[John A.]

Why do so many Americans of every stripe say “Let’s get together sometime” or something that communicates the same idea, yet when called about plans to have lunch or see a movie, never seem available, and are often even angry, or at least annoyed, that they have been called at all?

User Detail :  

Name : John A., Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Atheist, Age : 41, City : Boston, State : MA, Country : United States, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Lower middle class, 

[Augustine23607]

I can only speak for one American, me, but it goes something like this: When you feel like the other person wants friendship outside of work, or when it’s someone you haven’t seen in a while and have no real ties to anymore, you feel some vague obligation to promise something more later. At the moment you say ‘Let’s get together sometime,’ you probably have at least a half-hearted intention of following up on it. But then you get busy with long hours at work, long morning and evening commutes, errands to run, obligations to family and so on, and your promise to ‘get together sometime’ falls very low on the list of priorities. I think pretty much everyone would like to have a life without such demands on their time, but unless someone doesn’t have a lot to do, it’s just not possible. And there are times when you just want to be by yourself, or with your immediate family, and not be pressured to interact socially. I tell my family I do not get up early, work all week and get in late just to spend my free time socializing with people I would probably find halfway annoying if I had to spend any length of time with them. I don’t mean to sound antisocial, but it’s the truth, and I think a lot of people feel the same way.

User Detail :  

Name : Augustine23607, Gender : M, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 40, City : Columbia, State : SC, Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Rick29857]

I think Americans often overdo friendliness during casual encounters because it makes everyone involved feel good. Americans want everyone to have nice, warm, fuzzy feelings all the time. I am an American and find it a little annoying when someone I don’t even know, at the gym or some similar place, acts overly friendly. It seems so fake. For some reason it is taboo in the United States to express negative feelings.

User Detail :  

Name : Rick29857, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Atheist, City : Springfield, State : OH, Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, 

[Author]

Posts