Why can't Americans say "Good morning"
Apr 30th, 2011, 04:34 PM
#244
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Last year I spent a day in Frankfurt and had breakfast in the hotel. Not one person said good morning to anyone else when entering nor did they say good bye when leaving. No one said good morning to me any place else in Frankfurt.
I'm going back to Frankfurt this year to try again.
I'm going back to Frankfurt this year to try again.
Apr 30th, 2011, 04:53 PM
#245
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OBVIOUSLY you've never been to North Carolina. They say "Good Morning, sir" (or ma'am) and compliment you on your attire (if it deserves comment) then they talk about the weather, or the Carolina or Duke game, or Barbeque, or.......
Apr 30th, 2011, 07:32 PM
#246
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Perhaps you should get out of the cities and into the real America? We were continually greeted with "Good Morning" while walking down the street in Wallingford, Vermont,by people we've never met - and by the way, here we say "Gidday"; the world varies, that's why we travel!
Americans are the friendliest folk in the world, in our experience as travelling Australians.
As for the south, if you like your gracious, friendly people with guns, go for it.
Americans are the friendliest folk in the world, in our experience as travelling Australians.
As for the south, if you like your gracious, friendly people with guns, go for it.
Apr 30th, 2011, 07:48 PM
#247
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Please don't come to Australia Logos999 - there's no telling WHAT we might say to you in the morning or any other time. BUT you have done me a huge favour - I wanted USA again next year and HE wanted Europe; now he agrees with me and we're going to the Grand Canyon. Good morning.
Apr 30th, 2011, 07:52 PM
#248
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I'll test it out later this month when I'm in the US. The Americans I've greeted in Europe have always been very polite and I'm sure they said Good Morning. Nothing special, just the usual greeting over breakfast in the hotel etc.
I hope that madgicsh isn't serious! We Australians are as polite as anyone else.
I hope that madgicsh isn't serious! We Australians are as polite as anyone else.
May 1st, 2011, 01:55 AM
#250
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**Generally speaking, it seems to me ** -- People in cities or from cities often maintain their personal space through the decision not to interact with others unnecessarily. You can see this on elevators, in subways, negotiating paths on the sidewalk, and in hotel breakfast areas, etc.
Once actually involved in a <i>natural</i> progression towards interaction, city people are usually just as friendly as anyone else, IME. I've had loads of friendly help in NYC, for instance, even on the street. But - busting in on their morning breakfast looking for momentary companionship isn't what most city people would consider natural or a necessary infringement.
People from areas further from high density areas tend to appear more friendly as they don't see these interactions as intrusions. They live with more space (but usually fewer amenities - no one situation is ideal). Because they live with more distance, they may look for ways to create the interactions in a more arranged sort of way, much like the way they live.
This pattern has held just as true in the parts of Europe I've visited as it has in the US or Australia where I've lived or visited. People are people above all else.
Once actually involved in a <i>natural</i> progression towards interaction, city people are usually just as friendly as anyone else, IME. I've had loads of friendly help in NYC, for instance, even on the street. But - busting in on their morning breakfast looking for momentary companionship isn't what most city people would consider natural or a necessary infringement.
People from areas further from high density areas tend to appear more friendly as they don't see these interactions as intrusions. They live with more space (but usually fewer amenities - no one situation is ideal). Because they live with more distance, they may look for ways to create the interactions in a more arranged sort of way, much like the way they live.
This pattern has held just as true in the parts of Europe I've visited as it has in the US or Australia where I've lived or visited. People are people above all else.
May 1st, 2011, 05:23 PM
#254
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SMART, colduphere! I do the reverse, but then I'm female. Nice to be able to have a joke in the midst of such inflexibility and hostility. Incidentally, we're Aussies - since you are probably NOT 'just like us' should I speak to you?
May 1st, 2011, 08:56 PM
#255
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Nikki - very good. The more people coming at you, the closer they seem to be getting?
Cold, it's a good alternate theory, but if you're like the OP, we'll end up with nothing but threads with you complaining about all the women who won't talk to you.
Cold, it's a good alternate theory, but if you're like the OP, we'll end up with nothing but threads with you complaining about all the women who won't talk to you.
