07 AM
#235
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Manners are no longer taught.
Instead, successive generations have saturated their brains more and more with movie actors, TV stars, indescribably primitive "music," and sports figures, leaving no room for social niceties (or, in extreme cases, even common decency).
Will civilization endure? Probably.
Does it matter? Not in the slightest.
Instead, successive generations have saturated their brains more and more with movie actors, TV stars, indescribably primitive "music," and sports figures, leaving no room for social niceties (or, in extreme cases, even common decency).
Will civilization endure? Probably.
Does it matter? Not in the slightest.
Jul 24th, 2008, 08:45 AM
#236
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You obviously haven't been to the southern U.S. It's a whole different culture than northern or even western U.S. People are much more gracious and friendly--that's why they call it "southern hospitality".
Jul 24th, 2008, 08:53 AM
#238
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I disagree with that last Robies' post.
It very much matters.
Manners matter.
Someone here said that "Manners are the vasoline of all social intercourse."
How humans relate to one another as individuals in real time, face to face- may be one of the most important issues over time. Because we are going to have to work better in groups and as a species, than we do now. And it starts with the smaller units and works upward to larger groups. Especially if we remain so emotionally based in some of our large group actions, as we have in the last couple of centuries.
It very much matters.
Manners matter.
Someone here said that "Manners are the vasoline of all social intercourse."
How humans relate to one another as individuals in real time, face to face- may be one of the most important issues over time. Because we are going to have to work better in groups and as a species, than we do now. And it starts with the smaller units and works upward to larger groups. Especially if we remain so emotionally based in some of our large group actions, as we have in the last couple of centuries.
Jul 25th, 2008, 04:27 AM
#239
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A friend of mine who many years ago served as a midshipman on a Royal Navy ship recalled saluting the Captain one morning with a "Good Morning, Sir" to receive the reply, "When I want a weather report, snotty, I'll ask for one." (Snotty is the informal term for a midshipman).
I also understand that officers in the Brigade of Guards will wear a hat at breakfast in the mess to indicate that they do not wish to be spoken to.
Manners vary according to place and circumstance.
I also understand that officers in the Brigade of Guards will wear a hat at breakfast in the mess to indicate that they do not wish to be spoken to.
Manners vary according to place and circumstance.
Jul 25th, 2008, 06:03 AM
#240
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I work occasionally in the fitness center of a gym and I often greet members with Good morning.
Can't say I recall how they respond back. It's probably just with a Hi, but I don't think that's rude.
I usually greet people I see while running (not in the gym, on the street) with a Good morning as well. Most people return my greeting.
I did notice that in Telluride, CO, everyone seemed react like I was nuts to be talking to them.
Can't say I recall how they respond back. It's probably just with a Hi, but I don't think that's rude.
I usually greet people I see while running (not in the gym, on the street) with a Good morning as well. Most people return my greeting.
I did notice that in Telluride, CO, everyone seemed react like I was nuts to be talking to them.
